Specify August 2013 by Helen Wright

NORTHERN IRELAND’S No.1 CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE SPECIFY is the official publication for the Construction Employers Federation

AUGUST 2013

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NORTHERN IRELAND’S No.1 CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE

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he biggest night of the year in the construction calendar is just around the corner. Specify and the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) join forces to celebrate the excellent achievements of the Northern Ireland Construction Industry at the annual Specify / CEF awards, held again this year at the Culloden Hotel. The night of September 26 will see fourteen awards handed out ranging from General Construction and Housing to Infrastructure and Quality Performance as well as the overall winner award. Last year’s top accolade went to Mascott for the Belfast Metropolitan Arts Centre, known as the MAC, which was an £14million contract to provide two performance spaces, three art galleries, dance studio, lecture rooms, workshop and rehearsal spaces and offices. John Armstrong, Managing Director of the CEF said of the project, “The extremely tight site in the heart of Belfast posed countless construction challenges but the team at Mascott, with the support of the client and their consultants overcame all obstacles to ensure the project was ready for the glittering opening night. I commend Mascott for their outstanding work in delivering this distinctive arts centre in such an exemplary fashion.” This year’s entries are just as exciting as the MAC with some superb constructions to be judged by the CEF team... Meanwhile there has been some good news over the summer on Northern Ireland’s house prices. The latest University of Ulster Quarterly House Price Index for the second quarter of 2013, produced in partnership with Bank of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, has found that the volume of sales has been sustained at a reasonable level for the second

Photos: Donal McCann

SIOBHAN KISSWARD Acting Manager

Big Night Out!

consecutive quarter which suggests a tentative improvement in the Northern Ireland housing market. The authors of the report Professor Alastair Adair, Dr John McCord, Professor Stanley McGreal and Dr David McIlhatton said: “The sustained improvement in the volume of transactions in the survey indicates momentum in the market and although the overall average price is virtually unchanged over the quarter, the stabilisation of price levels has according to estate agents - led to an increase in first-time buyer activity.” With a significant percentage of properties within the lower price bands, the report notes the affordable price structure of housing in Northern Ireland. Nearly three quarters of the total sample (74%) sold at or below £150,000 while 41% of properties sold at or below £100,000. The authors say these lower price bands are important in providing potential first-time buyers with a range of affordable housing. Alan Bridle, UK Economist at Bank of Ireland UK, said: “Six years on from the peak of the price boom, there is encouragement in this survey with the pick-up in sales and average prices largely unchanged. The more positive trends from the mortgage and labour

Last years winner, the MAC

markets of late should be supportive of steady, if unspectacular progress for the rest of 2013 and into 2014, notwithstanding continued variable performance in local markets.” These finding have been borne out by figures released by Hagan Homes, one of Northern Ireland’s biggest first time home builders who have reported sales figures approaching pre-recession levels. We talk to Jamesy Hagan and Jim Burke of Hagan Homes about their success in this edition...

Editor

Pat Burns

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August 2013

contents... 9

Digest

Police Training Centre and Maze developments put in doubt

Improving Infrastructure

Profile

How the construction industry is vital to Northern Ireland’s economic future

New Willis and Co managing director Richard Willis looks forward to the opportunities and changes ahead

CEF

Digest

CEF/Specify Awards

News from the Construction Employers Federation How Mid-Ulster is becoming a world leader in quarry equipment Introduction

General Construction Finalists

Social and Community Housing Finalists Private Housing Finalists Infrastructure

Quality Performance

Top 100

Almost 1 in 5 of all companies in the Ulster Business Top 100 are in the construction sector

70 Guildhall Restoration

72| Hagan Homes

Hagan Homes |73

Product, Price and Location – the key to Hagan Homes success

ack in 2006, Hagan Homes had their best year ever, selling 275 houses and apartments. Three years later that number had reduced to 90, but a radical realignment of prices aligned with their strategy of offering affordable, quality, stylish homes saw that number rise to 196 in the year ending to June ’13. The team behind that success are Jamesy Hagan and Jim Burke who work under the three parameters of product, price and location.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for the team at Hagan Homes. At the height of the market the company employed over 30 people, that has been cut back to eleven employees and all the construction work is now contracted out. Of those eleven workers, many of them have been with Hagan’s from the start. Hagan Homes specialise in affordable, quality, stylish homes, with a significant proportion of their houses and apartments sold through the Co-Ownership Scheme. The company started in 1988 by Jamesy’s father, James, and his brother-in-law Nigel Simpson. The company was

started in the illustrious surroundings of a Portakabin in their yard on the main Templepatrick Road outside Ballyclare. A trip to the toilet meant a visit to the granny’s house! In 2004 Jamesy started in the family business having left university after studying Property Management and Valuation. His father appointed Jamesy as MD so Jamesy could take over the running of the business. Since then he has cut his teeth on every aspect of the construction business. “I was in the fortunate position of taking over a company that was in a very healthy state. We’ve weathered the recent storms in the property

market, and it has helped us focus on our core strengths. These include having an intimate understanding of the market; offering affordable, quality, stylish homes and delivering unrivalled customer service. My aim is to build on these strengths in order to grow our market share, primarily in Northern Ireland, but also in Scotland and England. It’s a hugely exciting opportunity and I know I can draw on the support of my skilled management team and workforce. The signs are good: we’re already well on the way towards achieving our sales targets for 2014”. James has other business interests

72 Profile

Specify talks to Jamesy Hagan and Jim Burke of Hagan Homes whose sales of new houses are approaching pre-recession levels...

and wanted to spend more time racing in the Historic European Formula One championship which takes place at all the old great F1 tracks in Europe like Hockenheim in Germany and Zaandvort in Holland. Jamesy too has been bitten by the motor sport bug and races in the one make Fiesta Zetec series and the single seater Formula Fords at Kirkistown on the Ards Peninsula. Jamesy started in the business at the right time with sales rising year on year. In 2004 Hagans sold 128 properties and that number rose dramatically over the next few years to a high of 275 in 2007.

Jim Burke, who has been with the company since he left school, with just a brief spell at the Alliance and Leicester, said that in 2007 they knew that level of business couldn’t hold up. “At one stage land around Belfast was approaching £1million per acre and we knew this was unsustainable and couldn’t last,” says Jim. “We were one of the first to realise that sales were falling back due to unaffordable price levels and the reducing availability of finance and as a consequence we began to align our prices with market conditions and affordability. Sales of properties continued to fall and by 2009 had

diminished to 90 sales for the year. Despite the prevailing difficult market conditions we remained resolutely confident in our parameters of product, price and location and after a lot of hard work we have witnessed year on year sales growth. There is less bad news about and to buy is probably now cheaper than renting.” With sales almost double that of their next housebuilding competitor, Jamesy feels the Northern Ireland market is improving. “Since the start of the year there has been some confidence in the market, sales have picked up and many of the problems with funding in the mortgage companies have been rectified. When the construction industry takes off again there is a rippling effect through the whole economy. The confidence from first time buyers, and just as importantly, their parents, is coming back.” Hagan Homes currently have 12 sites under construction, concentrated around or within commuting distance of Belfast. There is also a site underway in Glasgow

that the company bought a few years ago. Jamesy and Jim both insist that building land around Belfast is very hard to get, even without planning permission and at prices that are 40 to 50 per cent down on what they were a few years ago, though they have managed to buy another six sites in the past two years. Their policy is to buy smaller sites in areas which they believe they can develop bespoke housing schemes which sell quickly, rather than buying massive sites that can take years to complete. It’s working for them, with Hagan Homes winning numerous house building awards. They agree with the RICS survey that after a six year crash house prices in Northern Ireland are stabilising. There is no doubt prices have stabilised, confidence is returning to the market and all at Hagan Homes believe they can meet future demand and will continue to provide consumers with affordable, quality stylish homes coupled with exceptional customer service.

Details of H&J Martin’s restoration of this iconic building

We talk to Jamesy Hagan and Jim Burke of Hagan Homes who are enjoying sales of almost pre-recession levels

36 CEF/Specify Awards 2013

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Church Bay, Rathlin Island (Donaghmore Construction Ltd)

12 Infrastructure Michael Wightman of the

CBI looks at the importance of an investment pipeline

72 Hagan Homes

Jamesy Hagan of Hagan Homes talks about their success in the starter home market

Page 36

The Finalists in full... This year’s Finalists at the Awards NORTHERN IRELAND’S No.1 CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE

91 Richard Armstrong

Arthur Cox discuss limiting liability

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Brick Bits... Homes built with modern techniques will save their occupants nearly £50,000 on energy bills over 25 years compared to traditional houses, according to new research. The figures, based on a typical four-bedroom detached house, come after increased demand for new homes saw the construction industry expand by its fastest pace in a year in June. SipBuild UK - which supplies and constructs structural insulated panels on-site - found savings increase from £1,000 in the first year to £3,225 in year 25 based on a five per cent annual fuel price increase.

August’s 1.8% (-£4,459) drop in new sellers’ asking prices in the UK is the first monthly fall recorded in 2013, though the recovering market means the traditional holiday season price dip is less pronounced than usual. The underlying recovery in the housing market continues, with the price of property coming to market up by an average of 8.8% (+£20,210) in the first eight months of the year. August also saw a new record asking price for ‘flats and apartments’ property type. Buyer demand is set to increase further when Help to Buy starts assisting purchasers of second-hand property in January, highlighting the need for greater property supply to meet growing demand and mitigate unsustainable upwards price pressure.

Green light for new offices at historic Galgorm Castle Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced DOE Planning approval for over 2,500 square metres of office space in the grounds of historic Galgorm Castle. The scheme will bring an investment of £3million to the area with high specification offices and workspace units. These are designed sympathetically to complement the Grade A listed Castle and the existing business park that previously won a prestigious Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Award for building restoration of the year. There are already 20 small businesses in the business park which has attracted international firms including an American engineering company and a South Korean software company. This is part of an overall investment of £8million by Galgorm Castle Estate. A championship golf course is already in place; a new garden centre is currently under construction bringing with it restoration of the original Jacobean walled garden; while plans

for the future restoration of Galgorm Castle itself are being advanced. Mark H Durkan said: “This is a real boost for Ballymena. It will attract businesses and therefore jobs to the area – both local and international, as well as creating jobs during the development and construction phases. “As a new Minister, I will be pushing our planners to make the right decisions as quickly as possible. This application was turned around

within four months and proves how the planning system can deliver swiftly for local businesses seeking to provide significant investment and employment in their local areas. “What I and DOE are about is creating a better environment and a stronger economy. This development is a key piece of a jigsaw that is all coming together to revitalise this historic estate whilst bringing significant economic benefits to the local area.”

New wind farm planned for Limavady PLANS for a wind farm in Co Derry could inject £20 million into the local economy, the company behind the project have claimed. The £70m project for the erection of 21 turbines outside Limavady has come from ARC NI 1 Ltd, part of the Windyfields Group, who have submitted plans for the 70MW plant at Windy Hill on Bishops Road. It is one of two farms planned by the company after it lodged an application for a 42 MW facility near Omagh, Co Tyrone earlier this year. The firm’s general manager Gavin

Forkan said the investment could “provide a much needed boost for the local construction sector as well as the Limavady, Coleraine and greater north coast area which has been badly hit by the economic downturn”. “Windyfields is committed to investing in and supporting the local economy to ensure economic benefits of these types of projects are felt locally. We have been working closely with the families of local landowners involved and are greatly encouraged by their support and commitment to this project which should benefit many people across the area,” he said. Neil McCullough of Oxford Economics which carred out a

socio-economic report into the project said: “It is estimated that the construction phase alone could deliver approximately £11.8 million in wages and approximately 540 job years of direct, indirect and induced employment.” Mr Forkan said the site could potentially provide 160,265 MWhr of wind energy each year. “This could be enough electricity each year to meet the needs of approximately 37,500 homes and could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 68,914 tonnes each year when operating. This project could bring substantial economic and environmental advantages to the greater Limavady, Coleraine and north coast area.”

digest

New hotel will bring jobs boost to Newry Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced DOE Planning approval for a new hotel and offices in Newry. Newry and Mourne District Council endorsed the proposal for a 120-bed hotel, over 22 000 sq feet office development, landscaping and car parking. The project – estimated to cost

in the region of £12million - is to be located at the former ATS Garage at Downshire Road Newry. Mark H Durkan said: “This is good news for Newry. It’s a significant development scheme which will provide a real boost for the City and the surrounding area for many years. It will create jobs during the development and construction phases, with more local jobs in the long term.

“The new hotel will benefit tourism potential, providing accommodation in an area that is the gateway to the Mourne Mountains. The additional office accommodation will also offer more choice for the business community. “What I and DOE are about is creating a better environment and a stronger economy. The decision to approve this hotel will help do that.”

Ulster Bank support to enable delivery of 1,000 new social and affordable homes A £10million loan from Ulster Bank is set to enable the delivery of around 1,000 new social and affordable homes across Northern Ireland. Apex, one of Northern Ireland’s largest housing associations, will develop the properties over next year. The bank is supporting the significant project, which will sustain hundreds of construction jobs, via the HMT / Bank of England Funding for Lending Scheme. Ulster Bank’s Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking, NI, Kenton Hilman, says: “Apex has an excellent track record of delivering high quality, ‘lifetime’ homes across Northern Ireland, and we are pleased to assist in the delivery of this significant project. There is high demand for social and affordable homes, and the funding that we are providing will play an important role in helping fulfil that need.” “We are also pleased to help enable a project that will sustain a significant number of jobs in the

At one of Apex Housing's sites, on the Ravenhill Road Belfast, to announce the investment are Gordon Davidson, Ulster Bank, Apex's Financial Director, Roderick Canning and Kenton Hillman, Ulster Bank

construction sector, and make an important contribution to the economy,” he adds. Apex’s Financial Director, Roderick Canning, says: “This initiative is aimed at delivering essential social and affordable homes at a time when demand is extremely high for all types of tenures. Ulster Bank is providing

£10m of private finance which will play a centrally important role.” Apex is one of the largest housing associations in Northern Ireland with over 4,000 units under management, providing general needs housing, supported housing, sheltered housing and registered care. It employs over 570 people.

Diamond Systems awarded Odyssey tender Diamond Systems have recently been awarded the tender for the refresh of the fire detection and voice evacuation systems installed at the Odyssey Complex, Belfast. As the original installers of the system back in 2000, the company has been maintaining systems in the popular venue over the past 13 years. The refresh project will involve software upgrades and the replacement of approximately 3000+ points including automatic detection devices, manual call points and interface modules at the complex. The works shall also incorporate the installation of the latest ASA (Advanced Signal Analysis) high level protection equipment available from the Siemens Cerberus Pro range. Pictured L-R: Steve Snoddon (Managing Director, Diamond Systems), Brian Hughes (Operations Director, Odyssey Trust), Tom Snoddon (Director, Diamond Systems)

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Planning success - Turley Associates’ five schemes top £93m Belfast planning consultancy Turley Associates has submitted and secured five planning applications with an estimated development value exceeding £93m. The two approved plans and three applications submitted were all achieved in the last week of July and the first week of August. Planning permission has been secured for the reconfiguration of an office and clinical training building as part of wider works for a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Area Hospital. Permission has also been secured on behalf of Clanmil Housing Association for a new residential development within Dungannon. Planning applications were submitted for a significant energy proposal consisting of 21 wind turbines on behalf of Windyfields, a new restaurant development within Titanic Quarter on behalf of Titanic Belfast Ltd, and, a major mixed use regeneration project for Ballymena. Michael Gordon, Belfast Office Director of Turley Associates, said: “Securing two and submitting a further three schemes with a combined value of £93m all in a two week window has been a great way to start the summer. It is also encouraging to see the market showing positive signs of life.”

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KCC acquires Elementer KCC Architectural has acquired the company Elementer, a major supplier of Specialist Door Hardware and Access Control to the Construction Industry in Ireland. Following this acquisition Paul Kavanagh, former Managing Director of Elementer, has been appointed Sales Director for KCC Architectural. Paul has 30 years experience in the Construction Industry and brings with him a wealth of knowledge of and an extensive range of contacts and agencies within the Architectural Ironmongery and Access Control field. Speaking about the acquisition, Chris Kilpatrick, managing director of KCC commented, “I am really pleased to welcome Paul on board and I am confident that he will be an enormous asset to the KCC Group. I am looking forward to working with Paul in pursuing a profitable growth for the KCC Group both within and outside Ireland. Paul’s appointment will allow David Skelly to concentrate on developing our business in the United Kingdom.”

Michael Schumacher to drive sales for Hörmann Michael Schumacher is the new brand ambassador for the Hörmann Group. The most successful Formula 1 driver of all time and Europe’s no.1 for doors and hinged doors have now agreed on a long-term cooperative partnership. Michael Schumacher will seek to make the Hörmann brand even more popular as the representative of the family-owned company. “We are delighted to have Michael Schumacher, a worldrenowned and well-regarded figure, as a Hörmann brand ambassador,” says Martin Hörmann, Director of the Hörmann Group. “For years, Michael Schumacher has stood for success, ambition, experience, enthusiasm for technology and family values – and therefore goes perfectly with a family-run company such as Hörmann. “Michael Schumacher embodies everything that makes Hörmann a powerful brand – dedication, reliability, continuous progress and uncompromising quality. “Given this background, I am confident that Michael Schumacher will give additional impetus to the business activities of our partners around the globe,” says Martin Hörmann.

Michael Hormann with Michael Schumacker

Hörmann garage and entrance doors are distributed exclusively in Northern Ireland by Haldane Fisher. Said Mark Freeman, Associate Director: ‘The Hörmann brand continues to go from strength to strength and the relationship between Hörmann and Michael Schumacher will only help to raise the profile of Hörmann in Northern Ireland’ Michael Schumacher is also

confident in the new partnership: “I have known the Hörmann brand since the start of my motorsport career. Even the industrial sectional doors at our go-kart track in Kerpen are from Hörmann. As Hörmann continues to grow no doubt the involvement of Michael Schumacher will help to accelerate awareness of the Hörmann brand and its high quality values.

FP McCann awarded contract for Bank Square project FP McCann has been awarded the contract to deliver the £3million streetscape renewal of Bank Square in Belfast City Centre and its surrounding streets. The work is due for completion by November 2014. Mr McCausland said: “I am pleased to announce that FP McCann has been awarded the contract to deliver the revitalisation of Bank Square and the surrounding area. To complete the project my Department is investing

£3million on new paving, lighting, artwork and play equipment for children, which will transform the Square and deliver a unique and significantly upgraded public space in the heart of Belfast city centre. “Creating a high quality shared space, which is accessible for pedestrians and also become a locus for street performance, markets and others uses will contribute to the economic regeneration of the Westside area and the wider city centre.” RPS, who head up the Integrated Development Team for the project, will

be working with DSD and FP McCann to transform Bank Square into an active, multi-use, shared space in the heart of Belfast. RPS Project Manager David Logan said: “The plans are very ambitious and will create a unique public space of high quality in the city centre that will include public art works, children’s activity equipment and the facilities to support street markets, festivals and concerts. We are looking forward to working with FP McCann Ltd to deliver this exciting project on behalf of DSD”.

Commenting on their appointment as lead contractor for the scheme, Hugh McCann, Operations Director of FP McCann Ltd stated: “We are delighted to be working on the Bank Square Regeneration project and to be delivering what will be an important scheme for Belfast City Centre. This scheme will transform Bank Square and its surrounding streets attracting tourists and shoppers. We are looking forward to working with the Department for Social Development to successfully construct the scheme”.

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Concern over Police Training College and Maze developments... Two government contracts, the Police Training College at Desertcreat and the redevelopment of the Maze Long Kesh prison site were both thrown into doubt last month. Worries have been expressed over the financial position of a company which is expected win the bid to build the police, fire and prison service training college near Cookstown, while disagreement between the First and Deputy First Ministers could delay the start of work at the Maze site. FCC, a Spanish company who heads the FGP consortium to build the Police Training Centre is in significant financial trouble. In 2012, it made losses of €1.028bn. Their 2012 debt was €7.087bn at year-end, and their January to March 2013 losses were €140.2m. However the company has a new strategic plan and banks have agreed to refinance some of their debt. Patsy McGlone, SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA and a member of the Assembly Justice Committee, commented, “Where there is uncertainty where a firm is so deeply in debt as this particular firm is, I hope potentially we’re not looking at another catastrophe right down the line where we maybe have a project started, not completed.” Mr McGlone has tabled an assembly question to the Justice Minister, David Ford, asking what due diligence has been carried out into the tendering companies’ abilities to fulfil financial aspects of the contract. The question is still to be answered. The Project Board has spent more than £11m on the project so far. The original cost was £80m which later went up to £137m. Finance Minister Sammy Wilson and the project board, led by Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie, demanded savings which brought the cost back to £114m. Architects Perkins and Will in the United States have been paid over

First Minister Peter Robinson with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at an earlier launch of the Maze project. Also pictured is Terence Brannigan, Chair of the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation.

£6m for a design which has been partially abandoned and re-designed. There’s also the major issue of the project running out of time. Westminster has allocated money for the project, but that runs out in 2015 and might have to be handed back. Finance Minister Sammy Wilson recently told the Assembly: “There has been some slippage with the Desertcreat project. “I had a meeting with Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. I sought early permission from the Treasury to carry money forward. The big danger with any slippage on the Desertcreat project is that, if we do not spend the money, we will lose it totally.” Meanwhile, the redevelopment of the former prison at Maze Long Kesh has also been thrown into doubt.

The Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said the DUP’s withdrawal of support for a peace and conflict resolution centre at the Maze prison site was a “mistake”. The centre was to be built as part of a £300m redevelopment of the site. The board overseeing the redevelopment of the former Maze prison site is seeking urgent clarification about the future of the planned peace centre. The under-threat Maze peace centre - designed by world-famous architect Daniel Libeskind - was trumpeted as the key to unlocking the full jobs and economic potential of the wider 347-acre site near Lisburn. The Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation has promised 5,000 permanent jobs on

site in an investment totalling £300m. While the prison remnants and new peace centre comprised around 8% of the overall site, it is seen as crucial in fulfilling its full potential to attract a range of new businesses like health sciences and agri-foods. The project, to be funded by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme, includes the conservation of the H6 prison block, the prison hospital, emergency control building and chapel, alongside the new peace centre. It is meant to be one of the largest single capital-build investments in peace-building under the current PEACE Programme. Building work had been expected to begin at the turn of the year, with completion by mid-2015. A massive question mark has now been placed over it.

T. 028 9085 1441

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digest

Infrastructure: the 2030 Challenge

Michael Wightman, CBI Northern Ireland's Improving Infrastructure Committee Chairman, says an infrastructure investment pipeline is essential for the long-term health of the construction sector. Of all the sectors that have taken a hit since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008, construction has perhaps suffered the most. With upwards of 30,000 job losses and the collapse of many firms – not least Pattons and the significant knock-on effects for its supply base – there has been little to be positive about. Add to this the initial prioritisation of the Coalition Government at Westminster of current over capital expenditure and you have a perfect storm from which many have struggled to recover. However, some of that gloom may now be lifting. The change in the Coalition’s stance, encapsulated in its Investing in Britain’s Future publication at the end of June, rightly recognises the key benefits investment in economic infrastructure can bring. The often quoted construction multiplier effect, whereby every £1 invested generates £2.84 in total economic activity, has many attractions for a Government that is looking to speedily rejuvenate the UK’s economic fortunes. When such reprioritisation is factored into the Northern Ireland Executive’s budget, we can see that significant reallocations have been made, from current into capital, over consecutive Monitoring Rounds and as a result of Barnett Formula calculations. Indeed, in 2013-14 alone, an additional £145m of capital will be available to the Executive over and above what it initially expected. It is clear to us that there is little shortage of capital monies at our disposal in the short term. What is also clear to us, however, is that there are a number of Northern Ireland specific hurdles that remain to be cleared to make us a much more effective deliverer of infrastructure projects. One major aspect that continues to plague Northern Ireland’s ability

to spend capital monies to most effective economic need – as seen in the wake of the postponement of the A5 – is the lack of a pipeline of so-called shovel ready projects. As a consequence of a sometimes bureaucratically inefficient business case process, through to the inability of Ministers and Departments to progress projects past pre-procurement stage without definitive monies having been earmarked for projects, we need to find ways and means to prepare a much more market friendly pipeline. This will allow firms the time to plan to bid for contracts as well as, where private finance may be involved, give the market sufficient confidence that a pipeline exists which is both an attractive and clearly deliverable prospect. While we have welcomed the significant progress made by the former Environment Minister Alex Attwood in speeding up the

decision making around planning applications in his two years in office, we believe there remains much room for improvement if we are to secure the investment and jobs that we need. Recently the debate in the Assembly over the Planning Bill has provoked much controversy. However it is important to note that, while others move ahead, we continue to lag behind. A new means of prioritisation for economically significant planning applications is something we believe should also be considered, albeit with the necessary attention paid to community consultation and sustainable development. A schedule of significant projects both in the public and private sectors should then be put to the Executive and Assembly for approval on a regular basis. A further area for examination is best practice in other regions.

