Local Authority Building & Maintenance March/April 2021

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LABMONLINE.CO.UK

MARCH/APRIL 2021

LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

PROJECT PROFILE Erica Watts, Head of Employment & Training at Sovereign, talks to LABM about the work the housing association is doing to deliver apprenticeship opportunities

OFFSITE INSIGHTS Has COVID-19 accelerated modular building?

THE LEADING MAGAZINE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY AND HOUSING ASSOCIATION SPECIFIERS, INCORPORATING

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CONTENTS

March/April 2021 Vol.37 No.2

REGULARS 5 COMMENT Crowded House 6 NEWS Waltham Forest Council celebrates gas safety record — LABM Reader Survey — Scotland’s Housing 2040 strategy — Wienerberger launches new architectural service for councils 7 CONTRACT UPDATE Hanover (Scotland) receives planning approval for first Passivhaus social housing development PROJECT PROFILE 10 Setting People up to Succeed Sovereign’s Head of Employment & Training talks to LABM about the work the HA is doing to deliver apprenticeships 12 LEGAL UPDATE Winckworth Sherwood’s Sarah Waite discusses Government’s Right to Regenerate proposals 14 OFFSITE INSIGHTS Has COVID-19 accelerated modular building?

16 IN THE SPOTLIGHT NorDan UK, manufacturer of aluminiumclad timber windows and doors, talks about the urgent need for low-carbon building products in social housing

Advice on what local authorities need to consider when selecting a framework provider SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS 25 Modular Ward Space Portakabin tells LABM about a recent project to deliver ‘Dementia Friendly’ ward space at Whiston Hospital

38 ROUND-UP

30 Loft Compartmentation Why the installation of loft compartmentation should be regarded as an essential fire safety feature across the public sector

Tackling rising damp in existing homes

31 ROUND-UP

22 Liabilities – or Hidden Assets?

Maximising the asset value and performance of local authority commercial properties

35 Solid Solution A guide to the evolution of thermal insulation solutions for buildings with solid walls

28 Textbook Flooring Installations Advice on achieving long-lasting flooring finishes in education facilities

18 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS LABM profiles a new document management solution that stores all property-related documents into one easy-to-access portal, helping housing associations ensure greater compliance SPECIAL REPORTS 20 Choosing a Framework Constructing West Midlands provides guidance on the key selection criteria to consider when choosing a framework

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

Modular ‘Dementia Friendly’ ward space

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION 32 Internalising Damp Leads to Retrofit Failures On retrofit projects, care must be taken to fix fabrics first to prevent problems surrounding rising damp problem

39 Delivering Safer Showers Advice on specifying safer showering solutions for affordable housing 40 Keeping Mould and Condensation in Check Choosing the right solution to tackle condensation and mould in social housing kitchens and bathrooms 42 ROUND-UP

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

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Crowded house The pandemic has forced us to spend much more time in our homes. For people living in small flats in urban high-rise, or squeezed into shared accommodation — where in worse case scenarios, multiple family members are confined to a single room — the lockdown has been particularly bleak.

A recent episode of BBC Politics London highlighted the extent of the overcrowding problem in the capital, with Newham, Redbridge, and Barking and Dagenham boroughs cited as having the highest rates of people per household in the country, along with some of the worst COVID infection rates.

MP Stephen Timms recently spoke out about the issue and cited the root cause of the problem as a “failure to replenish the social housing stock”, saying “that families in social housing are twice as likely to be overcrowded as two decades ago.”

In the programme, Leah, who lives in a one bedroom flat in Newham with her four children, said living in such a confined space has had a devastating impact on her mental health, especially during lockdown.

Speaking on the programme, Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Shelter highlighted: “In England, overcrowding is the worst it’s been for 25 years. We are not building homes that local people on low incomes can actually afford to live in. That’s why we end up with families crammed into situations like Leah’s.”

There are approximately 1.5 million people on housing waiting lists across the country. Around one in five social homes are overcrowded and one in six in the private rented sector. To tackle the overcrowding problem and address the chronic housing shortage, what we need is more genuinely affordable homes and more specifically, social housing.