Aspects of models such as those of the Scottish Futures Trust and the National Development Finance Agency in the Republic of Ireland should be considered as we look to deliver infrastructure more speedily and with enhanced private sector expertise. That the Coalition Government, through Danny Alexander MP, announced at the end of June that it was to accept a key recommendation of Lord Deighton in respect of taking ‘crucial infrastructure delivery out of the hands of civil servants and into the hands of commercial experts’ is something we believe should be assessed at Northern Ireland level too. These key themes, and others, will be detailed in an infrastructure report that we will publish in September. We have undoubtedly made progress, but we need to now be much bolder in our approach to this subject.

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Survey finds signs that Northern Ireland housing market is in early stages of recovery The latest University of Ulster Quarterly House Price Index for the second quarter of 2013, produced in partnership with Bank of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, has found that the volume of sales has been sustained at a reasonable level for the second consecutive quarter which suggests a tentative improvement in the Northern Ireland housing market. The overall average price of a house in the second quarter – April, May and June – was £130,864, virtually unchanged from the previous quarter (£131,128). However, when taking into account the mix of housing types covered in the survey, the report recorded a weighted decline of 7.6% over the year. The survey covered 1,409 open market transactions from a network of estate agents, a sample size which is highly comparable to that of the first quarter, suggesting a certain momentum in the housing market. The report cautioned that performance across Northern Ireland remained vulnerable to negative events and news. The authors of the report Professor Alastair Adair, Dr John McCord, Professor Stanley McGreal and Dr David McIlhatton said: “The sustained improvement in the volume of transactions in the survey indicates momentum in the market and although the overall average price is virtually unchanged over the quarter, the stabilisation of price levels has - according to estate agents - led to an increase in first-time buyer activity.” With a significant percentage of properties within the lower price bands, the report notes the affordable price structure of housing in Northern Ireland. Nearly three quarters of the total sample (74%) sold at or below £150,000 while 41% of properties sold at or below £100,000. The authors say these lower price bands are important in providing potential first-time buyers

with a range of affordable housing. Alan Bridle, UK Economist at Bank of Ireland UK, said: “Six years on from the peak of the price boom, there is encouragement in this survey with the pick-up in sales and average prices largely unchanged. The more positive trends from the mortgage and labour markets of late should be supportive of steady, if unspectacular progress for the rest of 2013 and into 2014, notwithstanding continued variable performance in local markets.” The Housing Executive’s Head of Research, Joe Frey, said: “It is not surprising that given the ongoing challenges in the labour market the housing market remains rather flat. However, the availability of the new mortgage guarantee based Help to Buy scheme in Northern Ireland from January 2014 may just provide a small but significant impetus to house prices in the new year.” Wide variations There were wide variations in performance between the different property types. The strongest performance was for detached bungalows up 16.2% over the year to an average of £148,342 while terraced/townhouses increased by 6.5% to £86,216. In contrast, semi-detached bungalows fell 25.3% over the year to an average of £103,394, detached houses declined by 13.9% to an average of £199,553, semi-detached houses saw a drop of 10.6% to £120,377 while the apartment sector fell 9.9% to £97,765. Regional performance Prices continued to be variable at a regional level, which for certain regions is due to the limited evidence base. Some parts of Northern Ireland saw a significant increase in price while others saw considerable falls. Lisburn is the highest priced area in Northern Ireland while North Belfast was the least expensive. In Belfast the volume of sales at 423 was largely consistent with that for the first quarter (440). The overall

average price of £138,043 was lower for the year - down by 13.7% and with all property types lower over the quarter and annual timescale it suggests price recovery has stalled here in the second quarter.

Location

The long-term House Price Index, calculated relative to the base quarter for the survey in 1984, fell to 467.88. The gap between the house price index and RPI is now at its lowest since the end of 2003.

Average Price Quarter 2 2013

Northern Ireland - All £130,864 Belfast - All £138,043 North Belfast £88,623 South Belfast £157,636 East Belfast £136,147 West Belfast £127,724 North Down £146, 805 Lisburn £172,828 East Antrim £109,314 L'Derry/Strabane £115,248 Antrim Ballymena £122,633 Coleraine/Limavady/North Coast £118,293 Enniskillen/Fermanagh/S.Tyrone £146,121 Mid Ulster £107,845 Mid and South Down £120,815 Craigavon/Armagh £129,783

Best in Class! Top performer in school washrooms for 30 years

To speak to a member of our sales team call 00800 1981 1981 or email sales@petal.co.uk www.petal.co.uk

16|

industry news

Specially Designed For Modern Homes in the residential market compared to standard wallboard.

Wallboard Premium’s distinct attributes offer homeowners the opportunity to upgrade their homes or specific rooms / areas within their home, whether undertaking renovation work or a new build project.

• Impact resistance – Twice the impact resistance of standard wallboard

Gyproc Wallboard Premium’s upgraded paper on the face of the board means it is twice as resistent to impacts compared to standard wallboard. Whether the impact comes from a door handle, bicycle, child’s toy or some other source, Wallboard Premium will withstand the impact to a significantly higher degree – reducing the occurances of damage and the regularity of repairs.

yproc Wallboard Premium is the latest innovation from Gyproc Ireland. Gyproc Wallboard Premium is a high quality wallboard developed, designed and produced to deliver significantly improved performance

• Pull-out strength – Twice the pull-out strength of standard wallboard

Gyproc Wallboard Premium’s specially developed board core contains glass fibre and means the pullout strength of Wallboard Premium is twice that of standard wallboard. This has positive implications when it comes to hanging pictures, mirrors and

shelves on walls and light or other fittings if the board is used for ceilings.

• Board strength – 25% stronger board

Gyproc Wallboard Premium’s design and production delivers an overall stronger board. With 25% increased board strength over standard wallboard, wallboard Premium will result in a stronger partition wall when installed.

• Enhanced acoustic performance - better sound insulation

Gyproc Wallboard Premium‘s production results in a denser board than standard wallboard which means it delivers enhanced acoustic insulation performance. Whether it’s to keep noise out of a room (bedroom) or inside a room (TV room, playroom), a denser wallboard will help. Gyproc is the market leader in plaster, plasterboard and drylining systems, manufacturing in Ireland since 1936, with a long history of providing innovative, cost-effective and reliable products that meet the demands of the construction industry. Looking to the future Gyproc is determined to remain at the forefront, as market leader, continuing to provide innovative, sustainable design solutions for the buildings of the future.

Isover Insulation gets top European Award for indoor air quality ISOVER’s new G3 insulation has received the highest award for indoor air quality – the Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort “Gold Standard” certificate. Isover G3 insulation achieved this by using new technology to manufacture its next generation mineral wool. The Eurofins Gold standard combines all relevant European regulations and voluntary labels which measure the effect of products on indoor air quality - combining the most stringent requirements in any EU country into one label. This makes Indoor Air Comfort Gold the most ambitious label for low-emissions in the whole of Europe. Eurofins is well known as a leading independent international provider of emissions testing, analysing a wide range of products and building materials such as flooring products, adhesives, insulation materials, paints and

varnishes. In addition to its ISO 17025 accreditation, Eurofins is recognized and accredited by national authorities throughout Europe, particularly in Germany and France, as well as in California. It is also a member of the USGBC (US Green Building Council) and DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council). Brian Dolan, Isover Ireland Managing Director, said of this achievement “The Eurofins certification is independent verification of our environmental credentials and recognises Isover’s commitment to providing sustainable insulation solutions to all our customers. We are delighted that the products we tested have met such a high standard. “Considering the need for Ireland to build more low energy buildings, which necessitate high levels of insulation and excellent airtightness, it is ever more important to consider the effect of products and systems used on the indoor air

ISOVER Ireland presentation of Eurofins Gold Standard award, pictured l-r: Fintan Smyth, Building Physics Manager, ISOVER Ireland; Rob Morgan, Business Development Manager, Eurofins Ireland Ltd and Brian Dolan, Managing Director, ISOVER Ireland

quality of these buildings. “The Eurofins award was made possible following the introduction of the latest in mineral wool manufacturing technology by Isover, called G3. This revolutionary technology allows us to introduce more natural ingredients to our processes, thus Isover insulation will be even better than before in

environmental terms”. Last September Isover introduced G3 Touch for their Attic Insulation range and from September G3 Touch will be extended to all their insulation products meaning all Isover insulation will come with 3 guarantees: Great Performance; Gentle to use and Good for the Environment.

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18|

industry news

Trespa develops environmental credentials with BREEAM rating Trespa has a long track record as a leading innovator in the field of architectural materials and has a strong commitment to sustainability. The company works closely with architects, designers, installers, distributors and end users to ensure all its products not only meet the requirements of each individual project, but also maintain Trespa’s credentials as an environmentally aware manufacturer. Trespa’s policy “Do No Harm, Do Good, Do Better” is used to measure the impact on the environment throughout the life cycle of the product. Now Trespa has received the Environmental Profile Certificate from BBA for its Trespa® Meteon® FR and Trespa® Meteon® Standard product range. BREEAM is one of a number of environmental assessment methods and rating systems for buildings. According to BREEAM.org there are some 250,000 buildings with

certified assessment ratings and over a million buildings registered for assessment since it was first launched in 1990. BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation. It is a comprehensive and widely recognised tool to measure a building’s environmental performance. BREEAM enables designers, clients and others to think about low carbon and low impact design, minimising the energy demands created by a building before considering energy efficiency and low carbon technologies. A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks. This creates a clear evaluation of a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria from energy to ecology. They include aspects related to for example energy and water use, the

internal environment (health and well-being), pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes. Trespa is extremely proud to have achieved the Environmental Profile Certificate from BBA for its Trespa, Meteon, FR and Trespa Meteon Standard product range. Trespa has become increasingly

aware of its impact on the environment and continues its commitment to nature. The challenge is to limit the impact of Trespa products and operations on the environment. Trespa is fully committed to playing its part in understanding and meeting the associated diverse challenges, now and in the future.

BBA endorsement for ROOFMATE SL-A insulation

Dow Building Solutions has been awarded BBA accreditation for its Styrofoam Roofmate SL-A extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation, designed

for insulating inverted flat roofs. The inverted roof system was invented by Dow over 50 years ago, using Styrofoam XPS as the insulation layer. Over the years,

Roofmate SL-A has earned its reputation as a reliable and durable insulation material for such systems, thanks to a set of properties not commonly found in one package. The product has high compressive strength and offers excellent moisture resistance thanks to its closed cell structure, resulting in low water pick-up over time despite rigorous conditions on exposed rooftops. Designed and installed correctly, Roofmate SL-A will also maintain its thermal conductivity performance for the expected lifetime of the building: tests show that even after 300 cycles of freezing and thawing, Roofmate SL-A will absorb less than 1% of moisture by volume, supporting long term performance demands. With a range of single, extruded

thickness up to 200mm, the material is lightweight yet robust, offering flexibility and durability across the range of inverted roof constructions, including green roofs and parking decks. Declared thermal conductivity of Roofmate SL-A is as low as 0.034 W/mK in a 100mm thickness. Specifiers and contractors wanting support in calculating corrected U-values under ETAG 031-1 for possible water absorption, and under BS EN ISO 6946 for rainwater cooling, can get help from the Dow Building Solutions technical helpdesk on 08707 104 553 or fkltech@dow.com. For details on stockists of Roofmate SL-A and other Styrofoam insulation products, visit www.styrofoam.co.uk, email dbsuk@ dow.com or call 020 3139 4000.

industry news

|19

Licensed to spark? SparkSafe is a licence to practice system for electrical workers operated for the benefit of the construction industry and its customers. At the present time almost anyone can work as an electrician in Northern Ireland. As a result unqualified and unskilled workers enter the supply chain. This means that electrical safety standards and quality of work often end up being compromised with snagging and handover difficulties leading to project delay. The majority of local electrical contractors are undoubtedly committed to improving quality and raising standards. This is however often hampered by some sub-contractors submitting sub economic tenders that may be subsidised with lower paid unqualified and unskilled workers. Clearly this is a scenario where everyone in the procurement process including the client eventually loses out.

Main Contractors and professional client organisations have at least until now had no convenient or independently assured means to determine that they are paying for qualified electrical workers. The licence to practice system will significantly improve the opportunity of Main Contractors to increase quality improvement and contract performance on behalf of their clients. For the first time the Main Contractor along with clients professional representatives will be able to view on-line the identity and make-up of the appointed electrical contractors workforce by individual licence type. This will provide reassurance to the construction team that the electrical contractor’s workforce is identified, balanced and matched to the requirements of the contract. Requirements under the CDM 2007 Regulation oblige the Main Contractor to ensure that the electrical sub - contractor should be competent for the work they are doing. In turn the electrical

subcontractor must also ensure that steps are taken to meet these requirements by employing competent workers. The SparkSafe licence to practice

system is a free to use resource for the Main Contractor providing an excellent quality improvement and on-line CDM compliance management tool.

Do you need Fast Access to Specialist Products? HSS Hire can deliver Lift & Shift, Powered Access, Safety, Survey, Welding quickly and easily. Providing: • Large range of new plant and equipment • 100% Tested • Great value with no hidden extras • Kit delivered when you need it HSS Hire ensuring you get more safety, more support, more value and more availability, You'll find you're better equipped when you hire from us. HSS is your nationwide hire company Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland

NI: 08457 28 28 28 or hss.com ROI: 1800 22 33 66 or hss.ie

Download the latest Magazine from www.swissfacades.com. Contact Anne Hurl. Tel: +44 (0)7554 056930 Office Tel: +44 (0)28 79632026 Email us info@swissfacades.com

digest |07

Transforming Exterior Facades

Premium Swiss Quality Panel Systems for High End Architecture

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digest

22|

Brick Bits... Siniat has supplied its latest innovation, GTEC Weather Defence, as the sheathing material for the construction of an £11.5 million school in south Wales. The school in the Rhondda Valley became the first of a number of major projects to use the innovative new gypsum-based board, which was a key component of the building’s external envelope. GTEC Weather Defence was launched at Ecobuild in March this year, and is ideal for frame-based construction. It is water, weather and mould resistant, and is 30% lighter and safer to install than cement board alternatives, allowing for faster build times and improved site safety.

Engineered wood solutions continue to be one of the timber sector’s real success stories and bring strength, flexibility and aesthetics to building design. Some of the leading thinkers, commentators and industry specialists will be gathering to discuss cross laminated timber (CLT), Glulam and other solid timber solutions and its role in sustainability and low carbon design at Timber Expo this year. Timber Expo takes place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Birmingham 24-25 September with over 5,000 visitors expected including architects and designers, engineers and contractors, local authorities and a wide range of those working in the built environment.

Schueco Jansen Insulated Steel Facade System gains European Technical Approval According to Schueco Jansen, Europe’s leading steel systems specialist, its VISS SG structural glazing façade system, introduced into the UK last year, has just been given European Technical Approval (ETA13/0015). The rigorous ETA testing process means that architects and contractors can now be even more confident about the fitness for purpose of this structurally robust, highly insulated steel façade system. The contemporary sought-after ‘allglass’ appearance of a VISS SG Façade is achieved through a special toggle and channel system which holds the glazed unit in place mechanically, without the need for the traditional mullion/transom pressure plate and cover cap profiles. The result is that, from the outside, only the narrow silicone joints between adjoining units are visible.

Its all-steel construction makes VISS SG the ideal system for façades that feature long spans and large glazed areas. Capable of supporting glass panes up to 2.5 m wide x 5.0 m high and weighing up to 800 kg, VISS SG delivers maximum transparency for the building envelope together with excellent ‚U‘ values. VISS SG is available in either 50

mm and 60 mm face widths and can be combined with any of the VISS profile family including VISS Basic, which can be mounted on any suitable support structure to give a wide range of options. For further information on the Schueco Jansen VISS SG Façade and other Schueco Jansen steel systems, e-mail mkinfobox@schueco.com

Yeoman Shield expanding into the Irish marketplace

David Plunkett, Area Sales Manager for the Republic of Ireland

Drummond McKenzie, Area Sales Manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland

Having established itself as the UK mainland market leader in wall & door protection products, Yeoman Shield is now winning a reputation for its expertise, service and

products in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Yeoman Shield has David Plunkett, who is responsible for the Republic of Ireland, based in Mullingar giving him access to all areas of the ROI.

He has a wealth of experience gained from working in the Irish building industry for many years. Drummond McKenzie, Yeoman Shield’s Area Sales Manager for Scotland is now responsible for Northern Ireland and has over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. Both have in-depth experience of working with a wide range of customers including architects, specifiers and building contractors. Yeoman Shield has supplied products which were also installed by their own directly employed fixing operatives on a number of key projects including the Royal Mail in Belfast, the Altnagelvin hospital in Derry, Dublin Bus Station and University Hospital Cork. For further details on the full range of Yeoman Shield products visit www.yeomanshield.com

PRONET SAFETY SERVICES digest |07

Fall Arrest Cable System Skainos Building Belfast

ProNet’s Fall Arrest Systems

all arrest and restraint systems are designed to provide protection to end-users at risk of falls. ProNet Safety Services offer a selection of modern high performance fall arrest/restraint systems for use on modern structures and roofs. We specialise in systems that comply

with current British and International standards for working at heights. ProNet’s expertise and experience means that we can supply both manufactured systems or design and install custom-built systems that meet the individual requirements of your project.

Products and Services The following sections provide an overview of what we can provide, please contact us if you have a particular problem or application that isn’t featured on our site.

• Horizontal, Vertical, Inclined and Overhead Cable Systems • Mobile Anchors • Eyebolts • Demarcation • Annual systems Retest • Risk Assessment • Maintenance • Training

PRONET SAFETY SERVICES - The Fall Arrest, Restraint, Safety Netting and Edge Protection Specialists Tel: 028 9337 3967 • Fax: 028 9335 3518 • Email: info@pronetsafetyservices.com • Web: www.pronetsafetyservices.com Web: www.pronetsafetyproducts.com

24| profile

Driving change without compromising standards New Willis & Company Managing Director Richard Willis looks forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead. Richard Willis, Managing Director, Willis & CompanyWillis

ocal independent Insurance and Risk Management business Willis & Company has recently re-branded to support and enhance its long established reputation for professional advice and cost effective solutions. The new look is timed to coincide with senior management changes and planned succession within the family business but also reflects an increased focus on the value of sound insurance advice as part of a broader protection strategy for local companies. Four divisions will now operate under the group brand offering a comprehensive range of services for all existing and potential clients:

• Insurance & Risk Management • Accident Investigation Services • Wealth Management • Health & Safety Services Newly appointed Managing Director, Richard Willis, comments: “Having taken stock of what has worked well for us over thirty five years, we believe our strong empathy with other owner managed businesses has become increasingly relevant in the current economic environment. Relationships built through serious discussions on the risks facing individual businesses are more sustainable in the longer term but they do require a lot of effort. Trust needs to be earned over time

but often there is pressure to change broker or insurer frequently on price alone leading to huge fluctuations in premium as claims costs come home to roost. Having consistently emphasised the value of fully understanding our clients’ businesses before suggesting risk solutions, we believe we are now well positioned to ensure our expanding range of services are both relevant and marketable.” Deputy Chairman, Billy Bennington, adds: “All insurance brokers aspire to the coveted position of trusted business advisor to their clients. From 1978 when present Executive Chairman Robert Willis founded the

company we have worked hard at this and the introduction in recent years of our specialist consultancy led divisions is strong evidence of a listening culture. The Willis Insurance and Risk Management offering is evolving into our long held strategic vision and Richard’s appointment brings a fresh impetus to the company.”

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

Richard Willis: “The launch of the new branding, particularly on our website, has enabled the business to review how its proposition is articulated. Whilst very keen to retain a broad

profile |25 problem solving profile across all client sectors, we have included a Centre of Excellence focus in our marketing strategy, selecting our best technical and experienced personnel as champions. Our investment will underpin our existing strong presence in most of the areas chosen and also enable us to harness the strengths of all our divisions in a holistic approach to the protection of our clients’ interests as businesses, individuals and families. Our Centres of Excellence will be: • Construction • Transportation • Professional Risks • Property Management • Private Clients • Hospitality & Leisure

PROFESSIONALISM & CHARTERED STATUS

The launch of the Professional Risks centre of excellence and the Willis objective of becoming better known as the “professional’s professional” go hand in hand in the development of the consultancy side of the business. Richard Willis comments :“Achieving Chartered Status or the industry’s gold standard early was important to the company as a badge of professional recognition and also by setting the corporate bar as high as possible we can encourage staff to aim high for personal qualifications. We see this as a vital ingredient of our overall PR and highly relevant to the marketing of our services to other Northern Ireland professionals. At our recent half year staff briefing

Deputy Chairman Billy Bennington, Executive Chairman Robert Willis and Managing Director Richard Willis

we were pleased to celebrate Client Director Tracey Carson’s attainment of her Fellowship amongst our other successes in the Chartered Insurance Institute examinations.

DUTY TO WARN

In an industry historically criticised for its use of jargon, Willis & Company

are quick to acknowledge the efforts by leading insurers over recent years in producing modern policy wordings in more easily understood language. Disappointingly however there is still a lack of effort going into ensuring client facing executives explain the fundamentals effectively. “The regulatory regime in our sector is quite rightly raising standards and seriously increasing the burden of responsibility on brokers to get things right for their clients. Often insurance is placed at the cheapest price on the broad assumption that the policy cover will be similar to more expensive alternatives. This may be the client’s view but if the broker knows differently he can expect to

be in the firing line if an uninsured incident occurs.”

FUTURE INITIATIVES

Willis Insurance & Risk Management has a number of new projects in the pipeline, some ready for launch in the coming weeks. Richard Willis says, “Whilst one of the major advantages of independence is the speed at which change can be executed, we are also very conscious of the value of project managing each initiative through to completion without causing undue distraction to our core business. We are continually strengthening the team here in Belfast and are now well positioned for the exciting challenges ahead. Watch this space!”

“Having taken stock of what has worked well for us over thirty five years, we believe our strong empathy with other owner managed businesses has become increasingly relevant in the current economic environment.” For further information on Willis & Company, contact Jonathan Gilmartin, David Stevenson or Keith Hynds at:

Tel: 028 9032 9042

Email: info@willisinsurance.co.uk Web: www.willisinsurance.co.uk Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

26| Saint Gobain Transformados | ACH Panels

Welcome to Saint Gobain Transformados

GT as a company has been highly specialised in the design and manufacture of PUR, PIR and Steel Wool core products and over the past number of years has been heavily involved in the continuing development of better fire resistant and sound Insulation panels for the construction market. The panel division of Saint Gobain [ACH Panels] was initially set up in 2000 to design and develop a wide range of single skin and Insulated panels specifically for the construction sector. We are committed to developing a better range of products that can provide a more attractive and Innovative solution for warehouses and Industrial buildings along with other applications for the general construction sector. Our goal is to grow with our customers by offering a customised solution and a quality service to everyone. All of this will be achieved through compliance and by adhering to the conduct and performance of the Saint Gobain Group.

A team of highly qualified professionals We have a team of highly trained and qualified professionals who are committed to responding to our client’s needs. Our philosophy is to provide a personal service at all times which will only enhance the value of our products.

Saint Gobain | ACH Panels | High Quality Custom Panel Lines The secret to the customisation of our panel lines is the continuous manufacturing process which has been rigorously checked to ensure the uniformity of the panels which in turn streamlines production and helps with the day to day planning. Our panel range is complemented by our accessories which can be designed to be tailor made for each Individual project thus offering a complete

roofing solution to every one of our clients. More than just a standard product each panel manufactured by Saint Gobain | ACH is the result of our personalised customer service. Each Individual request by our customer allows us to provide a bespoke solution to cater for there exact needs.

The Advantages: • Ease of Installation • Environment-Friendly Products • PIR Core Panels Stone Wool Type L & M Panels which are: • Highly resistant to fire • Low reaction time to fire • High level of acoustic absorption • High mechanical strength • High level of Thermal Resistance

ACH – High Resistance to Fire | Safer Buildings Saint Gobain | ACH Panels are subject to rigorous and stringent testing to achieve products with are highly resistance to fire. This makes them a suitable application in any sector where the risk of fire is a main concern, for example in buildings such as Industrial buildings, public offices, residential developments etc. Another determining factor when selecting a material is its natural reaction to flame and here again Saint Gobain | ACH Panels have achieved the highest rating required for this type of material: A2 – S1.DO Accreditations Include: Fire Resistance | EN13501-2 Reaction to fire | EN13501-1

Saint Gobain | ACH – Advanced Acoustic Properties – Ideal Noise Insulation Saint Gobain | ACH Panels provide added value to their panels by combining highly efficient acoustic performance which in turn can offer a benefit in the Improvement

“We have a team of highly trained and qualified professionals who are committed to responding to our client’s needs.”

Saint Gobain Transformados | ACH Panels |27 of environmental quality and noise Insulation. This makes our panels Ideal for large Industrial environments, busy public places and public work buildings thanks to their high capacity for absorbing the acoustics created by noise. Saint Gobain | ACH Acoustic screens have the highest ratings for sound absorption and Insulation: A4-B3

Saint Gobain | ACH Basic Panel Guaranteed Quality At Saint Gobain Transformados we are continually striving to be Innovative and to develop our range of products into a market that is constantly demanding more energy saving through the increased use of Insulation. The basic panel range is a sandwich type construction consisting of two outer sheets of steel and a core composed off organic materials with high thermal insulation properties. The main panels consist of: • Roof Panels • Façade Panels • Refrigerated Panels • Coppo Tile Panels

Saint Gobain | Structural Deck Roofing The Saint Gobain range of specialised roof decking allows for a fully watertight system without the need for additional sealing tapes and in doing so eliminates the problem of thermal bridging. An added advantage is that as a

single provider for all your Insulation and profiled sheeting all materials leaving the factory are thoroughly examined and tested to provide our customers with only the highest quality of materials.

Saint Gobain Transformados | International Scope At Saint Gobain Transformados we are firmly committed to developing new markets. Currently our ranges of Innovative products are present on five different continents, Europe – Portugal – France – Netherlands – Germany – United Kingdom Etc... Our worldwide reputation has allowed us to become recognized as one of the largest suppliers in the market today of metal panels and Insulated products, thanks in no small part to our in depth Industrial knowledge and expertise of our products. We are confident that these factors together with our motivation and commitment will enable us entry into new markets and to establishing our presence there as well.

SGT | ACH Entry into UK and Ireland

aint Gobain | ACH Panels are pleased to announce the appointment of Uniclad Limited as their official UK | Ireland partner. Uniclad Limited, who have over 20 Years of experience within the roofing and cladding market, believe the timing is right for SGT to enter this market with their Innovative range of Insulated and profiled roofing and wall cladding panels. The company which has offices both in the UK mainland and Ireland is delighted with their appointment which comes about after months of discussions with Saint Gobain regarding their entry into this very competitive market. With Saint Gobain already recognized through out the world for their commitment to quality, reliability and environmental impact across their entire product range it will not be long before the markets here start to see the Saint Gobain range of products appearing on their buildings. Saint Gobain Transformados Different by design

Commitment to Safety and the Environment WE are committed to quality, safety and environmental protection. All our activities are preformed in accordance with prevailing legislation in order to keep our environmental impact to the minimum and prevent workplace risks for our employees, temporary workers, contractors, visitors and customers and the environment.

SOLUTIONS

UNICLAD LIMITED Saint Gobain Official Partner UK & Ireland

THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

News in Brief... ARE YOU READY FOR AUTO-ENROLMENT? In October 2012 the Government introduced new auto-enrolment legislation which makes it compulsory for all employers to enrol workers into a qualifying workplace pension scheme to which both the employer and employee will contribute. This represents a huge change in pension regulation and a challenge for businesses. Auto-enrolment requirements are being phased in over 5 years. Large firms started enrolling their workers into a pension scheme in 2012, medium-sized firms are starting now, and smaller businesses will follow in the years to 2018. Your staging date is determined by the total number of persons in your largest PAYE scheme, based on information held by HMRC at 1 April 2012. The Pensions Regulator will send you a notification letter 12 months and 3 months before your company is due to begin complying. It is important to prepare early for auto-enrolment as the compliance challenges are not to be underestimated. CEF recommends that you start planning at least 12 months before your staging date. With over 30 years’ experience in delivering pensions to the construction industry, the Enhance - Construction Pension Scheme meets the auto-enrolment requirements and is available to all employees in the construction industry. Our Pensions team is offering members a free auto-enrolment planning programme to assist with the process including help with employee communications. Seminars will be held in the early autumn to highlight the key issues you need to consider when preparing your company for autoenrolment. Dates and venues will be announced in the coming weeks. If you have any queries please contact Iain Ferguson on 028 9087 7153 or visit the Enhance scheme’s new website www. enhancepensionscheme.co.uk which provides a wealth of information including a step by step guide to auto-enrolment and a suggested planner.

NVIR-O-CERT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME NVIR-O-CERT is the construction-specific environmental management system developed by CEF and supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. The NVIR-O-CERT Development Programme has been designed to help prepare companies that do not currently operate an environmental management system for their first NVIR-O-CERT full audit. Funding is now available from CITB-ConstructionSkills NI for a programme of training to help firms achieve NVIRO-CERT accreditation. This training which is worth £1000 is available for only £50 + VAT. There are only 20 places available on the programme and places will be allocated strictly on a first come first served basis. To be eligible for the programme your company must have signed up to NVIR-O-CERT. The reduced fee of £50 + VAT is available to companies registered with CITB or subcontractors of main contractors who are registered with CITB. If you are a subcontractor who is not registered with CITB the application for this programme must be made on your behalf by a company registered with CITB.

Programme Overview

The NVIR-O-CERT Development Programme consists of the following three elements: • Tailored Gap Analysis and Action Plan • Three half days of one-to-one consultancy with a leading environmental expert with construction experience • Three full day workshops

Programme Details

Gap Analysis and Action Plan CEF is working in partnership with the ARENA network, part of Business in the Community, to offer an NVIR-OCERT gap analysis service. The service is for companies that have signed up to the scheme and are making preparations in advance of their first audit. The service provides an independent review of your current environmental practice against the requirements of NVIR-O-CERT. From this gap analysis an action plan will be drawn up detailing any additional elements that will be required to meet the NVIR-O-CERT specification. As part of the process a confidential environmental audit will be undertaken which will highlight any legal compliance issues and provide ideas that may be used as objectives and targets for environmental improvement.

Workshops

Workshop Day 1 • Explanation and overview of NVIR-O-CERT and its requirements • Environmental policy • Management commitment • Environmental risks • Objectives and targets

Workshop Day 2 • Legislation and legal compliance • Operational controls • Site Environmental plans • KPI’s and reporting format Workshop Day 3 • Emergency response • Incident reporting and investigation • Training • Internal audit • Management review

Mentoring

One-to-one mentoring will ensure that the companies understand the requirements of NVIR-O-CERT and how to practically apply these requirements to their company and construction site operations. Specific elements to be covered within the mentoring process include: • Assistance with completing environmental risk assessment and scoring relevant risks. • Assistance with setting relevant improvement objectives linked to outcome of risk assessment • Assistance with identification of legislation which is relevant to the company from the CEF environmental law register. • Assistance with gathering evidence of compliance with relevant legislation • Assistance with gathering information for KPI’s and annual report • Assistance with identification of which operational control and emergency procedures are relevant and tailoring these procedures to be specific to the company • Assistance with gathering relevant records as evidence that operational control procedures are being followed • Assistance with completing first internal audit checklist • Assistance with carrying out first management review meeting • Visit to one construction site (in Northern Ireland) to advise on practical construction site environmental controls.

Programme Delivery

Delivery of the gap analysis and one-to-one mentoring for this programme will start toward the end of August 2013. The three workshops will be delivered in September/ October 2013. The dates will be agreed with the 20 participating companies.

Booking

To book your place on the NVIR-O-CERT Development Programme please contact Kathryn Webb on KathrynW@ cefni.co.uk or Michelle Rafferty on MichelleR@cefni.co.uk or call 028 9087 7143.

SITE VISIT TO MAZE LONG KESH

During June the Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation hosted an information day for CEF members. The purpose of the visit to the site at the Maze was to make the industry aware of the significant opportunities that will arise over the next few years as the Maze Long Kesh site is re-developed. This is a very exciting opportunity for CEF members who wish to compete for the forthcoming construction works. The event commenced with an introduction and presentation on the development opportunities by Kyle Alexander, Chief Executive of the Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation and Terrence Brannigan, Chairman of the Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation. There was a Q & A session after the presentations. This was then followed by a bus tour of the substantial site. The tour included a visit to the retained buildings. These included the former prison buildings and World War II aircraft hangars. Demand for places on this visit was so great that a second visit is being organised for CEF members on 9 September.

DSD EASES RESTRICTIONS ON HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS ENGAGING WITH DEVELOPERS The Department of Social Development (DSD) has confirmed to CEF that housing associations now have the discretion to engage with developers and confirm their interest in potential new developments. In recent years, housing associations have been reluctant to engage with developers due to the disapproval of DSD’s compliance team of any such engagement. As a result, developers have not even been able to get housing associations to confirm their interest in housing of a certain type, in a certain area at a certain price. This made it difficult for developers to obtain funding for schemes from the banks. CEF has been campaigning over the last year for the Department to change its stance on this issue. CEF highlighted that engagement between housing associations and developers can be carefully controlled to ensure that it gives rise to no express or implied contractual commitment. As a result of the CEF’s lobbying, DSD has now confirmed that it will allow housing associations to provide prospective developers with a written expression of interest in housing of a certain type, at a certain price, in a certain area. DSD has advised that it is for each housing association to seek its own legal advice on the matter and to ensure that any such expression of interest does not create a contractual commitment to purchase any units. Housing associations are permitted to buy housing off the shelf without a procurement process. However, to be considered for off the shelf purchase, the housing units must be practically complete. Housing associations are not permitted to give a commitment to purchase houses until the units are practically complete. CEF is continuing to lobby DSD to permit the use of negotiated design and build for contracts below the EU threshold. Following a meeting with CEF and the DSD Minister in May 2013, DSD officials have given an undertaking that the issue will be reviewed.

ECONOMIC PACKAGE: A BOOST FOR CONSTRUCTION On 14 June 2013, the UK Government and the NI Executive announced a new package of proposals aimed at rebalancing the Northern Irish economy and securing a shared future. ‘Building a Prosperous and United Community’ signed in Downing Street by the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and the First and deputy First Minster, sets out a range of measures to help rebalance the Northern Irish economy and support the Executive’s proposals on a shared future. The measures of particular interest to the local construction industry include: • An additional £100 million in capital borrowing powers for the Executive over 2014-15 and 2015-16 to support specific shared housing and education projects. • Unlocking access for Northern Ireland to the Government’s £40 billion Infrastructure Guarantee Scheme. • A joint programme of work to examine the potential to gift up to 350 surplus MoD houses and bases for use in shared future projects. • A new process led by the Executive to ensure the planning system in Northern Ireland supports economic growth. • An Executive-led review of business red tape, including recommendations to reduce the regulatory burdens facing businesses, to report by December 2013. Responding to the announcement, John Armstrong, Managing Director of the CEF said, “We welcome the additional £100m of borrowing which will go toward delivering additional housing and education projects. The focus must immediately turn to putting mechanisms in place to ensure there is no hold up in getting these projects on the ground from April next year.” He added, “It is also reassuring to note the recognition given by the Government and the Executive to the importance of infrastructure projects in stimulating the economy in the short term and laying the foundations for private sector growth in the longer term. We welcome the commitment by the UK Government to widen the scope of the Infrastructure Guarantee Scheme and the commitment by the Executive to identify potential projects that could take advantage of the scheme.”

THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

News in Brief... Health Minister Addresses All Party Working Group on Construction On 25 June 2013, the Health Minister addressed the All Party Working Group on Construction at Stormont. This All Party Working Group consists of MLAs from each political party and industry representatives from the Construction Industry Group. The Minister was invited to outline his plans for capital investment in the health estate and to provide an update on the Desertcreat project. At the meeting the Minister provided an overview of the specific capital projects that he intends to take forward over the coming years. CEF subsequently met Health Estates officials on 27 June 2013 to discuss the projects in more detail and a report listing the projects is available in the member’s only section of the CEF website www.cefni.co.uk. In relation to the Northern Ireland Community Safety College at Desertcreat, the Minister confirmed that he hoped to be able to award the £114m contract to the preferred bidder very soon. He also announced that a project bank account would be used on the project. CEF raised its concerns with the Minister that the introduction of a requirement for a project bank account at this stage of the procurement process could create a number of serious difficulties. The Minister confirmed that the requirement for a project bank account would be introduced by negotiation with the preferred bidder. CEF is continuing to liaise closely with the Central Procurement Directorate CPD to monitor and influence the development of policy on the wider use project bank accounts.

BUILDING REGULATIONS (NI) 2012 WITHDRAWAL OF TECHNICAL BOOKLET B (MATERIALS & WORKMANSHIP) 2012 The Properties Division of the Department of Finance & Personnel has advised CEF that the recent introduction of the Construction Products Regulation EU 305/2011 has necessitated updating the guidance in Technical Booklet B 2012. Members are therefore advised that the Building Regulations Technical Booklet B (Materials & Workmanship) 2012 was withdrawn on 30 June 2013 and is replaced by Technical Booklet B 2013. The main changes to Technical Booklet B over that of the previous 2012 edition are that the text is re-ordered and updated to give due prominence to the EU Construction

Products Regulation (EU 305/2011) and the sub section dealing with Workmanship is updated. The Building Regulations apply to buildings and building work in Northern Ireland. The revised guidance supporting Part B of those regulations, Technical Booklet B (Materials & Workmanship) 2013 took effect from 1 July 2013. However, the 2012 edition will continue to apply to work for which full plans were deposited or building notice given before 1 July 2013. The new Technical Booklet B 2013 can be downloaded free of charge from www.dfpni.gov.uk Further information on construction products regulations & CE marking can be found at www.planningportal.gov.uk

controversial amendments to the planning bill The Planning Bill 2013 has passed the first of two consideration stages at the Northern Ireland Assembly at which MLA’s have the opportunity to seek amendments to the Bill before it becomes legislation. The majority of the Bill has been approved un-amended and despite significant opposition, economic considerations will become a material consideration and will be given equal weighting along with all other material considerations. The main provisions of the Planning Bill that were approved without amendment include a duty for statutory consultees to respond to consultation within a prescribed time frame; a reduction in the time limit for submitting appeals from six to four months; a requirement for developers to consult with communities before making a major planning application; raising of fines for serious breaches to £100,000 and the use of fixed penalty notices for breaches of enforcement. One significant amendment which was approved amid substantial political opposition and media scrutiny was the proposed introduction of ‘Economically Significant Planning Zones’. The purpose of these zones will be to streamline the planning process within designated areas where planning restrictions would be relaxed in order to encourage development and inward investment. The Environment Minister vigorously opposed this amendment as it would move planning powers from his Department to the Office of the First and deputy First Ministers (OFMDFM). Another highly contentious amendment that was approved was the restriction to be placed on the opportunities to seek judicial review of planning decisions. A new clause is to be inserted into the Bill that will require an objector to demonstrate that a planning decision will breach human rights or European law in order to bring a planning decision before the courts. Amendments to introduce third party appeals and to give greater weighting to measures to protect the environment were both defeated.

cef response to ulster bank purchasing managers index for june 2013 The Ulster Bank Northern Ireland Purchasing Managers’ Index is produced by Markit Economics. The report features original survey data collected from a representative panel of companies based in Northern Ireland and operating in the manufacturing, service, construction and retail/wholesale sectors. The Northern Ireland private sector saw a broad stabilisation in activity during June, while both new business and backlogs of work returned to growth. Firms continued to lower their staffing levels, however. Meanwhile, the rate of input cost inflation remained sharp, but companies left their output prices unchanged. John Armstrong, Managing Director of the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) said, “This survey published in early July supports our analysis that the construction industry in Northern Ireland may have reached a turning point. Following a marked deceleration in the pace of decline in construction output last year, there has been a tentative wave of positivity in the industry in the first half of 2013. The CEF State of Trade survey for the first

quarter of 2013 shows that 34% of companies are now working at full or almost full capacity and 26% expect their workload to increase over the next 12 months. This is the most positive feedback from members in four or five years.” “We are fairly confident that this improved performance is being driven by both the fantastic record of local companies in securing contracts in Great Britain and a more stable housing market in Northern Ireland. After seven years of decline in new housing completions, we expect the figures for 2012/13 to show that private sector housing completions increased by between 15% and 30% on 2011/12. “However, the Ulster Bank survey also shows that the prices being charged by construction companies have fallen once again. This is a stark reminder that extremely difficult market conditions persist.” “Annual construction output is now, in real terms, over £1bn lower than it was at the turn of the century. For the wider economy a full blown recovery in the construction sector cannot come soon enough.”

FREE NVQs FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SET TO CONTINUE UNTIL 2014 Funding has been secured to allow construction workers to gain an NVQ level 2 for free up until March 2014. The ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce’ project was launched last year and provided qualifications to those already working in the construction industry but who were not formally qualified. The project is a joint initiative between CITB-ConstructionSkills NI and the Joint Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industry (NI) was funded by the Department for Employment and Learning and this funding has been extended for a further 12 months. Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITBConstructionSkills NI said, “We are delighted that the project will continue into 2014, it is a great opportunity for construction employees to be properly qualified and be ahead of the game. Approximately 9,000 people currently working in the sector are not qualified to the appropriate standard. It is vital that employers and their staff continue to train through these challenging economic times and this is particularly important for the construction sector. We encourage construction workers to sign up and claim their free qualification not only to help themselves but also the local industry.” Nine assessment centres have been awarded the contract to assess the candidates across the whole of Northern Ireland. 37 occupations are available through the project ranging from brick laying to wall & floor tiling. Registration is currently open. There are three routes available for obtaining the qualification (portfolio building, on-site assessment and experienced worker). For full details of on qualifications available and a list of the assessment centres log on to www.citbcsni.org.uk and follow the links for Free NVQ’s or call CITB-ConstructionSkills NI on 028 9082 5466.

HOUSING STRATEGY ACTION PLAN LAUNCHED Nelson McCausland, the Minister for Social Development, recently published an Action Plan which puts into effect his Department’s Housing Strategy which was the subject of a consultation process in 2012. The Action Plan contains 33 separate proposals to deliver decent, affordable and sustainable homes in Northern Ireland over the five year period 2012 – 2017. Some of the proposals in the action plan have already begun to be implemented such as harmonisation of standards for social housing construction with those used for private development and the introduction and review of the effectiveness of social clauses in housing procurement. Other significant proposals include: • The establishment of a Housing Supply Forum to identify ways to increase the supply of housing; • The development of shared community housing schemes to remove barriers to shared communities; •The development of a new strategic approach to support the repair and improvement of the private sector housing stock; • Continuing to monitor market conditions with a view to developing options for the implementation of developer contributions; • The Action Plan can be downloaded at http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/facing-the-futureaction-plan.pdf

Courses & seminars programme AUGUST 2013 - DECEMBER 2013 Course/Seminar Title

Date(s)

Duration

EU Timber Regulations

12 Sep

2 hrs

Invasive Species Identification & Management

3 Oct

2 hrs

Spill Kit Training

9 Oct

2 hrs

SuDS - What you need to know

10 Oct

3 hrs

Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability Monitoring, Measurement & Action

6 Nov

2 hrs

Extracting Maximum Value from Your Waste

26 Nov

2 hrs

How to Write Winning PQQs (am)

24 Sept

½ day

Winning PQQs Masterclass (pm)

24 Sept

½ day

Success at Tender Interview

16 Oct

1 day

Quality Submissions - Substance & Style

5 Nov

½ day

Strategic Marketing

5 Nov

½ day

Bonds & Collateral Warranties

17 Sept

2 hrs

NEC3 Compensation Events

19 Sept

2 hrs

Adjudication - Making it Work

22 Oct

2 hrs

10 Dec

1 day

Essential Health & Safety for Managers

29 Aug & 5 Sept

2 days

Essential Health & Safety for Senior Executives

30 Aug

½ day

Essential Health & Safety for Managers’ Refresher

6 Sept

½ day

Winning Work

In Contract

Business Improvement Creating Effective Construction Teams Health and Safety

Essential Health & Safety for Senior Executives

20 Sept

½ day

Essential Health & Safety for Managers’ Refresher

11 Oct

½ day

Essential Health & Safety for Senior Executives

18 Oct

½ day

Behavioural Based Safety Programme

Early Nov (TBC)

3 days

Essential Health & Safety for Managers

7 & 14 Nov

2 days

Essential Health & Safety for Managers’ Refresher

8 Nov

½ day

Essential Health & Safety for Senior Executives

15 Nov

½ day

Essential Health & Safety for Senior Executives

11 Dec

½ day

Essential Health & Safety for Managers’ Refresher

13 Dec

½ day

Please visit our Events Calendar at www.cefni.co.uk for further information on forthcoming courses/seminars. We would be pleased to discuss any other management or professional training requirements you might have. For further information phone 028 9087 7141 or e-mail cfts@cefni.co.uk

The Construction Employers Federation is responsible for supplying the editorial content of the CEF News section. The Federation does not purport to have any editorial input to the remainder of Specify magazine.

143 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6SU

•

Tel: 028 9087 7143

•

Fax: 028 9087 7155

•

www.cefni.co.uk

32| CITB

CITB-ConstructionSkills NI Focus on Skills and Training in the Construction Industry to develop their own business to incorporate energy efficient buildings. The second group of 15 construction workers will travel to Biberach in October to complete the same programme, and following the initial success of the project funding has been secured for another 30 places on the programme for 2014 and the recruitment process for these participants will commence later this year.

Heritage The first group of 15 local construction workers learning about sustainable construction in Germany

kills and training are the central core of our business, we at CITB-ConstructionSkills NI understand the importance of training and the positive a effects it can have both internally and externally. We also are aware of the current economic climate and in these hard times training is not always at the top of the business agenda. Ultimately, CITBConstructionSkills NI’s aim is to invest in industry skills and training to make businesses competitive, now and in the future.

For the best part of 50 years, CITB-ConstructionSkills NI has been working with the construction industry to meet its skills and training needs. Now, in the depths of the downturn, it is essential that we continue to support the industry in developing the highly skilled professionals it needs to meet the immediate challenges and prepare for the future.

Qualifications

It is important to get the industry qualified to the appropriate standard, if we are to be globally competitive, we must enhance the skills of our people at all levels. It is vital that employers and their staff continue to train through these challenging economic times and this is even more important for the construction sector. This has been demonstrated through the ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce’ project which will qualify 500 currently unqualified construction workers to NVQ Level 2 and has been extended into 2014. This project, a joint initiative between CITB-ConstructionSkills NI and the Joint Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industry

is funded by the Department for Employment and Learning. The ‘Qualifying the Existing Workforce’ project is a great opportunity for construction employees to be qualified and be ahead of the game. We encourage construction workers to sign up and claim their free qualification not only to help themselves but also the local industry. Nine assessment centres have been awarded the contract to assess the candidates across the whole of Northern Ireland. 37 occupations are available through the project ranging from brick laying to wall & floor tiling and registration is currently open. There are three routes available for obtaining the qualification (portfolio building, on-site assessment and experienced worker). For full details of on qualifications available and a list of the assessment centres log on to www.citbcsni.org.uk and follow the links for Free NVQ’s.

CITB-ConstructionSkills NI have also been working hard to maintain and develop skills in the heritage sector. Funding was received from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its Skills for the Future Programme to continue and expand on work to sustain and develop traditional skills in the local built heritage sector. The HLF funding helped expand the skills base in this specialist sector of the construction industry by providing 10 work-based training placements with experienced

practitioners working on traditional (pre-1919) buildings. It also funded four heritage ambassadors to act as mentors to the trainees and as advocates to promote traditional building skills and this programme throughout the Province. Further funding support of £368,000 has been secured through HLF for the Heritage Specialist Apprenticeship Programme in Wood Occupations in Northern Ireland. 12 apprentices will receive bespoke, structured training and assessment leading to the achievement of the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) – Wood Occupations. The apprentices will receive both on and off the job training with experienced heritage contractors and the training programme is expected to commence in September 2014. Interested parties can keep up to date with the progress and development of these skills projects at www.citbcsni.org.uk or by ‘liking’ CITB-ConstructionSkills NI on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ CITBConstructionSkillsNI.’

Sustainable Construction

With green technologies and environmental changes leading the way to the future, CITBConstructionSkills NI recently sent the first of two groups of construction workers to Bieberach in Germany to learn more about sustainable construction methods, renewable energy and environmental standards. The ‘Building Skills for Sustainable Construction’ project is organised by CITB-ConstructionSkills NI and funded by the European Commission’s Leonardo programme which is managed by Ecorys in the UK. Government targets for more sustainable homes as well as higher demand from customers mean that the skills provided through this training programme are vital for those working in the industry and it is this practical experience that will give participants the opportunity to progress in their current roles or

For a full list of qualifications and assessment centres log on to www.citbcsni.org.uk and follow the links for Free NVQs

industry news

|33

Sanivite waste water solutions

Bangor & Holywood Public Realm Public Consultation A Public Consultation on regeneration plans for Bangor and Holywood town centres is currently taking place and runs until Friday 13 September 2013. North Down Borough Council and the Department for Social Development have contributed significant funding for these schemes - the draft public realm plan proposals incorporate new natural stone paving to footpaths, street furniture, street lighting, tree & shrub planting and public art. A visual display outlining the draft public realm proposals for the towns will be on display until Friday 13 September 2013, in the following venues: Bangor: Flagship Centre, Bangor Town Hall, Spectator Offices, Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex and North Down Borough Council website www.northdown.gov.uk Holywood: Holywood Library, High Street, Bangor Town Hall and North Down Borough Council website www.northdown.gov.uk

Sanivite from Saniflo removes waste water from a sink, dishwasher or washing machine, making the addition of a domestic kitchen or utility room easy, even when below or distant from a drain. Sanivite is a powerful pump with four inlets for connection to sinks or appliances. Waste water is pumped through 32mm small-bore pipework, vertically up to 5 metres or horizontally up to 50 metres or a lesser combination of both. The compact Sanivite is usually concealed in a kitchen unit but can also be concealed behind a demountable panel to give access if required.

Mivan secures over £20m of new contracts Mivan has followed up its recent success in the cruise ship fit-out market with contract wins in London and overseas totalling over £20m. The Fitzroy Place project for key client Sir Robert McAlpine is the largest of the contracts at over £12.5m and the volume of joinery items for this prestigious residential scheme is significant. Exemplar is marketing the scheme as the most significant in the Fitzrovia area of London in 50 years. The 570,000 sq. ft. development includes upmarket apartments, penthouses and commercial office space. Mivan’s scope for the specialist joinery package includes doorsets, skirting, ceiling & wall panelling, bathroom vanity units, bespoke wardrobes and duplex staircases. The majority of the joinery will incorporate European

oak throughout many of the areas. Mivan has commenced procurement for the project and is due to complete this project in April 2014. The Fitzroy Place project with Sir Robert McAlpine follows on from the award of the £2m De Vere Gardens residential project in Kensington, west London, also with the same client. Mivan’s scope includes the manufacture and installation of 40 bespoke staircases. In the overseas market, Mivan has secured a £7m contract to fit-out the Royal Suite of the new King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Described as a ‘Jewel in the Desert’, the project has been designed to create inspirational, world-class sporting facilities. This development is seen as one of the most important projects in the history of modern construction in

Saudi Arabia. Mivan Chief Executive Dr Ivan McCabrey commented, “We are honoured to be involved in this landmark project for King Abdullah and Saudi Arabia. Some of our

strongest Management, Design and Commercial staff from the UK will be running the fit-out with all design development and joinery manufacture taking place at our Head Office in County Antrim.”

34|

digest

Rise of the machines While some sectors of Northern Ireland's manufacturing industry are in the doldrums, those involved in the production of materials handling, screening and crushing machinery are still buoyant. It is clear that manufacturing is no longer the powerhouse of the Northern Ireland economy that it used to be. But in some niche areas, companies from the region are actually leading the way on a global basis. This is particularly true in the materials handling sector and the companies based predominantly around Co. Tyrone who produce machines for crushing, screening and sorting to the mining and construction industries. The Co. Tyrone cluster can be traced back to two companies – Finlay and Powerscreen – who in the 1960s developed mobile screening solutions for quarries to supplement their large static equipment. In the intervening years there were several spinouts from those entities and changes of ownership (both still exist as brands owned by Terex Corporation), with

companies diversifying from mobile screening and crushing into sorting, waste recycling and a whole range of technologies around that activity. International names in the sector who have a manufacturing presence in Northern Ireland include the aforementioned Terex, Caterpillar and NACCO (all from the US), Sandvik and TESAB (from Sweden) and McCloskey (from Canada). Locally owned companies also succeeding in the business include Blackrock Manufacturing, Hill Engineering, Smiley Monroe, JMG Systems and the RP Group. It is estimated the industry accounts for some 4,500 jobs in total and last year the companies combined had turnover worth almost £1bn. Kevin McCann, Invest NI’s Director of Advanced Engineering and Construction, says the boom in the global mining industry has significantly benefited local players in the past few years.

“The materials handling sector is a very buoyant sector at present. The sector suffered from a significant downturn in 2009 but is now seeing significant growth,” he said. “That’s because their market really is international – they are selling in South Africa, South America, Australia, Saudi Arabia, mainland Europe, you name it. Wherever there is a market opportunity you will find those mid-Ulster companies there, and in many cases they will be the dominant player in the market.” McCann notes that many of the companies here have invested heavily in R&D to keep their machinery at the cutting edge, which, allied to their already strong focus on exports, makes the sector a good bet for future growth. “The companies all have an international focus. In fact more than 40% of mobile screening equipment in the world comes

out of mid-Ulster,” he notes. “It is second nature for those firms to operate in the international marketplace – they have always had to do it to succeed and they will continue to do that, especially where they see growth markets, for example Russia, Brazil, South Africa and India. The challenge for all manufacturing, not just in this sector, is to maintain the high value added here, even if they outsource the lower value stuff elsewhere.” Commentators often lament the passing of the days when Northern Ireland’s economy was based around manufacturing. But, sad as it undoubtedly was to see the demise of the textiles and ship building industries, it seems clear that the manufacturing industries that remain here are still making a significant impact on our economy.

103 Airport Rd West Belfast BT3 9ED T: 02890454599 F: 02890454596 www.ridgeway-online.com Official Irish Distribution Partner

CEF/Specify awards

The Finalists in full... Company

sponsors

DEL The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) has a range of programmes and initiatives which support excellence within the construction industry. Through The Union Learning Fund, DEL’s Essential Skills Branch has agreed a contract, stretching over three years 2011-14, with the Union of Construction Allied Trades & Technicians (UCATT) for the provision of a project entitled “Building Learning”. This project will enable construction workers to access, and progress up the skills ladder. The Department is also working with the industry on a project to enable experienced construction workers to gain a qualification. The Skills Solution service provides employers with a learning and skills service which identifies and helps meet the training needs of those organisations. Skills solutions makes three main offerings to companies in all sectors, including construction: Information, Advice and Guidance, Bridge to Employment, and Customized Training. The Department’s “Made Not Born” campaign showcases its suite of Management and Leadership development programmes, including the Management and Leadership Development Programme for individuals and the Management Analysis and Planning Programme targeted at companies. Investors in People (IIP) is a framework for business improvement which focuses on people management. The IIP standard helps an organisation to develop strategies to improve performance, implement those strategies and then review and evaluate their impact. DEL is also the sponsor Department of CITB and is one of the sponsors of the Construction Excellence Awards.

Willis Insurance & Risk Management

As sole recommended insurance provider to the CEF membership Willis & Company is delighted to be sponsoring the Construction Excellence Awards for the third successive year. We congratulate all the nominees and particularly commend those shortlisted in the Health & Safety category. With thirty five years of experience in the Construction sector, attention to detail under this heading has enabled us to negotiate preferential terms for our clients and protect their businesses from the hidden cost of accidents at work. In the continuing difficult economic environment Willis & Company is proud to be associated with an event celebrating the high standard and positive impact of Northern Ireland construction companies in the last year.

NIEA

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), an agency within the Department of the Environment, is the leading body responsible for protecting, conserving and promoting the environment and heritage in Northern Ireland. A healthy environment and well protected heritage is vital for the social and economic wellbeing of the whole community. We work closely with industry to promote sound environmental practices and and encourage the uptake of environmental management systems which have been shown to help businesses comply with environmental obligations, improve environmental performance and reduce operational costs. NIEA is pleased to associated with the Construction Excellence Awards, and to recognise those companies who are delivering innovative and sustainable construction projects which enhance our communities while protecting our environment and natural resources for future generations.

DOE Planning

The Department of the Environment is responsible for the orderly and consistent development of land and the planning of that development. This function is administered through DOE Planning, whose underlying aim is to achieve quality and sustainability in the design of all new building proposals, particularly in residential development. To assist developers and the construction industry, the Department has produced a number of policy documents and supplementary planning guidance setting out how this can be achieved. Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 7 ‘Quality Residential Developments’ sets out the Department’s planning policies for achieving quality in new residential development and embodies the Government’s commitment to sustainable development. Associated with PPS7 is the document ‘Creating Places – Achieving Quality in Residential Developments’. This document is the principal guide for use by intending developers in the design of all new housing areas. The guide is structured around the process of design and provides advice and guidance to developers on site analysis and context, strategies for the overall design character of a proposal; the main elements of good design; and detailed design requirements. Complementary to Creating Places, the Department is currently preparing guidance for the construction industry on the stewardship and design of existing urban centres which will be consulted upon later this year. For residential development outside of settlement limits ‘Building on Tradition’, supplementary planning guidance to PPS21 ‘Sustainable Development in the Countryside’ has been prepared to assist developers in achieving excellence in design for all new developments in the countryside.

PwC At PwC, we’re delighted to continue our support for the CEF and the 2013 Construction Excellence Awards. As Northern Ireland’s largest firm of professional advisors, our commentary and advice on the economy, sectoral performance and future trends, helps government and investors plan and deliver profitable outcomes. Our tax, assurance and consulting teams advise public and private sector developers, investors and contractors in Northern Ireland, the Republic, GB and further afield on a wide variety of infrastructure, stadia and construction projects. We work extensively with clients and partners, supporting viable project development by undertaking economic and investment appraisals, viability studies and preparing outline and final business cases. Our advice across the infrastructure development and construction sectors extends to finance and equity raising, designing tax efficient structure and delivering value for money assessments.

For further information please contact Joelene Poole on jpoole@cefni.co.uk or telephone 028 9087 7143

CEF/Specify

The Judges

CEF/Specify awards General ??????????: Construction: ????? Commercial

General Construction: ?????????????????????:

??????????????????? Commercial ?????????? Bombardier C Series ?????????? Manufacturing Facility The Finalists:

(?????????????) (Jon Sisk & Sons (Holdings))

• Jon ???????? Sisk & Sons (Holdings) • Farrans ???????? Construction • ????????

• Henry Bros (Magherafelt) Ltd • Martin & Hamilton

??????????????? lot of pride was riding on a big grey building on the north-eastern fringes of Belfast. Just completed, this is a factory where the wings for what has been billed as a quantum leap forward in medium-sized passenger aircraft will be manufactured. Sisk were uniquely positioned to provide the construction resources, and experience to deliver this facility to an extremely aggressive schedule. Demolition of some existing buildings was necessary to clear the site to achieve the appropriate building footprint. Given the advanced nature and scale of the product, the £77m factory was always going to be special. It measures 600,000ft2, the size of four football pitches. Half this area is a giant clean room, as the wing components need to be made in highly controlled conditions. It is filled with plant to keep the air superclean and within tight temperature and humidity tolerances. Tight tolerances are a theme that runs through this project. Each half of the factory features a 64m span, with the roof structure supporting a crane running the length of the building – this structure is only allowed to deflect a minimal amount. The floor is super-flat and can only vary in height by 2.5mm over 600mm.

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????????? The Finalists: • ???????? • ???????? • ????????

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The Company is based in Dublin and provides a world class construction service across Ireland and the UK. The Northern Ireland operation is controlled from our head office in Belfast with six regional offices throughout the island. Our UK business is directed from the St. Albans office with four strategically located regional offices. We have recently expanded our international operations by establishing offices in Poland, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These combined construction operations have delivered a turnover access of £1 billion for 2012 and employ over 600 highly skilled staff in Ireland and over 700 in Great Britain.

Sisk operates across all client sectors and within specifically tailored contract formats in Main Contracting, Design & Build, Design Build & Finance, Partnering, Turnkey and Joint Ventures, etc. For more information please refer to our group website www.SISKGROUP.com

CEF/Specify awards ?????????????????????:

????????? The Finalists: • ???????? • ???????? • ????????

General Construction: ?????????????: Commercial ??????

???????????????????? HMP Maghaberry ????????????????? (Henry Bros (Magherafelt) Ltd) (???????????????????) his commercial project encompassed the design and construction of

new state-of-the-art Next Generation custodial facilities. The project ??????????????? commenced on site early 2011 and was completed in 18 months at a total value of £17m. Located at HMP Maghaberry, this new two storey 120 cell accommodation included a full size football pitch and one secure exercise area per wing, within a high security fully operational facility. The accommodation offers purpose-built educational facilities, indoor gyms and a family suite for delivery of a pioneering parenting skills programme. The project utilised a prefabricated modular build incorporating the Henry Brothers precast concrete system which is manufactured off site and delivered to site for rapid assembly. This build method enabled a fast, efficient and controlled delivery programme with environmental, suitability, quality and Health & Safety benefits. The entire structure is clad with a traditional brickwork skin and completed with bespoke, inaccessible and secure aluminium standing seam roof.

????????????: General Construction: ?????? Commercial

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??????????????????? Bangor Leisure Complex ??????????? ?????????????????? (Farrans Construction) The Finalists:

(????????????????) he £38m Bangor Aurora Aquatics & Leisure complex was designed

to include an Olympic 50m pool with submersible booms; 25m diving ??????????????? pool with a moveable floor; a fun themed area; health and fitness suites; sports hall; squash courts. Performance Development Centre for elite and subelite athletes; external sports facilities including 3G pitches; retail facilities; a café; a children’s nursery and soft play areas suitable for parties and function rooms and offices for organisations such as Swim Ulster. Consideration was given to all levels of swimmers, for example, it is the only 50m Olympic sized pool in Northern Ireland, but it can be split into three pools, an exact 25 metre pool and two 12 metre pools. This has been achieved by developing the pool and elite diving facility with moveable floors and booms. Through detailed contractor design and building processes Farrans installed the largest glulam roof structure ever built in the UK. This included connection details that accommodated deflection; improved installation buildability and provided a striking curved engineered solution with the highest standard of finish. Three sets of traffic signals had to be relocated, signage moved and two roads temporarily widened just to get the glulam beams to site. When Farrans uncovered 19,500m³ of contaminated ground and an underground ravine, not identified in the ground investigation reports, they worked with the engineers and their supply chain to deliver solutions to maintain programme, mitigate costs and ultimately deliver a scheme to the highest quality standard. The facility was audited to the BREEAM Excellent standard, one of only a few leisure facilities that have achieved it.

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CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Commercial

Ballyrashane A/D Plant (Martin & Hamilton)

allyrashane Co-Operative is one of the oldest creameries in Ireland, and is of the very few remaining operational co-operatives owned by local farmers. The creamery began as a single building where only butter was made. Today this original building still stands and is used for administration and training. From three employees in 1896, Ballyrashane now employ approximately over 150 employees (excluding part-time students and agency workers) and this number is rising. Ballyrashane, officially opened in September 2012, a £3.5m ground breaking ‘green energy’ facility that uses organic dairy waste to generate electricity. Anaerobic Digestion has been widely used by dairies for energy generation and as an efficient method of waste disposal in Germany, Sweden, Austria and Denmark; and the technology is well proven and established. However, to date there has been little development of A/D plants in Northern Ireland. From this development at Ballyrashane it will become clear that anaerobic digestion, as a practice, makes sense for the Northern Ireland dairy industry. It will not only reduce any processors’ carbon footprint, but also dispose of the waste in a safe and appropriate manner.

McGarel Town Hall is a Victorian Gothic building with a soaring four storey clock tower. It is a designated Grade B+ listed building due to its architectural merit and individual design. It has been sensitively refurbished to regenerate a local landmark as a focal point and a central venue for community activities which contributes to the vibrancy of the town centre while at the same time retaining the historical characteristics of the building thereby contributing to the conservation of the built heritage in Larne. A new layout has been created to ensure that visitors to the Town Hall have a fantastic introduction to the building when they first enter through the Main Door. The accommodation includes the McGarel Hall (formerly the Main Hall) and the Wilson Room (formerly the Minor Hall). The Mayor’s Parlour has now been relocated to the Magee Room on the first floor. Other restoration/conservation projects in the Tracey Brothers portfolio include: • Restoration of Riddel Hall ~ 2011 (Grade B1 listed building) • Restoration works to external facade and roof replacement at Crumlin Road Gaol 2011 (Grade A Listed) • Restoration of SS Nomadic (UK National Core of Historic Ships) and Hamilton Graving Dock - 2012 (Scheduled monument) • Refurbishment of Ballymena Courthouse Complex - 2011 (Grade B Listed) • Refurbishment works St. Michael’s Chapel Enniskillen – 2009 (Grade B+ Listed) • Mount Oliver Nursing Home, Dundalk - 2009 (Protected Structure) • County Sligo Golf Club Clubhouse at Rosses Point – 2005 (Protected Structure) Our experienced restoration staff are fully trained in the philosophy of conservation & ensure they operate a philosophy of minimum intervention. Through our 60 years experience we recognise the importance of protecting the existing fabric of buildings. Our methodology of using only experienced craftsmen, along with conservation techniques and carefully sourced sustainable materials results in outstanding restorations of which Tracey Brothers specialise in and are renowned for.

CEF/Specify awards General Construction:

Restoration The Finalists: • Tracey Brothers Ltd • O’Hare & McGovern Ltd • QMAC Construction Ltd

• John McAleenan Building Contractor • H&J Martin Ltd

General Construction: Restoration

Dromore Town Hall (QMAC Construction Ltd)

MAC undertook the £458,000 restoration of Dromore Town Hall which is a Grade B+ lsited building on behalf of Banbridge District Council. The overarching ethos was that of external fabric retention and material re-use where possible. Bangor blue slates were partially reused, the existing mechanical clock in the tower was refurbished and feature barges were remade to exactly replicate the detail from old photographic evidence. Sliding sash windows were refurbished including original refractive crown glazing and the original masonry facade was completely re-pointed using traditional lime mortar together with repairs and replacement to granite cills. The clock tower was completely refurbished including provision of substantial and intricate leadwork up to code 7. QMAC invested considerable resources in sourcing material commensurate with the conservation ethos. Original hand cut fixing brads were sourced in Kent, Fleur de Lys ridge to original profile was sourced from an Architectural Salvage Company in Norfolk. The brick specials required in facade repair to corbels, plinths and arches were part sourced and part manufactured using bespoke moulds and subsequently distressed to give an aged appearance.

General Construction: Restoration

McGarel Town Hall (Tracey Brothers Ltd)

he McGarel Town Hall in Larne is a tall Victorian Gothic building with a soaring four storey clock tower. It is designated Grade B+ listed building due to its architectural merit and individual design. The aim of the refurbishment project was to regenerate a local landmark as a focal point and a central venue for community activities which would contribute to the vibrancy of the town centre while at the same time retaining the historical characteristics of the building thereby contributing to the conservation of the built heritage in Larne. The building has been fully refurbished and modernised in a sensitive manner. A new layout has been created to ensure that visitors to the Town Hall have a fantastic introduction to the building when they first enter through the Main Door. The accommodation includes the McGarel Hall (formerly the Main Hall) and the Wilson Room (formerly the Minor Hall). The Mayor’s Parlour has now been relocated to the Magee Room on the first floor. A new three storey extension has been created at the rear which provides a range of offices and meeting rooms as well as kitchen facilities to serve the whole building. All floors are serviced by two newly installed lifts and the former public toilets underneath the Fair Hill car park have been renovated to provide storage space. The retention and reuse of the original fabric of the building consisted of restoration of, stonework and windows, including extensive structural work incorporating two lift shafts. The internal original fabric refurbishment included complete refurbishment of floors walls ceilings stairs and joinery all to the satisfaction and agreement of the Client, architect and NIEA.

CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Restoration

Tullymurry House

(John McAleenan Building Contractor)

arly maps of the Donaghmore area show Tullymurry Cottage, the forerunner of the existing house. The cottage which still exists today (now used as the heating plant location) was probably built in the early 17th century and was the precursor of an extension built ca.1700 which comprises the present day kitchen and old bathroom end of the house. The contract to restore Tullymurry House was awarded to John McAleenan Building Contractor who working with the McMinn family, Irish Landmark Trust and architects Hearth was set the objective to restore the property whilst retaining all its original character and charm. Reuse of original fabric and natural materials was important in order to allow the house to naturally breathe and dry out. With holiday lets through the Irish Landmark Trust as a medium term end use, the house was restored with the view that the owner would occasionally use the house and would eventually have full ownership, therefore it was important to retain the original character and include an adequate heating system and electrical installation to suit future use without detracting from the buildings historic character. Attention to fine detail and original methods of construction was vital to successful restoration and to ensure none of the unique character nor atmosphere of the beautiful dwelling house have been lost during the transition process. This was successfully done and has given Tullymurry House a new lease of life and rather than becoming a building at risk of being lost, the beautifully restored building has created the potential to be enjoyed for future generations to come.

CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Restoration

Guildhall Phase II (H&J Martin Ltd)

&J Martin’s completion of Phase II of the Guildhall project brought to a successful conclusion our involvement in this major restoration project which started as far back as 2010. Completed on time and within budget and to the client’s full satisfaction, the £4m second phase of the works focused on the building’s interior allowing the Guildhall to become a centre piece of the 2013 European City of Culture celebrations. The Phase II works has transformed the functions of the Guildhall making it a key arrival and welcome hub for visitors to the City. H&J Martin’s teams focused on ensuring that the new building services were seamlessly integrated within the historic fabric of the building, matching the original features with the new elements, including a wide range of new visitor experience technology was a major challenge. Specialist joinery and carpentry was another area where traditional skills were required. In the main hall the roof required significant works to replace decayed timbers. New wood had to be carefully stained and crafted to ensure that repairs blended into the original structure. To provide disabled access the company had to integrate platform lists into the raised area in front of the organ. It was essential that the frames and casings helped disguise the modern lift equipment so that these did not detract from the magnificent organ which was installed in 1914.

General Construction: Restoration

Downpatrick Civic Centre (O’Hare & McGovern Ltd)

roject developed by Down District Council as the new Civic Offices for the Council. The project entailed the restoration of the former Downshire Hospital, a Grade B1 listed building designed by Henry Smith and completed in 1869 into the new offices for Down District Council, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Northern Ireland Fire Service and in doing so has brought this Victorian brick and stone building back to its former glory . The building sits within the existing South Eastern Trust campus which includes various health care facilities, the building connects directly onto a live hospital therefore the relationship between the builders and the Trust was of extreme importance and through working closely together this was carried out safely and successfully with minimal disruption to the overall operations and users of the campus. The delivery of the project on time and within budget.

CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Social/Community

Skainos

(Farrans Construction)

10,675m² regeneration scheme in East Belfast, Skainos’ accommodation provides social and affordable housing, community facilities, retail and commercial space, a day nursery and café and a new church. There is also a large community area which includes an auditorium, office accommodation, café and kitchen, family centre, community hall for The East Belfast Mission, Age Concern and educational facilities for Belfast Metropolitan College. The mix of clients alone makes the Skainos project unique and each stakeholder was part of the process. At the start of the project there were sensitivities due to the presence of an existing graveyard on-site. During construction we included a service by the East Belfast mission for the re-burial of the remains excavated by archaeologists underneath the new Church. Farrans completed the project on time using the following strategies: • Look ahead short term programmes split the work into manageable sections. • Monthly cost and cash flow forecasts. • Early warning procedures implemented to mitigate potential additional costs. • Detailed monitored design release and procurement programmes facilitated progress. • Regular design coordination meetings resolved any outstanding issues. • Weekly programme meetings with the supply chain clearly identified goals. During construction Farrans • Operated our Farrans Cares H&S management system. • Worked 545,400 hours and had one reportable accident. • Crushed and re-used demolition material as a piling platform. • Measured water consumption and CO² consumption of site activities on a monthly basis. • Appointed four people from the Prince’s Trust. • Employed Local Labour. • Employed apprentices from the area and provided work placements for students. • BREEAM Very Good Rating.

General Construction:

Social/Community The Finalists: • Farrans Construction • MSM Contracts Ltd • Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd • Gilbert-Ash Ltd

General Construction: Social/Community

PSNI Memorial Garden

Lurgan YMCA Youth Centre

(Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd)

he Chief Constable and PSNI Service Executive Team decided that in this 10th Anniversary Year of PSNI, it was appropriate to honour the memory of those officers and staff who had died or been killed in connection with their service to the Community. Locating the PSNI Memorial Garden adjacent to the existing RUC George Cross Garden at Brooklyn provided synergy between the existing RUC George Cross Garden, The Police History Trail and neighbouring Police Museum. The garden is seen as a place of reflection to be accessed by all serving police staff and visitors. The whole experience of the garden is wrapped within timber walls to give the garden the quality of being like a large room. The Memorial structure is clad in dark reflective glass allowing it to dissolve into the background of the surrounding trees.

(MSM Contracts Ltd)

ocated in Carnegie Street, Lurgan, the new YMCA building is situated in a part of the town which local people regard as the interface between the two communities. The new facility has enabled Lurgan YMCA to close two existing buildings, on either side of the interface, which were becoming unsuitable for their needs and merge their activities into one purpose-built facility. The lively new facility is open 6 days per week and includes meeting rooms, a climbing wall and facilities for various youth and community programmes. The new multi-functional facilities have now enabled Lurgan YMCA to significantly increase their work programmes and deliver activities to tackle sectarianism and promote understanding between all sections of the local community.

Farrans are delighted to have reached the finalist stage in the 2013 CEF/Specify Construction Excellence Awards for: General Construction, Commercial Construction Award: Bangor Aurora Aquatics & Leisure Complex General Construction, Social/Community Construction Award: Skainos Infrastructure, Education Award: Bangor Grammar School Infrastructure, Transport Award: DI Belfast Harbour Infrastructure, Utilities Award: Newcastle Hydro Scheme Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability Award

CEF/Specify awards General Construction: Social/Community

Giant’s Causeway Visitors Centre (Gilbert-Ash Ltd)

his BREEAM Excellent Visitors Centre was constructed on the Giants Causeway UNESCO World Heritage site. This extremely challenging project involved non orthogonal, earth defended structure, constructed to the highest standards of sustainability. The centre is 1,815m2 and includes tourist information, education and interpretive space, exhibition space, retail and catering accommodation as well as ancillary and staff accommodation. The new building is set within the landscape with high quality, bespoke glazed and stone facades. This uniquely designed building is situated on a World Heritage site, “Site of Special Scientific Interest” and within a live visitors ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’.

Housing:

Private Housing 6+ Units The Finalists: • Beshouse Residential Properties Ltd • Graham Construction

• McGinnis Developments Ltd • DB Building Contracts Ltd

Corran Mews

(Beshouse Residential Properties Ltd)

he key objective used to inform the design of “Corran Mews” was the desire to remove a significant eyesore from the streetscape and to replace it with a development of quality, stylish affordable homes which are unique but in keeping with the character of this predominantly residential neighbourhood. Work commenced on this £3m development in 2011. The success of the development is reflected in the fact that Beshouse Residential Properties Limited hope to complete the residential development by September 2013.

Housing: Private Housing 6+

Coopers Mill

Ballantine Garden Village Phase II

(McGinnis Developments Ltd)

oopers Mill is an award winning village style of development comprising 400 housing units on 48 acres of land in Dundonald. This new village, set in the hills of Dundonald serves as an ideal suburb of Greater Belfast and continues to offer quality new homes which had previously not been available in this marketplace. Construction started in February 2009 and to date some 263 units have been built and completed since launch in May 2009. The site has a development value of approximately £60m. The site layout has been developed to work in harmony with the site topography as well as the surrounding area which has resulted in the natural contours and habitat being preserved where possible.

(DB Building Contracts Ltd)

B Building Contracts started work on Ballantine Garden Village in 2009 as the main contractor for WJ Law Developments. Ballantine is a prestigious development which offers a very high standard of living for families of all ages. It remains the largest single housing scheme presently ongoing in Northern Ireland with over 25 different types of houses of which many of the designs have been inspired by some famous architects. In time, the development will also feature various shops, coffee house, creche and offices. Planning applications have also been lodged for a filling station with amenities and a boutique hotel.

CEF/Specify awards Housing: Private Housing 6+

QUB Postgraduate Accomodation Elms Village Phase II (Graham Construction)

his £12m Graham Construction project involved the construction of post graduate student accommodation within the existing student village consisting of 260 beds and 120 apartments. It is located within the Malone Conservation area within the live university campus. The external staircase features an innovative trace heating system within the treads which reacts to air temperature to prevent ice or frost forming. Graham Construction worked closely with the landscape architect and the university’s biodiversity specialist to protect local ecology. Brick and oak cladding with block internal infill panels were designed to achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating and achieved a score of 76.9 per cent at Design and Procurement stage. Environmental monitoring included Tree Protection Orders for many mature trees while bird and bat boxes were erected before and during build. Energy, water reduction and recycling measures were introduced including switching off lights and water supplies every evening, monitoring and metering of lighting and water and clear signage for recycling.

CEF/Specify awards Housing: Social

Rathcoole Gardens

(TAL Ltd)

he integrated approach adopted by Apex, their design team TAL and the supply chain was central to Rathcoole Garden’s success. This development aimed to provide high spec independent living for people with a range of disability needs. It comprised 28 Lifetime homes and CFSH compliant apartments on the site of the old Rathcoole Gardens flats. The development comprises a mix of Category 1 and wheelchair apartments to accommodate mixed resident requirements and was constructed with a view to minimising tenant running costs; ease of use and future adaptability and enhanced living. The development is centred on a communal garden and reflective space – a focal view from within the homes and a central meeting place outside. Rathcoole Gardens has been hailed a feat in sustainable development, Health & Safety, quality and style – helping meet local demand for better and further homes. It is a flagship development in terms of sustainability.

Housing:

Social The Finalists: • QMAC Construction Ltd • T&A Kernoghan Ltd/ Collen Construction Ltd

• Donaghmore Construction Ltd • TAL Ltd

CEF/Specify awards Housing: Social

Church Bay, Rathlin Island

(Donaghmore Construction Ltd)

onaghmore Construction Ltd is a family-owned building and civil engineering company based in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. The Rathlin Island development is an excellent example of the standard of workmanship, proactive project management, team working, health, safety and environmental management that the company accomplish. Flanked by indigenous handcrafted limestone walls, Gort Beag, Church Bay social housing development, with its white washed external facade, colourful doors and concrete skews could only be described as idyllic, and in keeping with the physical and social fabric of contemporary Rathlin Island. The scheme comprises of ten social housing units and associated siteworks, constructed on what was once an old quarry site by the edge of the sea. The project was completed in August 2013. One of the principal features of the development is its uniqueness in terms of its location, design and construction for social housing in Northern Ireland. The Works consisted of the construction of seven three bedroom and three two bedroom houses built to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes as well as Lifetime Homes and Secure by Design compliant standards. The Works also encompassed all siteworks, drainage, mechanical and electrical installations as what would normally be included within such a development project.

CEF/Specify awards Housing: Social

Ashleywood House

(QMAC Construction Ltd)

MAC undertook the £860,000 restoration of an old stone stable block on behalf of Apex Housing Ltd to provide twelve self contained apartments. The raison d’etre of the scheme was to provide a bright, pleasant and secure environment for those estranged from abusive partners hence consideration of end user for a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment. These stables were impressively refurbished with appropriately sourced materials by repointing in lime mortar, carrying out stonework repairs; re-roofing in salvaged Bangor blue slating, refurbishing and replacing cast iron rainwater goods; providing an impressive cobbled courtyard with reclaimed cobbles, intricate metalcraft and replica sliding sash windows; refurbishing existing stable doors and ironmongery and the provision of verdant landscaping. The apartments presented as modern homes enjoying high levels of natural full spectrum lighting with an impressive balcony area. Foyle Women’s Aid was closely involved throughout the scheme coupled with close client contact to ensure end user needs were fully realised. This necessitated the establishment of effective lines of communication between contractor and client bodies in achieving timeous and satisfactory resolution.

Housing: Social

INBEV Regeneration Project, Caffrey Hill

(T&A Kernoghan)

he Caffrey Hill project has taken a former derelict historic site, which in its day played a major role within the community and has proudly brought it back to life. Through regeneration of this 10 acre site in West Belfast which was formerly the Inbev Brewery T&A worked closely with Clanmil and their Design Team to transform it into a vibrant integral part of the community incorporating 166 units, seven retail units and a play area. Classed as the largest regeneration social housing scheme of its time this project provides Clanmil’s tenants with high quality lifetime homes. Through care, attention to detail and experienced craftsmanship this Code 4 sustainable homes scheme has created thermally efficient homes giving long term cost savings for tenants.

Infrastructure:

Education The Finalists: • Dixons Contractors Ltd • Graham Construction

• Farrans Construction

Bloomfield Primary School (Dixons)

he special needs extension built by Dixons Contractors Ltd for Bloomfield Primary School involved the construction of a single storey Special Education Needs (SEN) classroom block adjacent to the existing school building. The classroom is of steel framed construction with strip foundation, load bearing cavity walls with purlin and insulated roof panels with zinc standing seam roof covering. The building was constructed with aluminium curtain walling and aluminium windows, and was finished with smooth plaster render and painted.

CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure: Education

Bangor Grammar School (Farrans Construction)

his 850 pupil state-of-the-art school sits on a 24-acre site on the Gransha Road has a central atrium at the heart of the school, providing a dining and social area from which all of the education facilities branch off and is five times the size of the former school premises. Quality and relationships were key factors to the success of the project. Farran’s team structure mirrored the client’s team, giving direct lines of communication which made consideration of the design easier and the introduction of innovative construction methods and products to improve on maintenance and lifecycle costs, whilst maintaining design quality and ensuring education functionality was at the heart of all decision making. Stakeholder engagement and providing the end users with a sense of ownership was integrated into the approach. Farrans met with the school weekly to ensure they understood their requirements at every step and hosted regular site tours for the pupils, so that they could witness the progress and process of the build as part of their education. Farrans attention to quality starts from when the first sod is cut. Although a traditional contract a design manager was part of the team to ensure that the delivery team had the correct information prior to construction. Through this process Farrans provided changes which aided the buildability and enhanced the quality through improved programme including: • Concrete stubs to facilitate early ground slab completion. • Hollowcore instead of plate flooring. • Reduced the fire rated glazing through careful detailing. • Simplified the construction of the boundary retaining wall. Farrans handed over the project six weeks early.

Infrastructure: Education

Torbank Special School

(Graham Construction)

raham Construction were responsible for the design and build of a new SEN school for primary and secondary school age children as well as the landscaping of communal play areas and sensory gardens to stimulate smell, touch and hearing. Internal finishes use contrasting colours to assist pupils with visual impairment and acoustic sound reduction for pupils with hearing impairment. Wayfinding signage is presented in Macaton symbols and Braille and careful consideration was given to access and egress strategy and controls within the building and at site periphery while each classroom has its own securely fenced play area. As lead contractor, Graham Construction had complete responsibility for the design, as well as design management and core design delivery and statutory approvals through the management of the architect. Grahams were also responsible for overseeing specialist elements such as BREEAM, accoustics, fire and ecology. The project director, Peter Reavey received the Construction Manager of the Year award for his work. This award recognises the ability of managers to deliver projects on time, within budget and to very demanding standards.

CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure:

Health The Finalists:

• Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd • Cunningham Contracts Ltd

• Fireglass Direct Ireland Ltd

SESHCT Bangor Community Hospital (Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd)

FS delivered the Refurbishment of Existing Bleakley Ward in Bangor Community Hospital for office/administration accommodation. Bangor Hospital dates from early 1900’s buildings and the company transformed the wing into a state-of-the art setting fit for supporting modern health care. MFS liaised closely with the client’s architect, Isherwood & Ellis to ensure the specified and desired standard of finish was achieved and that the building delivered was fit for purpose. This was a positive partnership approach to deliver the best outcome with the client. There was a good rapport on-site with the client SHSCT, and with individual staff and public with whom our team engaged to ensure the smooth rolling decant and access as work progressed. The specified materials and finishes were of a durable and high quality standard as to be expected of a health care environment where infection control is such as important consideration. Given the live operational status of the site, it was critical that MFS were in constant communication with the client. This involved close cooperation with the supply chain to ensure timeliness and cooperation in terms of supplying and logistically delivering materials and bespoke products.

Infrastructure: Health

Isolation & Critical Care The Heathers Care Home Suites Royal Victoria Hospital (Cunningham Contracts Ltd) (Fireglass Direct Ireland Ltd)

n partnership with the University of Ulster and Invest NI, Fire Glass Direct have developed and now manufacture and install a patented isolation and contamination Control Suite in glass. The primary market for isolation suites in acute settings, is sterile environments such as the critical care unit of a hospital. In 2011 we secured our first order with the new Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast which has just been completed. With the end user always in mind, this solution to Infection control was completed to a very high standard with regard to design and finish, to ensure the patients’ stay in the unit was as comfortable as possible. Our product allows the isolation suites to be easily cleaned, provide complete patient visibility for nursing staff and incorporates a dedicated air handling system to adjust the atmospheric pressure from plus to minus 50 pascals of positive and negative pressure depending on whether the unit has to contain an infection or prohibit an infection from entering the unit.

he Heathers, Ardmore, Armagh is a supported housing scheme for Oaklee Homes Group Ltd. This project has provided modern supported living accommodation contained within an existing refurbished facility and a new build unit for people discharged from hospitals, allowing them to live more independently within the community. The scope of works included the refurbishment of an existing 12 bedroom unit to provide two individual units A & B of four en suite bedrooms per unit and a new build unit also comprising of four en suite bedrooms. The planned provision of the individual units was devised in conjunction with the findings of the Bamford Review for living requirements which reported that no more than five people should be living together in one household. The project was also designed in conjunction with HMO Regulation requirements. The design and construction of this latest Oaklee Homes Group development evolved with continuous input of Oaklee Care Services whose knowledge of the needs of the specific ends users ensured the finished building exceeded their expectations.

CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure: Transport

Infrastructure:

Transport The Finalists: • Graham Construction • McCann Bam JV

• Farrans Construction • McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd

New Trains 2 - Adelaide Maintenance Depot (Graham Construction)

he project team from Grahams worked together from feasibility stage to develop state-of-the-art facilities for Translink’s new fleet, and improve End User experience through well considered layouts. After only six months, operations staff noticed benefits, with high level platforms easing access for staff and turntables assisting the replacement of bogeys. Overall, the £28m project was completed on budget and on time for the delivery of the new trains in January 2013. KEY FACTS • £13.5m construction costs and overall project cost of £28m. • Construction April 2011 to September 2012. • Demolition of existing facility. Subsequent construction of a new train maintenance building, 1600 metres of new railway line incorporating two tracks and inspection platforms (one for heavy maintenance and one for light maintenance), three gantry cranes, train lifts, CET facilities, train wash, fueling apron and storage facilities. • Construction of new accommodation buildings and offices, as an annex to the new maintenance building with refurbishment of an existing operations building. • Rail possessions to install turnouts and cross overs proactively reduced by Graham Construction in order to minimise disruption. ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS The design included two new railway firsts for Northern Ireland: • New signalling gantry at Great Victoria Street Station, improving signal visibility and rail safety. • A ‘double slip’ crossing enabling maximum flexibility of trains within the confined depot site.

Infrastructure: Transport

D1 Belfast Harbour (Farrans Construction)

arrans Construction was the main contractor for the construction of the D1 Offshore Wind Turbine Logistics Facility – providing 50 acres of storage on reclaimed land in Belfast Harbour. The facility includes a 500m long deep-water quay that allows up to three purpose-built heavy-lift jack-up vessels to berth simultaneously. The project comprised close to 1,000,000 tonnes of imported aggregate and rock armour, in excess of 100,000 tonnes of reinforced concrete and 500,000 machine hours. Overall, the project provided 750,000 man hours of construction work. One of the central elements of the project is the quay wall which was constructed using a combi wall of 1,620mm diameter, 37 metre-long tubes and 22 metre-long PU22 sheet piles tied back to an anchor beam supported on 367, 30 metre-long, 762mm diameter raking tubes. The 17,000sqm quay slab is supported on 780, 750mm diameter CFA piles. At the peak of the programme there were 50 items of large plant working on the quay wall with a total gross weight of 3000T. The web of crane jibs dominated the Belfast skyline. One aspect of the piling involved an innovative piling system imported from Holland. Rather than using traditional piling systems a bespoke rig was brought in to handle the 367 steel anchor tubes installed at a 1 in 3 rake. This rig brought with it efficiency accuracy allowing up to 12 tubes per day to be installed, far in excess of traditional systems. The May 20th 2013 marked an important point in the history of D1, Belfast Harbour. The offshore wind turbine facility completed loading the first elements destined for the West of Duddon Sands site in the Irish Sea. The facility provided by Farrans Construction in 2012 is now fully operational.

CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure: Transport

Ballymoney Railway Station Footbridge (McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd)

cLaughlin & Harvey were awarded the contract to construct this landmark foot and cycle bridge over the railway at Ballymoney Station in December 2011. The project took nine months to complete at a cost of £1.3m. The three core objectives of the bridge were as follows: • To provide safe access for railway users between both platforms. • Create a link between Ballymoney town centre, the Joey Dunlop Leisure centre and residential developments. • Connect a national cycle route. The bridge forms a link within the Route 96 cycle network between Toome and Coleraine. The bridge structure is a cable stayed arch with a steel deck. The suspended approach ramps which connect into the brick cladded concrete abutments on either side were constructed from a combination of steel and precast concrete. Mini piled foundations were used to support the bridge and approach ramps within the park. The white arch, standing at almost 20m in height, coupled with the slender deck design and stainless steel balustrade contribute to the visually striking appearance while the reclaimed brick and cobbling are in keeping with the existing Victorian station building.

CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure: Transport

Coleraine to DerryLondonderry Track Renewal Project (McCann Bam JV)

ite works, started July 22nd 2012, included: complete replacement of 20,000m of track (Coleraine to Castlerock and Eglinton to Derry~Londonderry); extensive repairs to four significant bridge structures; one bridge replacement; upgrades to twenty culverts; new track drainage & formation treatments; 53,000m of new buried signaling cable duct route; new level crossings; and installation and commissioning of new signal cables. Headline quantities included 5,600t of new rail, 33,000 concrete sleepers and approx 115,000t of ballast stone. McCann Bam JV worked collaboratively with its designers, specialist supply chain and Translink’s team to deliver a safer train service between the two largest cities in the country, with improved ride quality, increased reliability and reduced maintenance interventions.

Finalists in the Transport Infrastructure Award - Coleraine to Derry ~ Londonderry Track Renewals 3 Drumard Road, Knockloughrim, Magherafelt N.Ireland, BT45 8QA • www.fpmccann.co.uk • Tel: +44 (0)28 7964 2558 • Fax: +44 (0)28 7964 4224

CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure: Utilities

Newcastle Hydro Scheme (Farrans Construction)

Infrastructure:

Utilities The Finalists:

• Farrans Construction • Lagan Construction Ltd

• Lagan Construction Ltd • Lowry Bros Ltd

n February 2012 Farrans were appointed Principal Contractor on the Newcastle Micro-Hydroelectric Scheme for South Eastern Education & Library Board. The scheme involved construction of an intake on the Glen River in the Donard Forest and installation of approximately 1.15km of 315mm HDPE pipe to deliver water at 120m constant head to a 110kw hydro turbine in All Children’s Integrated Primary School in Kings Street. The project provides power to the school and will also ‘wheel’ surplus power into the NIE network. A primary constraint on construction was that the client requested that Farrans carry out the works on the turbine house structure during ‘out of term time’ to minimise disruption to the school population. The structure and all associated works including excavation, drainage, supply pipework, ductwork, paths, reinstatement and surfacing had to be completed in a concise eight week period. The delivery pipework was installed along narrow pathways and forest roads, all of which remained live and open to walkers throughout the works. Prior to the ‘in river’ works Farrans developed a method of carrying out the works that would minimise the risk of pollution to the Glen River, which is both an Area of Specialist Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Farrans worked closely with the client’s representative in order to gain approval for a bypass arrangement that would satisfy the various environmental constraints detailed in the environmental statement for the works. Despite difficult access requiring equipment to be lifted in by crane the works were completed to programme without any noted pollution or impact on the local environment.

Infrastructure: Utilities

A2 Bangor to Belfast Watermain Rehabilitation Scheme (Lagan Construction Ltd)

agan Construction Group is a major force in international construction and infrastructure schemes offering clients a single strong base of pooled talent and expertise in the domestic and overseas civil engineering and building markets. The A2 Belfast to Bangor Road Water Mains Replacement Scheme awarded by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) was valued at £2m. With a 20 week programme, this was the highest profile mains rehabilitation project ever undertaken by NIW. In an area of high customer expectations, it was vital that traffic disruption was kept to a minimum as there are up to 50,000 vehicles using this road each day. Scope of works involved 7km of polyethylene water main along 4km of the A2 mainly in the footpath, primarily 180mm diameter but also 90mm and 125mm. A total of 21 mains connections and 114 service connections were successfully completed, including nine road crossings, through the four lane carriageway. Following extensive enabling works open trench technique was the chosen installation method. The main driver for this scheme was structural issues of the existing water main, with up to nine bursts per year. Following the optioneering process a cost effective option, which was deemed to have the least impact on the public was chosen. Work was carried out continuously over five shifts from 7.00pm on a Friday to 7.00am on a Monday. Up to eight gangs were deployed during each 12 hour shift, an extremely large workforce in order to fulfill proposals with 26,000 total man hours worked.

At Lagan Construction Group we deliver high quality, innovative civil engineering and building solutions for roads, airports, water, energy, marine, building and water processing. We specialise in developing bespoke piling and foundation solutions for all civil engineering and building structures and have our own in-house quarry materials business. We offer infrastructure investment advice and management of whole life cost solutions including operation & maintenance for all project types

expertise The Lagan Construction Group is a major force in international construction and infrastructure schemes offering clients a single strong base of pooled talent and expertise in the domestic and overseas civil engineering and building markets.

working with us There are many reasons why people choose to work with the Lagan Construction Group. Operating in key markets we provide innovative and high quality civil engineering and building solutions, alongside specialisms in piling and foundations, operation & maintenance (O&M) and infrastructure investment.

ROADS

AIRPORTS

WATER

ENERGY

MARINE

BUILDING

PILING

INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATION INVESTMENT & MAINTENANCE

www.laganconstructiongroup.com

CEF/Specify awards

Infrastructure: Utilities

Keady Wastewater Treatment Works (Lagan Construction Ltd)

he Keady WwTW £5m project for Northern Ireland Water (NIW) involved the provision of a new wastewater treatment facility to deal with future design PE (population equivalent) of 5800 with allowance for an additional 25 year design capacity of 7000PE. Located in Keady, Co. Armagh, this is one of the largest RBC (rotating biological contactor) plants in Europe and was constructed on the site of the existing wastewater treatment works. Construction works involved new inlet works, 2nr primary settlement tanks (PST’s), 2nr final settlement tanks (FST’s), 10nr RBC’s (Rotating Biological Contactors), storm tank, sludge tank, MCC building, intermediate pumping stations and tertiary treatment to include sand filters. Additional works included relaying of new inlet sewer along Tassagh Road as well as construction of new outfall pipe and headwall to Clay River crossing Glenn Road and demolition of the existing works. The main challenge at Keady WwTW was maintaining the operation and required discharge consents of the existing plant whilst constructing the new plant. This required a detailed 3-phase construction sequence. Phase 1 involved the demolition of existing sludge beds, construction and commissioning of three RBC’s, 2nr FST’s, storm tank and MCC building. The storm tank was used temporarily as a sludge holding tank and flow was diverted in July 2011. In Phase 2, the existing filterbeds and FST’s were demolished allowing the remaining RBC’s, sludge holding tank and one PST to be constructed. A temporary screen was then installed and flows were turned in March 2012 through the PST, 10 RBC’s, FST’s and sludge holding tank. Phase 3 involved demolition of the inlet works, primary settlement tanks and construction of new inlet works plus second PST. In addition, a new 450 diameter concrete outfall pipe was laid to discharge final effluent to Clay River and 160m of 525mm diameter concrete inlet pipe was laid to replace existing inlet sewer. The final turn of flows occurred in July 2012 and at this stage the plant was fully operational.

CEF/Specify awards Infrastructure: Utilities

Milltown Street Sewer Replacement (Lowry Brothers Ltd)

ocated at Milltown Street, Warrenpoint, Co. Down this scheme was carried out under NI Water’s Framework for Small Sewerage Schemes, to replace an existing defective foul sewer which was causing localised flooding. Since the project was tendered back in October 2011 considerable changes to the scheme were necessary due to a challenge by local traders and residents who were opposed to the DRD authorised road closure required to facilitate the works. Negotiations took place between Lowry Bros’ project management team, client NI Water, project design team, and the local residents to agree a mutual compromise so that the essential works could proceed – Lowry Bros. devised a revised method of work to use compact machinery and equipment on a narrower work area so as to only reduce traffic flow to one lane, therefore maintaining access for residents and deliveries. Consequent to the delay caused by these negotiations we also had to put in place an accelerated Programme of Work in order to complete the scheme as planned within the school holiday period – originally tendered under a 16 week programme with full road closure approval, the works then had to be carried out within nine weeks under staggered traffic management/restricted closure arrangements, which required extra resources and forward planning by our full time Contracts Manager who was appointed specifically to liaise with all parties concerned in the interests of successful completion.

Quality Performance:

Environmental Sustainability The Finalists: • Farrans Construction • Donaghmore Construction Ltd

• H&J Martin Ltd • Newtownstewart Construction Ltd

Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability

Farrans Construction

arrans is committed to the highest standards of environmental management in all of our activities and to proactively addressing the challenges and opportunities of climate change. Environmental sustainability is about making responsible decisions that will reduce the organisation’s negative impact on the environment. To this end we set objectives and targets to improve our environmental performance. We have policies in place for environmental management, energy management, waste minimisation, sustainable procurement, and sustainable development. Since registration to the accredited Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) in the year 2000, we have adopted various measures to minimise, reuse and recycle waste. These measures include recycling of excavated rock on site for use on the project using crushers and screeners; use of baling equipment at Head Office to bale cardboard and paper that may have otherwise gone to landfill; separation of waste at source for recycling; implementation of site waste management plans; influencing changes to designs in order to minimise waste generated through excavation; creation of mitigation bunding on site where this is possible; training of employees and Sub-contractors; appointment of waste champions at site level; and taking part in initiatives to minimise waste, such as WRAP. The Company signed up to the WRAP ‘Halving Waste to Landfill’ in initiative in 2009. The initiative required companies to achieve 50% reduction of their waste to landfill by the end of 2012, using 2008 as a baseline. On review of our waste data for 2012, we achieved a reduction of waste to landfill of 94%, a significant achievement. Farrans Eco Efficiency Drive (FEED) was developed and implemented by our Commercial Management team in 2010 to enable us to reach or exceed our business targets for waste, productivity, programme and carbon footprint.

CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability

Donaghmore Construction Ltd

n recent years Donaghmore Construction have worked hard to embrace a greener approach, an initiative fully supported and driven from director level with the culmination being ISO:14001 accreditation. Contained within this are the policies and procedures Donaghmore Construction have identified as the vehicle to achieving their goals. Company ethos dictates that no one person is responsible for implementing these procedures, rather it is a team effort in which everyone is expected to be eager participants. Water usage is metered and recorded, materials on site are reused where possible and the company makes a concerted effort to use recycled materials where possible. Education is a vital tool for achieving success, to many, environmental issues are low on their list of priorities. Through the use of tool box talks, Donaghmore Construction are educating their workforce and subcontractors on the impact they have on the environment. The company’s greatest environmental challenge and achievement to date has been the construction of ten houses on Rathlin Island. Although working conditions were not always easy on the island, the team did their utmost to remain sympathetic to the environment. This natural beauty became the driver for ensuring the team focused on the job in hand, delivering a successful project but equally important was doing so with respect to the truly unique environment.

Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability

H&J Martin Ltd

&J Martin delivers construction, fit-out and maintenance services for a wide range of public and private sector clients throughout the UK and Ireland. As the company secures business in new markets across Europe and as far afield as Saudi Arabia, it creates challenges in regards to providing and supporting site teams with the tools to effectively manage our environmental and sustainability policies. Although H&J Martin’s project teams were implementing sustainability initiatives they were being implemented on an ad-hoc basis and lacked structure. Their projects face the challenge of management of the BREEAM process, achieving Above Compliance Considerate Constructor scores and meeting client Sustainability targets. They recognise the need to adopt site specific measures to prevent pollution, minimise waste, protect biodiversity and not only mitigate Environmental risks but to create a ‘net Environmental gain’. H&J Martin have developed a bespoke Sustainability Action Plan which would be implemented at the planning stage of our projects and involve all members of the project team. This tool complements the existing suite of Environmental tools to include the project Site Environmental aspects register but is much wider in scope. The plan asks a number of questions which prompt our site teams to implement initiatives most relevant to their project: • • • •

Is there an opportunity to reuse rainwater from the site accommodation? Can we identify local subcontractors and suppliers? How can we enhance Biodiversity? How can we maximise recycled content in materials?

CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Environmental Sustainability

Newtownstewart Construction Ltd

ewtownstewart Construction Limited has been working over several years to achieve an environmental standard that surpasses the legal and environmental minima expected. They have constantly preformed at a high level to deliver projects of superior quality that are environmentally friendly, energy efficient, distinctive and an asset to the community. The organisation regards the promotion of environmental sustainability as a mutual objective for management and employees at all levels and those working for or on behalf of the company providing the resources necessary to fully implement and go beyond the environmental policy which is designed to satisfy the requirements of the ISO 14001:2004 standard and operate environmental best practice.

Quality Performance:

Exporting The Finalists: • McAleer & Rushe Ltd • Lagan Construction Ltd

• Windell Ltd • Alternative Heat Ltd

McAleer & Rushe Ltd

cAleer and Rushe delivered the £31m Blackfriars Novotel and Ibis project to great acclaim, having secured forward funding from Commerz Real. The jewel in our crown this year has been the completion of the spectacular £46m offices at 10 Portman Square in a development joint venture with British Land, who have seen fit to award McAleer and Rushe their Excellence in Site Management. Stand-out contract wins during the past year include the £18m Motel One (a German brand) near the Tower of London.

Quality Performance: Exporting

Lagan Construction Ltd

agan Construction Ltd is a major force in international construction and infrastructure schemes offering clients a single strong base of pooled talent and expertise in the domestic and overseas civil engineering and building markets. As a private family business, the Lagan Construction Group is founded on more than 45 years’ experience, employing the best people and the best resources to make a real difference. Lagan’s qualified civil engineers, construction specialists and project managers work with global clients, partners and their long established supply chain to develop innovative technical, design and commercial solutions for projects of all sizes and complexity, including funding. They have particular experience in the developing world, where we have provided facilities and resources for roads, airports and marine schemes, many of them challenging and in remote island locations. The Lagan Construction Group operates across the UK, Ireland and worldwide. Recent and current international markets include Pakistan, Sierra Leone and the United States. The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the Maldives. Fiji, Guyana and Bermuda. Total exports have increased by £62m (or 82%) from 2011-12 to 2012-13 to a new record of £138m. Budgets for 2013-14 show exports continuing at around the £135m mark. The recent increase in export markets was due to the significant contract awards won in England, Scotland, Wales and in Guernsey. Lagan were keen to expand their energy and building sectors and so formed a Joint Venture with CNIM, a French based process company, to tender for the civil engineering elements of Energy from Waste Facilities (EfW) in the UK. This led to the successful bidding of two Energy from Waste Facilities at Suffolk (£45m) and Cardiff (£50m) with a third currently being negotiated in South London (£50m).

•

CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Exporting

Alternative Heat Ltd

lternative Heat Ltd is an award-winning, family-owned and managed company based in Castlewellan Co. Down, specialising in renewable heating systems for commercial applications. They have designed a unique Biomass Energy Cabin and their products include solar panels, log boilers, wood chip boilers, wood pellet boilers, underfloor heating, ground and air source heat pumps for commercial applications. Founded in 2003, Alternative Heat employ 37 staff in Northern Ireland. With the support of Invest NI they have designed and developed a unique product – the Biomass Energy Cabin. The cabin houses a Biomass boiler, integral pellet fuel store and all mechanical and electrical fittings, ready for connection onsite. The cabin is craned into place and simply connected to the existing heating system to reduce heating costs without the need to make any alterations to the building, heating system or plant room. The units have proven to reduce project costs, which combined with the speed of installation and the quality finish, have made them very successful. Our clients include public and private sector organisations in commercial, education and health sectors, hotel and leisure, residential, social housing and agricultural industries. In 2012 Alternative Heat secured the UK’s largest ever containerised biomass contact, delivering 30 biomass Energy Cabins to the Highland Council Scotland. Alternative Heat are an MCS registered installer and operate a quality management system to ISO 9001:2008 standard and hold Safe T Cert accreditation.

Quality Performance: Exporting

Windell Ltd

indell are a leading blast enhancement and commercial glazing specialist. Their core business is designing high security facades and glazing systems for a diverse range of clients from Governments to Infrastructure providers. Their technical versatility has enabled Windell to push the boundaries in façade engineering with the development of the Superwall, which has achieved what previously was only considered possible by using reinforced concrete and steel – a curtain walling system that will remain intact following the roadside detonation of a Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at 6 metres and offers unrivalled protection to high risk building elevations. In 2010 Windell opened a mainland UK office, connected to excellent road, rail, sea and air transport links, offering dedicated project management to all our UK contracts and we have established a specialist export team focused on the management and delivery of all our global export projects.

• Delivered the UK’s largest ever containerised Biomass Contract (Highland Council, 2012) • Exporting since 2010 - export sales growth of 300% in three years • 640% growth in employment in 3 years

We supply, install & commission biomass boilers, heat pumps, solar thermal & underfloor heating.

•

CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Health & Safety

Deane Public Works Ltd

eane Public Works is a leading construction company with a reputation for excellence as a Principal Contractor carrying out a diverse range of Civil Engineering projects with over 46 years’ experience within the construction industry. The company is firmly committed to Health, Safety and Welfare and continuous improvements throughout the company and implement the Best Practice Guidance of the Strategic Forum Respect for People Health & Safety Code, with real business benefits from following good practice in health and safety. Deane Public Works operate a (SSIP) Health & Safety Management system accreditation to Safe-T-Cert standard Grade A and this is firmly integrated into all operations of the business with visible and active leadership from our directly employed SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environmental & Quality) Manager and Senior Management team who collectively encourage and promote a positive Health, Safety and Welfare culture throughout the company. Our excellent safety record also shows zero injuries or sickness absence reported in 2012 with a further reduction in Insurance Premiums in 2013 for continual improvements. Mr Jan Chmiel – Chief Executive IOSH commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your company for the outstanding results from your last Safe-T-Cert Audit. This is a great achievement and you should be rightly proud of it, the scheme and the auditing standard are of the highest order, which adds even greater credibility to this result.” The company encourages a Behavioral Based Safety approach as a way of gaining improvements in safety performance and operates a employee Health & Safety suggestion scheme where employees are encouraged to submit continuous improvement ideas. Deane’s SHEQ Manager has developed effective policies and procedures and continues to implement Project Management Systems to comply with CDM regulations. The company is also committed to Occupational Health and Welfare Management and Deane SHEQ Manager has implemented a ‘BuildHealth Management Plan’ that includes an Occupational Health Seminar Programme.

Quality Performance:

Health & Safety The Finalists: • Deane Public Works Ltd • Henry Brothers (Magherafelt) Ltd • Ardman Civil Projects Ltd • Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd

Phase 2 Maze Site Remediation

Quality Performance: Health & Safety

Adman Civil Projects Ltd

Building a Better Future Construction Excellence Awards 2013 Award Category Health & Safety · · · · · · · ·

Water & Sewage Treatment Works Public Utility Contracts Road & Bridge Contracts Major Earthmoving Marine & Riverworks Environmental Improvements Playing Fields Residential & Commercial Property Development · Design & Construct Civil Works · Aggregate Stone & Concrete Supply · Directional Drilling

Civil Engineering Contractors 16 Tully Road, KILLADEAS • IRVINESTOWN • CO. FERMANAGH • BT94 1NZ Tel: 028 6862 1555 • Fax: 028 6862 8523 E-mail: info@deanepublicworks.com • www.deanepublicworks.com

dman are a Specialist Civil Engineering Contractor to the Electrical Infrastructure & Renewable Energy (Wind) sectors, employing 32 full-time staff/up to 30 temp/sub-contractors. They fulfil the role of Principal Contractor for Wind Farm and substation projects from Civil Construction through to Turbine Erection & Commissioning. • Accredited to Safe T Cert for all aspects of their business. • Grade A in Safe T Cert. • Members of Northern Ireland Safety Group. • Accredited to Achilles & B2 Verify. • Adman employ a full time H&S Manager. • The Company operate an incentivised Good Catch/Near Miss reporting scheme which encourages employee involvement, promotes a good H&S culture and ultimately reduces accidents on site. • Safety Triangle forms a key part of the good catch/near miss reporting scheme – the more good catches/near misses reported less accidents occur. • No fatalities, dangerous occurrences or LTI since the Company began trading – the Company focus on reporting first aid injuries to assist with trend analysis to reduce the risk of an accident. • Adman allocate adequate resources i.e. competent personnel, suitable plant equipment. • Risk Management – early detection of new risks; plan ahead. Involvement of employees in the development of risk assessments and method statements.

CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Health & Safety

Quality Performance: Health & Safety

Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd Henry Brothers

FS has always endeavoured to work to the highest health and safety standards. The Directors have personally taken responsibility for upholding the health and safety position within the Company and have overseen year on year improvements. As a result of its commitment to a comprehensive health and safety management system and strategy, the Company has experienced a decline in Accident Frequency and Severity Rates. The integration of H&S into the MFS Management System has been independently audited and accredited to the following recognised standards: • Safe-T-Cert (successive ‘A’ grades) • OHSAS 18001 • B&ES • NICIEC

Quality Performance:

Training The Finalists:

• Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd • H&J Martin Ltd • David Jameson Roofing Services Ltd • McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd

David Jameson Roofing Services Ltd

avid Jameson Roofing Services Ltd employ 48 operatives and seven office based staff to carry out all types of roofing works and asbestos removal. Both of these works involve high levels of danger so the team at Jameson’s take Health and Safety very seriously and the best way to do that is by having trained and competent operatives. Two members of staff have been trained to be instructors through an organisation called ITSSAR – Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register.

(Magherafelt) Ltd

ealth and Safety is integral to Henry Brothers’ sustainable construction philosophy and is a cornerstone of their business. The Health and Safety Department receives full support from Managing Director David Henry, endorsed by the Board of Directors who have consistently and historically provided a high level of investment in the resources made available to the Department. Henry Brothers was one of the first companies in Northern Ireland to be accredited with Safe-T-Cert in 2001. Henry Bros Health & Safety team works in conjunction with every department across the organisation including the Insurance and Training Departments. It is headed by David Wallace, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Director, who is supported by two Health & Safety advisors, two administrators, and a Quality and Environmental Manager.

Quality Performance: Training

Maurice Flynn & Sons Ltd

FS understand that training ensures their people are fulfilled, motivated and of course competent to fulfil their duties and responsibilities, to ensure legal compliance, to provide the highest standard of safety and workmanship, as demonstrated by the repeat award of the Grade ‘A’ Safe-T-Cert. MFS instil this through induction training, skills development programme, review processes and in liaison with the CITB/CEF. All entrants to the Company and labour-only subcontractors complete minimum training: Induction (upon employment), CSR H&S Training, Site Induction, NVQs, Internal Training (Manual Handling, Asbestos Alert etc), External Training (First Aid etc), and Toolbox Talks (weekly). All site managers have attended ‘Managing Safely in the Construction Industry’ and Directors attend ‘IOSH Safety for Senior Executives’ courses with both registered as Construction or Senior Managers, under the CSR Scheme to which we are accredited to deliver both CSR and CIEH training in-house to ensure our supply chain is competent and appropriately carded.

CEF/Specify awards Quality Performance: Training

McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd/W H Alexander JV (Gael Force Renewables)

lenconway Wind Farm is currently under development by Gael Force Renewables Ltd, a joint venture between McLaughlin & Harvey, Barr and W&H Alexander on behalf of the Client SSE Renewables. The project started in May 2012 and is due for completion in October 2013. The project value is £12m and the project duration is 17 months. The Green Value Engineering achievements and site environmental coaching has already received industry-wide recognition when Gael Force Renewables achieved a hugely impressive score of 48/50 from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) in March 2013. McLaughlin & Harvey ensure that all employees receive environmental coaching and training relevant to the work being undertaken at that time. Environmental training includes site workshops on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), water quality, biodiversity, peat stability and peat slides. Workshops last approximately 1.5 hours and each speaker is an expert from the design team, also working on the project. Other types of training includes environmental ambushes which are organised monthly to provide ‘hands-on dry run training’ on how to deal with an environmental accident, such as a fuel spill or pollution of a watercourse.

Quality Performance: Training

H&J Martin Ltd

&J Martin believe in a sustainable approach to construction, recognising that having staff with the right skills and qualifications helps them deliver the most successful outcomes. Their policy is to ensure they invest in staff and help them develop. H&J Martin do this through a comprehensive training plan that analyses the skill sets required for each individual and provides targeted training courses to allow them to fulfil their duties to maximum effect. The last few years have been challenging times for the industry and like many construction firms based in Northern Ireland H&J Martin have had to look beyond their traditional home markets to secure new business. Recent projects have seen them operate from Ballavanich in the Western Isles to Baku in Azerbaijan and as far afield as Saudi Arabia. This has put a tremendous strain on headquarters staff as they strive to support our site teams with the training and refresher courses identified as part of their individual training plans. H&J Martin sourced an e-learning training provider allowing them to select standard courses and also to allow them to design their own bespoke courses in order to suit the individual needs of each part of their operations. Our in-house specialists in health, safety, welfare, quality, environmental management and sustainability have prepared course content targeted at specific needs identified in the training plan. The first 18 courses offered through the system would have cost over £3,000 per head to complete using traditional methods. This cost has now reduced to around £300 per head allowing H&J Martin to deliver more training within the same budget.

70| H&J Martin Guildhall

The Guildhall - a centre piece for the City of Culture

The Guildhall after restoration

H&J Martin Guildhall |71

orking on such an historic and architecturally sensitive building as the Guildhall in the city of Derry requires a combination of traditional craftsmanship and the latest building techniques, something H&J Martin have proved to be exceptionally good at. H&J Martin’s completion of Phase Two of the Guildhall project brought to a successful conclusion their involvement in this major restoration project which started back in 2010. Completed on time and within budget and to the client’s full satisfaction, the £4m second phase of the works focused on the building’s interior allowing the Guildhall to become a centre piece of the 2013 European City of Culture celebrations. The Phase Two works has transformed the functions of the Guildhall making it a key attraction for visitors to the City. A wide range of heritage craft skills were needed to ensure H&J Martin retained the original look and feel of this precious building. The team concentrated on using local companies helping to strengthen a sustainable heritage skills base in Northern Ireland. Local artists Naomi McBride and Ruth Bothwell supplied specialist decorations to the roof and organ whilst stained glass was restored by Calderwood, a company with over 40 years’ experience of working in the Guildhall. The team from H&J Martin focused on ensuring that the new building services were seamlessly integrated within the historic fabric of the building, matching the original features with the new elements. The addition of a wide range of new visitor experience technology was a major challenge. Specialist joinery and carpentry were another area where traditional skills were required. In the main hall the roof required significant works to replace decayed timbers. New wood had to be

Work included the restoration of stained glass

carefully stained and crafted to ensure that repairs blended into the original structure. To provide disabled access H&J Martin had to integrate platform lists into the raised area in front of the organ. It was essential that the frames and casings helped disguise the modern lift equipment so that these did not detract from the magnificent organ which was installed in 1914. During the works the H&J Martin team were carefully dismantling a section of wall and to their surprise they uncovered a time capsule put there by the original builders in 1887. The artefacts are now on display in the refurbished hall giving the restoration project a real link to the past history of the building. Commenting on the completion of the works, Billy Martin MBE, Chairman of H&J Martin said,“We are proud to have been involved in this major project which was completed in time to contribute to the 2013 City of Culture celebrations. We are particularly proud that so much of the works could be carried out by local craftsmen and women, helping to demonstrate the strength of the construction industry in Northern Ireland. It was an added bonus to unearth the time capsule buried on the 22nd August 1887, which helped our team truly feel part of the continuing Guildhall story.”

The newly restored roof in the Council Chamber

Workers with the contents of the time capsule

The newly restored organ in the Guildhall

72| Hagan Homes

Product, Price and Location – the key to Hagan Homes success Specify talks to Jamesy Hagan and Jim Burke of Hagan Homes whose sales of new houses are approaching pre-recession levels...

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for the team at Hagan Homes. At the height of the market the company employed over 30 people. That has been cut back to eleven employees and all the construction work is now contracted out. Of those eleven workers, many of them have been with Hagan’s from the start. Hagan Homes specialise in affordable, quality, stylish homes, with a significant proportion of their houses and apartments sold through the Co-Ownership Scheme. The company started in 1988 by Jamesy’s father, James, and his brother-in-law Nigel Simpson. The company was

Hagan Homes |73 Jim Burke

Jamesy Hagan competes in both Fiesta Zetecs and Formula Ford at Kirkistown. His father races in European Historic F1

Jamesy Hagan

74|

digest

Local company is awarded top environmental accolade

Quality Streets: Retrofitting traditional terraces Current thinking behind retrofitting tends to dismiss existing historic structures as being incompatible with green technologies or too expensive. As sustainability is at the forefront of development, it is crucial to change this attitude and encourage the concept of upgrading our existing housing stock. More often than not, this is overlooked and terraces are demolished in order to make space for new developments, consequently losing irreplaceable amounts of embodied energy and dispersing established communities. The current threat to our terraced housing is illustrated by schemes such as the Urban Renewal in Northern Ireland and Pathfinder in the north of England. The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS) has taken a step forward in the attempt to dispel the myth that upgrading historic structures to 21st century living standards is not possible and too expensive. Partnering with Hearth Housing Association, the UAHS has created a short film which demonstrates how our undervalued stock of traditional terraced houses can be retro-fitted using energy-

efficient measures. The aim of the film is to promote the inherent sustainability of the re-use of existing buildings to a broad audience including public and private owners, and help generate demand for historic building retrofit. The film looks at the McMaster Street scheme in Belfast as a case study, where a number of successful retrofit projects have been carried out by Hearth. The 1880s red-brick terraces in the street exist as some of the last pieces of history associated with East Belfast’s rich industrial heritage, and McMaster Street is designated as both a group of listed buildings and a conservation area. The retrofit included improvements in building performance through the use of green technologies and sustainable methods. The benefits of the scheme are not only apparent from the instant aesthetic improvements, but also from a wider angle such as the re-establishment of communities, re-use of historic buildings and meeting of housing demand. It is vital that retrofitting is done correctly to ensure that the integrity of the historic fabric remains undamaged and any alterations are carried out sympathetically. This short film serves as a best-practice tool for retrofitting and will hopefully act as a catalyst for terrace restoration around the UK. A link to the video is on the UAHS website: www.uahs.org.uk

Pat Sherry, A&G Group Health, Safety & Environmental Manager receives top ‘green’ award from Patricia McCambridge, Environmental Executive, BITC.

Acheson & Glover (A&G) Group has been awarded a top ‘green’ accolade from Business in the Community’s ARENA Network by achieving Quintile One status at this year’s 14th Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey Results Launch. The Survey, carried out by ARENA Network and supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, annually assesses top businesses in Northern Ireland for environmental management, performance and assurance. Continuing to develop their strategic environmental plan to reduce their overall impact on the environment, A&G gained accreditation to ISO 14001 and have built on their main environmental objectives of reducing energy consumption, reducing CO2 emissions, zero waste to landfill and better fuel efficiency within their fleet. “As environmental issues become a universal concern to both small and large companies it is important to have a system in place to create a balance between profitability and sustainability. This has further merited A&G as a supplier to increasingly environmental conscious public and private sector clients,” said Pat Sherry, HSE Manager.

Cabinet Office announces £109 billion of future Government Construction opportunities up for grabs Barbour ABI has published details of £109bn of government construction contracts on behalf of the Government. It includes planned projects and programmes up to 2020 and beyond. Barbour ABI has collected, collated and published the data, which is available on a new website www.uk-cip.org.uk. Information on opportunities to win future government construction contracts worth over £109 billion will help suppliers to plan ahead, invest in and grow their businesses, according to Cabinet Office Minister Chloë Smith. Industry can use the forward-looking information – published on a new online portal available – to plan for the future based on what government proposes to build, construct or renovate in the coming years. The Government Construction Pipeline is reviewed every six months to ensure new opportunities are reflected and more details are provided as they emerge. It has now been updated following the Spending Round for 2015/16 to include further programmes and projects up to 2020 and beyond.

product news |75 ANCON COMPLETES CE MARKING

INNOVATION FOR SCHUECO FACADE

W: www.ancon.co.uk/CE

E: mkninfobox@schueco.com W: www.schueco.uk

tainless steel fixings specialist, ANCON, has completed the CE Marking requirements for its full range of brick support systems, windposts, cavity wall ties, bed joint reinforcement, lintels and tension bar systems, confirming legal compliance with the new EU Construction Products Regulation. Ancon has published a new 12-page guide explaining this new regulation and identifying which products it affects. It includes a useful Q&A section to help stockists, engineers and contractors understand their obligations and how Ancon can help. The guide, together with the company’s Declaration of Performance portfolio and factory production control certification, is available from www.ancon.co.uk/CE. A CE mark is now standard on Ancon masonry support systems, windposts and other fabricated structural steel components manufactured to BS EN 1090-1 and designed to EN 1993 Eurocode 3. The mark also appears on standard wall ties, lintels and bed joint reinforcement manufactured to BS EN 845.

NEW BEND-OPTIMISED FIBRES FROM TRATOS Tel: 0845 413 9990 E: uk@tratos.eu W: www.tratos.co.uk

ratos, one of the leading European manufacturers of electrical, electronic and fibre optic cables, has launched the AllWave® FLEX and the AllWave FLEX+ Bend-Optimised Single-Mode Fibre range. The range has been developed alongside cutting-edge fibre optic network solutions manufacturer OFS in order to offer customers a brand new solution for any application that requires exceptionally small bend diameters. Featuring a 200 micron coating, AllWave Fibres occupy 46% less area than conventional 250 micron coated fibres, enabling them to be used in cables with higher fibre counts per tube and in microcables where cable diameters must be minimised. The bend-optimised design enables tight, low loss bends and the coating meets dynamic fatigue characteristics without risking fibre strength, resulting in long-term reliability and ultimate peace of mind for the customer.

new innovation from leading UK building envelope specialist, Schueco UK, is the FW 50+ SG.SI, a large-scale, aluminium, structural glazing façade system which combines an attractive flush-fitted appearance with outstanding insulation values. The Schueco FW 50+ SG.SI optimises thermal insulation through the use of double- or triple-glazing up to 64 mm thick with enhanced isolator technology and features a new economical option for fixing the glass units to the aluminium structure. This new fixing option can also be used with existing Schueco SG façades. Another innovation is a new cruciform glazing support system that means the façade can accommodate glass units up to 2.6 metres wide and 4.2 metres high and weighing up to 650 kg. An apparently seamless all-glass external appearance is achieved by means of slender, flush-fitted, wet-sealed joints, the profiles being visible only from the inside.

compact, easy clean spray nozzle offers long-life W: www.bete.co.uk

compact and easy-to-maintain air actuated fan nozzle which has an extremely high life cycle rating compared to other similar nozzles is the latest addition to the range offered by BETE Ltd. The Hydropulse is an innovative, low flow rate, flat fan, air actuated nozzle which has a huge life-time rating of 380 million cycles, compared to alternative nozzles which typically offer around 10 million cycles. The Hydropulse is ideal for spraying applications which require a flat fan pattern with an intermittent spray. It is designed to recycle spray up to 3 times per second without dripping so is ideal for coating and other similar precision spraying applications.

coram showers new premier tri-fold & double models

corrilux brochure

W: www.coramshowers.co.uk

W: www.luxonic.co.uk

oram Showers have announced its new Premier range is available in a range of easy to install formations, benefitting not only the installer but customer too. The new Premier Tri-Fold model with modesty panel and Designer Slimline Showertray is ideally suited to an alcove or within a compact bathroom where space is at a premium. Coram also features a range of newly introduced ‘double’ options for a greater showering area. This includes the Pivot, Sliding and Crescent door available in plain glass, as standard, or as an optional extra you can opt for a fully opaque etched satin glass or etched modesty panels.

uxonic has just published a brand new brochure on its range of Corrilux LED amenity lighting. Designed and developed by Luxonic Lighting as very efficient LED light engines, the Corrilux® luminaires have an expected life of 50,000 hours with 70% lumen maintenance. As shown in the catalogue these high efficiency and low wattage luminaires provide equivalent light output to typical compact fluorescent luminaires whilst giving energy savings of up to 50%. There are five versions of the Corrilux LED luminaires, as illustrated in the new brochure, in four diameters from 450mm to 260mm suitable for a range of building applications where low energy lighting is required including public spaces, stairwells and corridors. The luminaires have been specified in some major projects such as student accommodation blocks for the University of London.

To get your product featured in Specify's Product News section please contact Siobhan Kissward on T: 028 9078 3218 E: siobhankissward@greerpublications.com Don’t miss out!

76| insulation

Specify Polyurethane for superior thermal performance by Leonie Onslow, Executive Director, British Urethane Foam Contractors Association Specifiers need to realise the potential in energy efficiency investment to achieve ongoing cost savings for property owners. In addition to reducing running costs, higher market values can be achieved when increasing the Energy Performance Certificate rating by one or two bands. As much as 14% can be added to the price by raising the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating by one or two bands. Research published by the Department of Energy & Climate Change entitled, ‘An investigation of the effect of EPC ratings on house prices’, found that a house in the North East can achieve an additional £19,000. This assumes that an EPC rating of B has been attained in comparison with a D-rated property. The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) schemes provide finance upfront for householders and small businesses to increase the energy efficiency of their properties. The Green Deal scheme is a loan attached to a property with repayments made from the savings achieved. These savings result from the insulation or renewable measure added. The ECO scheme provides a subsidy from energy suppliers to provide funding for those most in need or for households living in hard to treat properties. To achieve high levels of thermal performance the application of spray applied or injected polyurethane foam can be applied to most building substrates. The material is a chemicallymodified polyurethane foam which is able to reach superior U-value and air permeability requirements. Polyurethane foam can be economically applied to the underside of traditional residential roofs, as well as those constructed from steel, asbestos and aluminium. Systems can be applied to various depths and have K-values in the range of 0.025 - 0.028W/mK. When sprayed to a depth of 100mm the U-value of a typical roof with 100mm fibreglass at ceiling level is reduced from 0.34W/m²K to 0.16W/m²K bringing the building up to current Building Regulation requirements. This can

Polyurethane foam in a barn conversion

Spraying polyurethane foam

save the equivalent of more than one tonne of CO2 per annum by reducing energy consumption. The British Urethane Foam Contractors Association (BUFCA) is the national trade association representing the spray-applied and injected polyurethane foam industry. It aims to promote high standards amongst its membership with installers operating under the Code of Professional Practice. This sets out

good practice and encourages sound relationships between a member and its customers. The association has a network of installers skilled in the installation of sprayed or injected polyurethane foam. When choosing a member specifiers can be assured of the highest standards of quality and service. Installer members can offer a 25-year insurance-backed guarantee for sprayed and injected polyurethane

foam projects undertaken. The warranty provides reassurance for domestic and contract work where approved products are installed. Literature on the use of sprayed/ injected polyurethane for walls, lofts and other applications is available from the British Urethane Foam Contractors Association, based at The Bothy, Albury Park, Surrey GU5 9BH; or tel: 01483 209666; e-mail: info@ bufca.co.uk.

directory |77

NORTHERN IRELAND’S No.1 CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE SPECIFY is the official publication for the Construction Employers Federation

directory ABORICULTURAL CONSULTANCY

AIR, WIND TIGHTNESS & VENTILATION

Automatic doors

Professional & Impartial Services Tree inspections (ground & aerial) Tree Surveys Tree Hazard Identification Mortgage Reports Vegetation Management Schedules Legal Dispute/ Expert Witness Services High Hedge Legislation advice Planning Consultations Woodland Management Plans Tree Planting & Landscape Design All consultancy work is conducted by fully qualified and experienced personnel and is covered by £1m professional indemnity insurance.

Clarke Cunningham Tree Maintenance Ltd. 69 Upper Mealough Road Carryduff, BT8 8LR TEL: 028 9081 4488, Fax: 028 9081 4333 Email: info@treemaintenance.com Website: www.treemaintenance.com

ACCESS SOLUTIONS

Automatic’s & Access Control

Construct with Confidence We combine our extensive technical knowledge with a wide range of the finest brands in air & wind tightness, ventilation, drainage, fixings, roofing and other construction products. • SIGA Air & Windtightness Products • Gildevale Membranes • Airtightness Buildtight™ Range • Roofspace Ventilation • Passivent Natural Ventilation & Daylighting Solutions • Suitable for timber frame, traditional build and all commercial construction

Frederick Jones (Belfast) Ltd Tel: 028 9032 4467 Web: www.fjones.com/construction

Swing Door Operators Sliding Door Operators Curved Sliding Bi-Folding Sliding Revolving Doors Under floor Swing Drive Operators Electronic Locking Systems Intercoms CCTV Access Control

Door Hardware Door furniture Locks & Cylinders Door Closing Devices Hinges & Pivots Panic Exit Hardware Anti-Ligature Range Anti-Bacterial

Automatic doors DORMA offers a total package of solutions for around the door and beyond. This includes door hardware to glass fittings, automatic doors and movable walls, all backed up by a nationwide team of service and maintenance engineers. Suitable for a wide range of projects including retail, workplace, health, commercial, residential and leisure, DORMA products offer performance, reliability and innovation. DORMA UK Limited Wilbury Way Hitchin Hertfordshire SG4 0AB Tel: 01462 477600 Fax: 01462 477601 Email: info@dorma-uk.co.uk Web: www.dorma-uk.co.uk

Facades, Partitions & Doors

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERS

Schuco Jansen Glazing Systems Fire & Smoke Curtains Steel Doors & Frames Timber Doors & Frames Door Sets Movable Walls

Stainless Steel Fabrications

Bollard automation

Balustrade & Handrail Stainless Steel Glazed Canopies Glass Partitions Staircases Stainless Steel Bollards

Service & Maintenance

Walkway Systems Scaffold Tower Systems Edge Protection System Fall Arrest & Personal Protection Equipment Promoting ‘Safe Working Platforms’ Ridgeway 103 Airport Road Belfast, BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9045 4599 Fax: 028 9045 4596 Email: info@ridgeway-online.com Web: www.ridgeway-online.com

Maintenance agreements Emergency callouts Repairing parts Replacing parts bELFAST Unit 20-21a, Harbour Court, Heron Road, Sydenham, Business Park, Belfast, BT3 9LE. Tel: 028 904 69914 Fax: 028 904 69915 www.kccarchitectural.com salesbelfast@ kccarchitectural.com dublin cork London SCOTLAND QATAR

Tel: 01 456 7421 Tel: 021 435 1200 Tel: +44 (0) 1322 616 416 Tel: +44 (0) 7730 764 730 Tel: +97444533165

• Manual, Automatic & Gas Bollards • Building Protection Systems • Vehicle Access Control • Bus Link Systems • Anti-terrorist/Suicide Bomber Protection • Security Gates • Perimeter Security Consultants Sentry Posts Ltd 27 Upper Quilly Road, Dromore, Co. Down BT25 1NP Tel: (028) 9269 2113 Fax: (028) 9269 2117 Email: sentryposts@btconnect.com Web: www.sentryposts.co.uk

78| directory Builders

BuSINESS information

Cavity trays

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

•

Manufacturers of preformed cavitrays, caviclosers, cavivents, caviweeps, dampcourses, arches, lintels, airbricks, membranes, barriers, flashings, ventilators; cavibricks. Radon and Methane protection systems. Wide range of preformed systems from the largest and longest established specialist. Products with Agrement certificates to British Standards. LABC Product Type Approval. Free design and advisory service. For high performance products with warranty. Cavity Trays Ltd is the only tray manufacturer awarded European Technical approval.

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

Building information

Products • Planning Applications • Public Sector Tenders • Contracts awarded

Carpenters & joiners

Level threshold isolation dpc's and compatible vertical closers now available. Immediate distribution from stock Cavity Trays Limited Contact: Stephen Leyland Ltd, Castings House, Quarry Heights, North Road, Newtownards BT23 7SZ Tel: 028 9182 2522 Fax: 028 9182 2558

ORE® is an all Ireland construction information service. We deliver invaluable, up to date information on construction projects at every stage. Opportunities are tailored to the exact requirements of your business, you decide what information you need and how you want to receive it.

Cavity Trays Ltd New Administration Centre, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8Hu Tel: 01935 474769 Fax: 01935 428223 E-mail: enquiries@cavitytrays.co.uk

Contact us for further information or visit www.unearthore.com where you can gain immediate access to all projects by taking our 10 day free trial. See what your business can unearth, given Ore.

Telephone: Belfast: 02890 755100 Dublin: 01 496 4999 Email: info@unearthore.com Web: www.unearthore.com

• • • • • • •

Reduced CO² footprint Faster application Less Labour intensive Superior surface finish Reduction in curing time Reduced thickness and weight Elimination/reduction of joints

Call 01 865 8700 (ROI) 02890 616611 (NI) e: ireland.info@cemex.com w: www.cemex.ie

Acoustic and fire barriers /stops for cavity wall specifications. New range to suppress sound transmission with up to fours hours fire integrity rating

Services • www.unearthore.com • Reports tailored to your exact requirements

Ore Unit 8 North City Business Centre 2 Duncairn Gardens Belfast BT15 2GG Northern Ireland

CONCRETE

CIVIL ENGINEERS

Nicholas O'Dwyer Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers Project Managers, CDM Co-ordinators

DIFFERENT BY DESIGN 15 Downshire Road, Newry, Co. Down, N. Ireland, BT34 1EE Tel: 004428 3026 6915 • Fax: 004428 3026 4810 Email: newry@nodwyer.com • Web: www.nodwyer.com

• Above ground Slurrey Stores • Below ground Slurrey Tanks • Cattle Slatt • Cattle Cubicles • Retaining wall systems • Rocket walls, Drinkers • SB jack • Pipes and super H pipes • Bridge beams • Tunnel segments • Box culverts. Macrete Ireland Ltd. 50 Creagh Road, Toomebridge Co. Antrim BT41 3SE Tel: 028 796 504 71 Fax: 028 796 500 84 Email: info@macrete.com Web: www.macrete.com

Supplying Northern Ireland’s leading architects and builders

...a new generation of liquid screed! Major benefits over traditional sand: cement screed. Visit our website for more information.

www.rtu.co.uk RTU LTD Cloughfern Avenue, Newtownabbey Co. Antrim BT37 0UZ Tel: 028 9085 1441 Fax: 028 9085 1226 Email: sales@rtu.co.uk

directory |79

If you wish to advertise contact: Quality Precast Solutions for Building and Civil Construction • Asset BEBO Bridge Arches • Redi-Rock Wall Systems • Box Culverts • Bridge Parapets • Manhole Rings & Slabs • Heads & Sills, Copings and Edgings • Above Ground Post-Tensioned Tanks Moore Concrete Products Caherty House, 41 Woodside Road, Ballymena BT42 2QH Tel: 028 2565 2566 Fax: 028 2565 8480 Email: info@moore-concrete.com Web: www.moore-concrete.com

Construction

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218 carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

FABRICATED METALS

Ireland’s largest Fixings and Power Tool distributors including:

Our product range includes: Trespa Meteon Trespa Virtuon Trespa TopLabplus eco-fibre Trespa TopLab Trespa Athlon

Fixings and fastenings

• Bosch • Panasonic • Milwaukee • Bridges BRIDGES • BALUSTRADES • PLATFORMS • STAIRS • Stanley Balustrades • •ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK FA B R I C AT E D M E TA L S

• • • •

Henkel Elch Rawlplug Heller

• Platforms • Stairs Distributors of GRP composite P.F COPELAND LTD • Architectural Metalwork George House, 9 Mallusk Drive, Newtownabbey, Co.Antrim, doorsets, glass products, fire doors &

Finish Specialist Construction Products 73 Liminary Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland BT42 3HN Tel: 0800 232 1706 Fax: 028 2564 7499

Demolition

Northern Ireland BT36 4GX Telephone: 028 9083 7211 • Fax: 028 9034 2307 P.F Copeland LTD Web Site: www.pfcopeland.com

George House, 9 Mallusk Drive, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, NI, BT36 4GX Tel: 028 9083 7211 Fax: 028 9034 2307 Web: www.pfcopeland.com

FACADES

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

uPVC panels. Visit our website www.acefixings.com

Ace Fixings Woodside Industrial Estate, Woodside Road, Ballymena, BT42 4HX Tel: 028 2564 9323 Fax: 028 2565 9334

GAS

FORKLIFT TRUCKS Calor Gas Northern Ireland Limited

We have a wealth of experience within the demolition industry, covering all areas of Northern Ireland. We have built up a proven track record and reputation for being highly competitive, efficient and for completing all works to the highest possible standards. All our employees are fully trained in line with current legislation and are continually assessed and certified in all aspects of their work.

McCusker Demolition 85 Iris Drive Belfast BT12 7BL Tel: 02890 233301 Mob: 07801544496 - 07935987675 Fax: 02890 201427 Email: info@mccuskerdemolition.com Web: www.mccuskerdemolition.com

Award Winning Facade Specialists:

• EWI - External Wall Insulation Systems from renowned manufacturers STO & Weber. • External Rainscreen Claddings • External SFS Metal Framing • Traditional Plastering & Screeding • Established 30 Years M Clarke & Sons Contracts Ltd 9 Main St Portglenone, Co. Antrim BT44 8LA E-mail: mclarke001@aol.com Web: www.mclarke.co.uk

Combilift Ltd manufactures a range of 4-way all-wheel drive forklifts for the safe, space-saving handling of long and awkward loads. Combilifts work as a 3 trucks in 1 - counterbalance truck, sideloader and narrow aisle forklift, inside and out, on semi-rough terrain, in aisles widths of 2m. Capacities from 2.5 – 14 tonnes are available, with various power options.

Combilift Ltd Gallinagh, Co. Monaghan, Ireland Tel: 00353 47 80500 Fax: 00353 47 80501 UK Tel: 07815 314990 Email: info@combilift.com Web: www.combilift.com

Airport Road West, Sydenham, Belfast, BT3 9EE. Tel: 028 9045 5588 E-mail: info@calorgas.ie Website: www.calorgas.ie Type of Business: Supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in both bulk and cylinder. Delivering an energy solution that is effective and economical. Full design service and technical advice and guidance. 24-hour emergency call out. PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Commercial Catering, Water Heating, Space Heating, Air Handling, Alfresco Catering, Outdoor Heating Solutions, - Living Flame Fires, Tumble Drying.

80| directory Glass / Glazing

Flogas goes far beyond simply managing and supplying bulk and cylinder LP Gas requirements. Choosing LP Gas from Flogas not only opens the door to a versatile, highly efficient energy source with affordable installation and running costs – we create and implement tailored energy solutions specific to client applications. Our experience covers a comprehensive range of markets including domestic (both single dwelling and metered estates), catering, commercial, industrial, agricultural and automotive. CPD Learning CPD sessions are now available from Flogas to assist architects, planning consultants and other specifiers in updating their core learning and knowledge. For more information visit www.flogasni.com/cpd. Flogas Airport Road West Belfast Harbour Estate BELFAST BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9073 2611 Email: info@flogasni.com Web: www.flogasni.com

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

Supplying commerical glass solutions to the UK and Ireland's leading architects and developers • In-house Technical Team • Commercial Sealed Units • Available with Super Spacer TriSeal • Structural Units • Special Glass - Spandrel Panels Camden Glass Units 4-7, Steeple Industrial Estate, Antrim, BT41 1AB Tel: 028 9446 2419 E-mail: info@camdenglass.co.uk Web: www.camdenglass.co.uk

HANDLING SOLUTIONS

Heyn Handling Solutions comprises 4 Operational Divisons, offering bespoke solutions for all your handling needs. • Engineering Solutions (cranes & hoists) • Forktruck Solutions • Shipping Solutions • Waste Solutions 1 Corry Place, Belfast Harbour Estate BT3 9AH

Industrial Doors

Industrial Doors & Loading Bay Equipment Automatic Gates, Traffic Barriers, Turnstiles, Electric Overhead Cranes, Hoists, Lifting Gear Britannia Electrical Services Unit 4, McKinney Industrial Estate, Hydepark, Mallusk BT36 4PX Tel: 028 9083 8030 Fax: 028 9083 8058 Email: bes.doors@btconnect.com Website: www.besdoors.co.uk

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

Mats and matting

N. Ireland distributors and stockists for Coral mats and matting. Nuway entrance matting systems, threshold matting and tiles, rubber, plastic, coir and anti-fatigue matting, Gradus stairnosings, safety flooring, Flexi tiles, Studded rubber and Jaymart products. Matrex Mats and Matting 24B Portadown Road, Lurgan, Co. Armagh BT66 8QX Tel: 028 3832 8857 Fax: 028 3832 1058 Mobile: 07831 141305 E-mail: matrex@btconnect.com Web: www.matrexmatsandmatting.co.uk

Metal Finishing

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

Tel: 028 9035 0000 Web: www.heyn.co.uk

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

Insurance Intermediaries

METAL MESH

Local construction insurance expertise at competitive terms Willis & Company provide a wide range of Insurance products to protect your business as well as Health & Safety and Risk Management Services. • Employers & Public Liability Insurance • Contractors "All Risks" Insurance • Motor Fleet Insurance • Professional Indemnity Insurance • Property & Business Interruption Insurance • Latent Defects Insurance • Bonds

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

Contact Keith Hynds or David Stevenson

on 028 9032 9042 Email: info@willisinsurance.co.uk Web: www.willisinsurance.co.uk

"Twil" Weldmesh EXPAMET Expanded Metal, FLOWFORGE Open Steel Flooring, Handrail Standards & Stair Treads, PERFORATED Metal Sheets, Comprehensive Stock Range, Ridgeway 103 Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9045 4599 Fax: 028 9045 4596 Email: info@ridgeway-online.com Web: www.ridgeway-online.com

directory |81 Partitions (Acoustic)

We at Masters Choice Ltd have been manufacturing acoustic partitions and joinery products for over 20 years. All products offered by Masters Choice are manufactured at our workshop by experienced and dedicated tradesmen to the highest quality and standard. As we manufacture all products ourselves which allows us to offer a full range of services including Design. We manufacture and install all products to our Clients specific requirements. We also offer an after sales care package on all products provided.

Master's Choice Ltd Silverbridge, Newry N. Ireland, BT35 9LJ Tel: (028) 30861032 Fax: (028) 30861693 E-mail: m.choice@dnet.co.uk

PAVING

Acheson & Glover has been in business for more than 50 years. As well as in-depth experience we offer the widest range of concrete products in the UK and Ireland - from manhole covers to decorative walling and paving. Then there’s our unique range of problem solvers:

• • • • • •

SEGMENTAL RETAINING WALLS ACOUSTIC BLOCKS THERMAL BLOCKS PERMEABLE PAVING PRESTRESSED FLOORING BESPOKE (contact us to discuss your needs)

PUMP DISTRIBUTORS Hire Centres

FreePhone

0800 1 970 970

PLASTIC SHEETS/ SHAPES

The world's leading brands of plastic sheets, rods, films and tubes all available from Comco • Perspex • Lexan solid polycarbonate • Marlon multi wall polycarbonate • Engineering plastics • Machined Parts

Supply

Installation

Spares

Maintenance

• 'Chopper' Pumps for Arduous Sewage & Effluent Applications. • Water & Sewage Centrifugal Pumps & Package systems. • External High Efficiency Tank Mixing Systems. • Lightweight Portable Lifting Davits & Gantries. • Turnkey Wastewater Pumping Stations. • Static and Pump Action CSO Screens. • Screenings Conditioning Equipment. • Inlet Fine Screens for WwTW. • Storm Tank Flushing Systems. • Static Bag Screens. • Odour Abatement. • Flow Regulators. • Macerators.

All BPF operatives are fully trained to current Health & Safety Regulations, including 'Confined Spaces' Entry as required.

BPF Distributors & Pumps Ltd Industrial Estate, Killough Road, Downpatrick, Co. Down. BT30 6LJ (NI) T: 028 4461 5777 F: 028 4461 4250 (ROI) T: (01) 4780665 F: (01) 4780678 W:www.bpf-ltd.com E:info@bpf-ltd.com

If you wish to advertise contact:

Contractors: • Access Equipment • Mixers • Compressors • Dumpers • Concrete Equipment • Generators • Rollers • Mini Diggers • Site Accommodation • Skid Steers • Telescopic Forklifts • Welders Home - Owners • Gardening • Sanding • Heating & Drying • Decorating • Scaffolding • Saws • Drills

DEPOTS AT: Coleraine • Ballymena • Belfast • Mid-Ulster • Derry • Banbridge • Magherafelt 102 Bushmills Road, Coleraine, BT52 2BT 'lo-call' 0845 603 33 44 Web: www.cphire.com

Design

24 Stockmans Way, Musgrave Park Industrial Estate, Belfast BT9 7ET Tel: 028 9066 8358 Fax: 028 9066 0623 Email: sales@comcoplastics.co.uk Web: www.comcoplastics.co.uk

Acheson & Glover Ltd. 64 Old Moy Road Dungannon Co. Tyrone BT71 6PU Tel: 028 8778 4208 Fax: 028 8778 4805 Email: solutions@acheson-glover.com Web: www.acheson-glover.com

PLANT AND MACHINERY HIRE

Site Survey

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218 carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

DRILLING & PUMPING SUPPLIES LTD Are one of the foremost pump distributors in Ireland, holding agencies for some of the worlds leading pump manufacturers. We offer a complete design / supply / install service with the technical expertise and product range to support everything from domestic / commercial packaged pump stations to bespoke systems for municipal applications. Our specialities include: • Hot / cold water boosting • Rainwater harvesting • Food and pharmaceutical • Sewage and storm pumping systems • Leachate systems Drilling & Pumping Supplies Ltd Tel: 028 9181 8347 Email: sales@dps-ni.com

82| directory REcruitment

SPECIALIST PERMANENT RECRUITMENT

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

• Licensed Trade • FMCG • Marketing • Hospitality • Technical Sales • Construction • Advertising/Media • Pharmaceutical/Medical • IT • Telecoms • Foodservice • Retail

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

FIELD MARKETING SPECIALIST • Merchandising • Auditors • Heavy Duty Installations • Quality Teams • Sales Blitzes • Contract Sales • POS Management • Mystery Shopping • Promotions/ Demonstrations • HR Consultancy • Payroll

Sales Placement Contract People Ltd. Unit A4, 17 Heron Road, Sydenham Business Park, Belfast, BT3 9LE Tel: 028 9045 5040 Fax: 028 9073 9058 E-mail: info@spcpl.co.uk Web: www.spcpl.co.uk

REtaining walls

Retain provides a design supply & installation service for a range of earth retention systems. All of the systems are class leaders. This ensures clients confidence that the most suitable system is used in each given application. • Greenface • Andacrib • Modular Block • Gabions • Installation • Permacrib

SAFETY

Sports ground contractors

STEEL STOCKHOLDING Coen For Cares Coen Steel Services the 32 counties

Specialists in: • Emerald Synthetic Grass Surfacing • Conipur Athletics Track Systems • PolyTop Polymeric MUGA Facilities • Playground Equipment & Safety Surfacing

HEAD OFFICE Woodside Road Industrial Estate woodside Road Ballymena BT42 4QJ T: +44 (0)28 2563 8666 F: +44 (0)28 2563 8555 e: info@crawfordgroupireland.com w: www.crawfordgroupireland.com

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

The Reinforcement People We supply reinforcing stock bars and coil cut to length cut and bent. Fabric reinforcement standard sizes and non-standard sizes. Plastic spacers and accessories: construction wire, PC strand and wire. We also supply I.P.E's H.R: H.R.P.O: C.R: Galvanized Coil: Slit coil: Tight tolerance blanks: Cut to length, sheet or plate. Northern Ireland Office Tel: 02890 844087 Fax: 02890 832521 Oranmore Office, Co. Galway Tel: 0035391 790044 Fax: 0035391 790288 Dublin Office: Tel: 0035312 786009 Warehouses at Greenore, Galway

STreet Furniture

Providing on-site safety for: • Construction • Maintenance • Engineering Environmental Street Furniture is the UK and Ireland's leading suppliers of external street furniture, exterior lighting including LED's and highways products.

Lifeline Air Bags Mobile: 07748 786 076 Fax: 028 8772 9262 E-mail: malachymckee@me.com Web: www.lifelineairbags.co.uk

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

security FENCING • • •

Security Fencing - Business Parks - Warehouses - Residential Sports Fencing - Tennis Courts - Soccer - Multi-sport Facilities Manufacturing - Custom Mesh Panel - Manufacturing at the right price

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

Valley Business Centre 67 Church Road Newtownabbey Belfast, BT36 7LS Tel: 028 90 552654 Fax: 028 90 551661 Web: www.worldofesf.com

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

JN Cummins & Co. Ltd. is a leading industrial security fencing specialist. The company operates a one-stop-shop in fence-manufacturing and distributes all over Ireland, the UK and parts of Europe & Africa. We believe in offering our products at the best competitive prices and terms available, and with our own transport and delivery system and newly constructed purposebuilt offices, excellent customer service and care is ensured at all times.

Retain Solutions Ltd 56 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AS Tel: 028 9031 3881 Email: retain@retain.co.uk www.retain.co.uk

JNC Fencing Contact: Dermot Jones N. Ireland Contracts Manager 07585 776181 - Mob Tel: 00353 62 62214 - Head Office E-mail: info@jncfence.com Web: www.jncfence.com

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

directory |83 Wall & DOOR PROTECTION

TRAINING

Training Solutions (NI) Limited is one of Northern Ireland's leading training companies. We offer excellent training and development to both public and private sector organizations. The main areas of training include Construction, Health & Safety, Employee Skills and Management Development. We currently provide training for over 30 of Northern Ireland's top 100 companies with high quality tuition and administration. Training Solutions (NI) Ltd is an accredited centre for NEBOSH, IOSH, CSR, City & Guilds, ILM, Driver CPC & SPA (Safe Pass Alliance) Courses and Qualifications.

New Horizons 4A Steeple Road Antrim BT41 1AF t: 028 9448 8100 f: 028 9448 8101 e: info@trainingsolutionsni.co.uk w: www.trainingsolutionsni.com

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact:

National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) Northern Ireland Holyrood Court, 59 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6SA Tel: 028 9068 3131 Fax: 028 9068 3258

TREE CARE SERVICES

Professional & Impartial Services Crown lifting / Raising / Crown Reduction Selective / Formative Pruning Deadwooding / Crown Cleaning Storm Damage Rectification (24hr) Removal of dead, diseased and dangerous trees Sectional removal with the aid of mobile crane Stump Grinding, Root Removal and Root Pruning Conifer Maintenance High Hedge Legislation advice Young Tree Maintenance Shrub Pruning / Grounds Maintenance Woodland Management Tree Planting Composted Woodchip and Firewood Sales Fully equipped, insured and qualified Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor

Clarke Cunningham Tree Maintenance Ltd.

69 Upper Mealough Road Carryduff, BT8 8LR TEL: 028 9081 4488, Fax: 028 9081 4333 Email: info@treemaintenance.com Website: www.treemaintenance.com

Visual Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

waste management

Products: Protection Rails Handrails Wall Protection Door Protection Heavy Duty Protection Yeoman Shield provides a range of functional and attractive wall and door protection systems for new build and refurbishment projects. Our wide range of rails, wall sheet, corner and door protection systems are designed to prevent expensive and unsightly damage to the internal fabric of commercial and public buildings. We have over 45 years of experience of wall and door protection combined with a wealth of knowledge and a wide product range which is held in stock for immediate distribution.

If you wish to advertise contact:

Contact us for further information or visit www.yeomanshield.com where you can view the complete Yeoman Shield brochure. Contact our head office with regards to coverage for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Yeoman Shield c/o Harrison Thompson & Co Ltd Whitehall Estate Whitehall Road Leeds LS12 5JB Tel: +44 113 279 5854 Email: sallyann@yeomanshield.com

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

• A national brand presence • An industry-leading Ten-Year Insurance Backed Guarantee that homeowners can really trust. • Trained installers and surveyors • Global reputation of the VEKA PVC-U system Network VEKA Ltd Farrington Road, Burnley BB11 5DB Tel: (01282) 473170 Fax: (01282) 473175 E-mail: networkveka@networkveka.com Web: www.networkveka.com

If you wish to advertise in this space, please contact: Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218

carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

Caroline McClean 028 9078 3218 carolinemcclean@greerpublications.com

84| web directory

web directory The Internet is a big place, so make sure you get noticed with a listing on SPECIFY's Web Directory pages. Flag up your home page to the people who matter. To secure your listing, contact Siobhan on 028 9078 3218 or email siobhankissward@greerpublications.com www.larsenbuildingproducts.com

www.spanwall.com

www.calorgasni.com

www.1080.co.uk

www.flogasni.com

www.gqaqualifications.com

web directory |85 www.jncfence.com

www.nkfencing.com

www.acefixings.com

www.contractceilings.com

www.bestvaluegabions.com

www.whitemountain.co.uk

Whitemountain Quarries Ltd, 11 Sheepwalk Road, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. BT28 3RD Telephone: 028 9250 1000 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 028 9250 1100

www.ridgefence.com

www.willisinsurance.co.uk

86| web directory www.mccuskerdemolition.com

www.heynwaste.co.uk

www.petal.co.uk

www.masterschoice.co.uk

www.matrexmatsandmatting.co.uk

www.cphire.com

www.hutchinson-engineering.co.uk

www.sdg.ie

web directory |87 www.mclarke.co.uk

www.balloohire.com

www.ahcladding.com

www.treemaintenance.com

www.pronetsafetyservices.com

www.swissfacades.com

www.gyproc.ie

If you want to advertise your Webpage here then call...

Siobhan on: 028 9078 3218

V B Evans & Company are pleased to have been chosen to undertake responsibility for the bi-monthly collation of this data and sponsor its publication. With over 65 years of experience in business the firm provides a wide range of quality assured professional quantity surveying and other consultancy services to Northern Ireland clients who seek value for money and appropriate contract advice for their building design or refurbishment proposals. The Specify Prices published here are representative of the market price of each building material, having been assessed from a variety of local sources which in the present competitive economic climate prefer not to be named. Readers are advised to verify individual prices with a local merchant for their particular needs since our prices are necessarily averaged for guidance purposes. We hope that these pages may be of assistance to readers but would welcome any constructive suggestions for amendment to include information which would be appropriate to your needs. Material prices at July 2013. Prices are exclusive of VAT. Discounts will apply. This information is compiled specifically for Specify periodicals and is copyright.

Building Materials Prices

88 | prices AGGREGATES

CONCRETE BLOCKS

Full loads delivered Central Belfast 50mm Crusher run 100mm Crusher run Fine Blinding Coarse Blinding 6mm Stone 10mm Stone Building Sand Washed Sand

per tonne £13.00 £13.50 £12.50 £12.50 £14.50 £18.00 £18.00 £15.00

BRICKS

FINISHED SOFTWOOD

Metric-sized concrete bricks delivered

Per 100 metres, ex-yard, random lengths, finished sizes. per 100m Parana Pine 20x8 £55.70 44x8 £86.40 Whitewood 32x12 £47.30 69x12 £74.60 32x19 £56.00 44x19 £67.00 32x32 £74.00 69x32 £125.00 69x44 £161.60 94x44 £211.00 69x69 £240.00

Facings Blanchardstown Antique Fergustie Country Mixture Richmond Mixture Irish Dacharne Devenish Ardagh Gold Textured Lismore Slate Textured

per 1,000 £338.00 £347.00 £298.00 £323.00 £287.00 £283.00 £262.00

NB Clay brick prices are not included because of the enormous variation in types, quality and prices from various sources.

CARCASSING TIMBER Per 100 metres, ex-yard, random lengths, not exceeding 5.7 metres. per 100m 50x19 £43.90 75x19 £65.60 125x19 £106.70 38x25 £39.90 75x25 £48.50 150x25 £95.90 50x38 £74.40 100x38 £112.90 150x38 £89.50 50x50 £89.50 100x50 £141.20 125x50 £159.80 100x75 £194.50 200x75 £449.00 150x100 £349.00

CEMENT Bulk Cement delivered in 15-tonne loads to Greater Belfast Area per tonne Ordinary Portland Cement £125.00 Sulphate Resisting Cement £150.00

Ordinary Portland Cement

3 Pilot's View, Heron Road Belfast BT3 9LE Tel: 028 9045 7000 Fax: 028 9045 7040 Web: www.vbevans.com Also at: Coleraine And Dublin

Quantity Surveying Building Surveying Project Management CDM Planning Supervision

INDUSTRIAL AND FIRE-RESISTING BOARD Prices are exclusive of delivery. Terms for SUPALUX non-combustible asbestos-free fire-resisting board - price per sheet up to 149m2 2440x1220

per tonne £323.00

CEMENT MORTARS In full loads delivered to Central Belfast per tonne Standard 1 lime mortar £24.00 Tinted mortar ref. Y4 £42.00 Y15 £49.00 Y135 £42.00 Y91 £51.00 Y10 £48.00

6mm sanded £46.60

9mm sanded £48.30

12mm sanded £64.00

MASTERBOARD Class O asbestos-free multi-purpose building board sanded finish. Price per sheet up to 149m2 2440x1220

Bagged cement delivered in 15-tonne loads to Greater Belfast Area

Chartered Surveyors

Metric-sized concrete blocks, delivered to Belfast area, full loads, mechanically off-loaded per 1,000 440x215x100 3.5N/mm2 £401.00 440x215x100 7Nmm2 £391.00 440x215x100 10Nmm2 £344.00 2 4440x300x100 7Nmm £472.00 440x300x100 10Nmm2 £447.00 Concrete brick 15Nmm2 £120.00 440x215x100 Tolite £766.00

6mm £58.10

9mm £69.80

12mm £87.30

PLASTERING MATERIALS Per tonne, ex-works (delivery by arrangement) Lightweight aggregate pre-mixed gypsum plaster to BS 1191, Part 2. Metal lathing undercoat Bonding Finish Gypsum plasterboard to BS 1230 per sheet (2400 mm x 1200 mm) 9.5mm thick plasterboard 9.5mm thick foil-backed plasterboard per bundle (6 Nr 1219mm x 406mm) 9.5mm thick plasterlath 9.5mm thick foil-back plasterboard per 100 lin. feet Galvanised standard angle bead Galvanised plasterstop (10mm) Galvanised external renderstop

£273.00 £329.00 £291.00 £6.70 £9.80 £12.15 £8.00 £9.20 £12.20 £25.50

In the next issue of READY MIXED CONCRETES Ordinary Portland Cement in full loads delivered to Central Belfast per cub. metre 1:10 by volume £60.10 1:2:4 by volume £73.30 1:3:6 by volume £65.50 2 20 N/mm :20mm aggregate £59.50 25 N/mm2:20mm aggregate £63.00 30 N/mm2:20mm aggregate £65.00

Fibre Cement Slates ex-yard per 1,000 £1460.00 £1580.00

Concrete tiles delivered Central Belfast Interlocking flat tile Double roll tile Single roll tile Half round ridge tile - 457mm long Angular ridge tile - 457mm long

£850.00 £850.00 £850.00 per tile £4.50 £5.40

SAWN REDWOOD Per 100 metres, ex-yard, random lengths. 100x50 150x50 100x63 150x63 200x63 100x75 150x75 200x75

Per 100 metres, ex-yard, random lengths, finished sizes. 114x19 89x12 114x12 89x12 94x12

T + G Whitewood TG + V Whitewood TG + V Whitewood TG + V Redwood TG + Open V Redwood

£80.30 £60.50 £69.90 £80.80 £94.00

STEEL REINFORCEMENT

ROOF SLATES AND TILES Thrutone Thrutone Relief

SOFTWOOD FLOORING, SHEETING AND PANELING

£197.30 £280.60 £218.70 £329.60 £449.00 £267.90 £403.20 £551.80

Mild Steel reinforcing bars to BS 4449. High yield steel reinforcing bars to BS 4449/4461. One size, bent and labelled, per tonne, delivered to Central Belfast Diameter/mm Mild Steel High Yield 6 £635.00 £695.00 8 £635.00 £695.00 10 £635.00 £695.00 12 £635.00 £695.00 20 £635.00 £695.00 25 £635.00 £695.00 32 £635.00 £695.00 40 £635.00 £695.00 Mesh Fabric to BS 4483 ex-yard per sheet (one or mixed references) per sheet BS reference A 98 £28.00 A142 £28.00 A193 £32.00 A252 £36.00 A393 £60.00 B503 £60.00 B785 £75.00

Some of Last Years Winners...

Jonathan Bell Junior Minister, Paul Hanna Mascott, Tiffany Brien

Heavy section steel ex-yard in lots of over 5T per tonne UC 152x152x23 £835.00 203x203x46 £1065.00 254x254x73 £1190.00 305x305x118 £1015.00 356x368x153 £1190.00 UB 305x165x40 356x127x37 406x140x39 457x152x52 533x210x82

SAWN WHITEWOOD

CEF/Specify Construction Excellence Awards Winners 2013

£1065.00 £1015.00 £1015.00 £1015.00 £1015.00

Per 100 metres, ex-yard, random lengths. 50x25 100x25 150x25 275x25 75x50 125x50 175x50 250x50 100x75 200x75 250x75

£36.50 £68.06 £94.24 £175.56 £109.56 £187.71 £232.65 £405.90 £209.24 £455.60 £697.47

TERMS FOR GLASSROCK Non-combustible asbestos-free fire-resisting board - price per sheet up to 149m2. 6mm 10mm 12.5mm sanded sanded sanded 2400x1200 £45.70 £48.80 £65.21

William Hetherington, Simon Hamilton - MLA DUP, Robert Ewing, Tiffany Brien - Miss Northern ireland

UPVC DRAIN PIPES AND FITTINGS SOFTWOOD SHELVING Per 100 metres, ex-yard, random lengths, finished sizes 119x12 144x12 169x12 219x12 119x19 144x19 194x19 244x19 269x19

£78.10 £93.30 £108.80 £163.20 £95.80 £127.60 £172.00 £233.00 £324.10

Pipes and fittings to BS 4600. List price ex-yard. Large quantities will attract considerable discounts. Plain sewer, per 6m Pipe coupler, ea Single oblique branch, ea Single swept branch, ea 45˚ short radius, ea 87½˚ short radius bend, ea 45˚ long radius bend, ea 90˚ long radius bend, ea Straight channel 45˚ curved channel, ea

110mm 160mm £9.80 £21.70 £3.15 £7.00 £10.50 £23.70 £11.50 £23.70 £5.80 £15.40 £5.70 £13.60 £16.00 £30.40 £17.80 £31.00 £17.15 £28.80 £20.90 £54.80

Tiffany Brien - Miss Northern Ireland, Liam Murphy, Alan Jones - President RSUA & Judge

September/October 2013

90| top 100

Nineteen construction companies ranked in annual Top 100 listing

lmost one in five of companies in the Ulster Business Top 100 comes from the construction sector. Ulster Business, part of the Greer Publications group that also publishes Specify, has just launched its ‘Top 100’ companies that lists the details of the biggest businesses in Northern Ireland. £1bn plus poultry producer Moy Park takes the top spot. The highest construction company in the Top 100 is Gortmullan Holdings, formerly the Quinn Group. The company, ranked in 5th place, posted sales of £667m in the year ending to 2011 though incurred losses of over £300m mainly due to its restructuring. At number 19 is quarry equipment manufacturer Terex with a turnover of £308m and a profit of £36m. Two places behind are Northstone while Graham’s are ranked 26. Symon Ross, editor of Ulster Business said: “The figures on which the Top 100 list is based provide some cause for optimism as they show many of our largest business have succeeded in increasing their sales in difficult economic circumstances. However, in many cases profits haven’t moved in the same direction at the same pace, and ongoing global headwinds mean profit margins are likely to remain squeezed. “That said, in this the 25th anniversary of the Top 100 listing, we should not overlook the successes and innovation demonstrated by our large companies, particularly those who are thriving in export markets.” Jonathan Cushley of Dun & Bradstreet, which carried out the survey on behalf of Ulster Business, said: “The 25th compilation of the Ulster Business Top 100 listing provides a continued positive view of the year on year performance of the province’s top businesses. For the first time turnover for the leading companies has broken through the £20bn mark and whilst profitability has tightened, the value of the companies to their shareholders continues to rise significantly. “It should also be noted that only 10 of the 100 companies posted losses, an improvement on the 18 who reported losses in the 24th edition of the Top 100 last year.”

Nigel Dunlop (left) from Moy Park with James Greer, publisher of Ulster Business magazine.

“The highest construction company in the Top 100 is Gortmullan Holdings, formerly the Quinn Group. The company is ranked in 5th place.”

DUBLIN

BELFAST

LONDON

NEW YORK

SILICON VALLEY

business & economy |91

No Limits? The right to limit liability is itself, limited

onsultants, contractors and sub-contractors are always keen to limit their liability as much as possible – or at least to the extent that the person paying them will allow. The recent case of Elvanite Full Circle Ltd v AMEC Earth & Environmental (UK) Ltd reminds us that the right to limit liability is itself, limited but the Courts will uphold a limitation clause if it is reasonable in the circumstances to do so.

Facts

A demolition and recycling contractor acquired a plot of land suitable for development. In anticipation of commencing the works, the contractor instructed a planning consultant to make a planning application seeking permission for waste recycling at the site. The intention was that the planning application would be made by the end of November 2007 but no application was made until April 2008. Given that the application had still not been processed by July 2008, the contractor withdrew the planning application and terminated the employment of the consultant. The contractor, using a different consultant, made a fresh planning application in September 2008, which was not granted by the local council until March 2009.

In due course the contractor claimed a potential buyer did not buy the site due to the delays in finalising the planning application.

The dispute

The contractor contended that the planning application ought to have been made by the end of November 2007 and that the consultant had been in breach of contract in failing to complete the application by that date. The contractor therefore claimed the value of a lost sale and a substantial loss of profits. The consultant however felt they had the perfect retort, relying primarily on a clause in the contract between the parties, which expressly sought to limit the timeframe for bringing claims to one year. The consultant’s key submission was that any proceedings had to be issued by 15 July 2009 (a year after its contract had been terminated). The consultant claimed that the contractor’s failure to commence proceedings before 15 July 2009 should therefore bar the contractor from bringing the claim at all.

Decision

The time issue Dealing with the specific wording in this contract, the Court held that the requirement that claims be filed within one year did not mean that formal

proceedings had to be filed at Court within one year. Instead this clause was interpreted so that the issue of a letter of claim was enough to constitute the commencement of proceedings. The Judge did however add a caveat to his interpretation, declaring that the clause required “a clear summary of facts on which each claim is based” and “the basis on which each claim is made.” In terms of the exclusion of consequential/indirect damages: The contract also contained a provision, which stated that the consultant “shall NOT be responsible for any consequential, incidental or indirect damages.” In line with this, the consultant contended that the contractor’s alleged profit losses were actually consequential or indirect damages which should be irrecoverable. The Judge agreed with this submission on the grounds that at the time the parties were contracting, the consultant was oblivious to the fact that the contractor was not the owner of the site. Furthermore, the consultant was completely unaware that the claimant wanted planning permission so that it could sell the property to a specific buyer at an enhanced value. It was decided that the loss of profit did not therefore arise naturally out of the delayed planning application; instead it arose out of the alleged profitability of the site and that profitability was not the subject of the contract between the parties. In light of this, the loss sustained proved too indirect for this facet of the claim to be successful. The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA) During his considerations, the Judge referred to UCTA pursuant to which

Alastair Todd Partner, Belfast +44 (0) 28 9026 2658 alastair.todd@arthurcox.com or visit our website: www.arthurcox.com

Adrian Kerr Associate, Belfast +44 (0) 28 9026 5899 adrian.kerr@arthurcox.com

Richard Armstrong

a contractual term will be deemed enforceable, provided that it is a “fair and reasonable one to be included having regard to circumstances which were, or ought reasonably to have been known to or in the contemplation of the parties when the contract was made.” The Judge applied this principle and on the facts of this case the limiting clauses were still adjudged to be fair and enforceable.

Concluding Comment

There are perhaps two ways to view this decision. One might say that those seeking to limit liability and include limitation periods within contracts can take some comfort from the Court’s willingness in this case to uphold the contractual provisions described above. Another way to look at this case is that slightly different background facts could easily have resulted in a different result and that limitation clauses, whether relating to time or scope of recovery, are often the subject of expensive litigation. So parties using such clauses should be careful to seek legal advice. Finally, despite the decision in this case that the requirement to commence legal proceedings was satisfied by the issue of a letter of claim, best practice and the safest course of action would be to lodge a claim at Court within the required timescale to avoid any room for debate. ■ This article has been written by Richard Armstrong and Adrian Kerr, Property and Construction Group at Arthur Cox, Belfast

ARTHUR COX

Expect Excellence.

digest |07

103 Airport Rd West Belfast BT3 9ED T: 02890454599 F: 02890454596 www.ridgeway-online.com Official Irish Distribution Partner