Polly said: “It’s about government investment and realising that to rebuild after the pandemic we have got to build homes for people, there isn’t another option. The housing crisis isn’t rough sleeping at one end and then falling home ownership at the other end. This is the housing crisis, what we’re talking about now.”

Given the current situation, it was disappointing not to see a significant commitment to social

housing in the Spring Budget, or more of an emphasis on a housing-led recovery. While its great to see councils placed at the heart of new investments, like the ‘Levelling Up Fund’ and ‘Community Renewal Fund’, and over £1bn pledged for 45 new town deals to promote regeneration in areas such as Rochdale and Wolverhampton, the only other two specific nods to housing in the Budget came in the form of an extension to the stamp duty holiday and a new mortgage guarantee scheme.

What we really need in this “country is increased funding to support the building of more affordable housing.

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Mark Perry, Chief Executive of housing association VIVID, sums it up well when he says: “What we really need in this country is increased funding to support the building of more affordable housing. The supply of truly affordable housing, including social rented housing, is more important than ever given the difficult financial circumstances many more people now find themselves in.”

I’m very excited to share with you the news that LABM has joined forces with Brouha Marketing to bring you all episodes of their BrouHappy housing podcast, covering the history, politics and future of social housing in the UK. Head over to our website and have a listen: https://labmonline.co.uk/podcasts/

14,289 (1 July 2019 — 30 June 2020)

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COVER STORY: The new Engineering School at the University of Birmingham, a Constructing West Midlands project completed by Willmott Dixon.

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NEWS DIARY DATES Architecture with Agility Wienerberger, one of the UK & Europe’s largest providers of built environment solutions, has launched a new architectural service to support local authorities and developers from land option to site. Archigility, launched last month, reduces risk by streamlining processes and reducing interfaces, helpful when you have a small operational team.

The company’s team of architectural design professionals offer multi-sector capability and provide sustainable, ESG-led design, complete material integration and a UK first manufacturerbacked complete building envelope guarantee for additional peace of mind.

To find out more about Architecture with Agility, visit

www.rdr.link/lu016

10-year gas safety record The London Borough of Waltham Forest celebrated a momentous milestone in March, having consistently achieved 100% gas safety across more than 8,000 residential properties for 10 consecutive years, in partnership with Aston Group.

The achievement comes following a concerted effort to maintain resident safety, especially over the past 12 months. With an unwavering commitment to tenant wellbeing, neither organisation was prepared to compromise on its gas inspection record, even during a pandemic.

Since 2011, the local authority has worked closely with Aston Group, a building services and facilities management company based in the southeast, to maintain its 100% gas inspection and compliance record.

From the outset, gas inspections have been handled on an efficient 10-month programme, which allows Waltham Forest Council time to iron out any access issues before the Landlord Gas Safety Certificate expires. In order to facilitate this, Aston Group focuses on resident communication, sending correspondence in advance of each servicing appointment. It maintains a flexible approach, working with residents to rearrange appointments, especially where vulnerable individuals are involved.

Zulfukar Pektas, Aston Group Gas Engineer

Of course, this process became more difficult during 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the UK and repeated lockdowns came into force.

Residents naturally became reluctant to grant Aston Group’s engineers access to their properties, which could have prevented the borough from maintaining high levels of gas safety.

However, having implemented enhanced safe-working practices, Aston Group and Waltham Forest Council maintained their focus on communication and addressed tenant concerns, explaining the measures they were taking to protect both their teams and the residents. As a result, the local authority managed to maintain its 100% record. In fact, over the course of 10 years, the company managed to access 77% on the first appointment (on average).

Housing to 2040 The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has welcomed the Scottish Government’s ‘ambitious’ 20-year housing strategy. SFHA said that if it is delivered, the long-term vision could help to ensure that everyone in Scotland has a safe, warm, energy-efficient, affordable home in the future.

Sally Thomas Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, says: “There is much to welcome in this strategy — and many of its proposals are ones we have long called for. However, ensuring social landlords have adequate financial support from government in order to realise it will be critical.”

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LABM Reader Survey For 37 years, LABM has been reporting on public sector construction and refurbishment projects, and since 2016, housing association schemes too. We’ve covered updates to building standards and new legislation, and details of the latest building product solutions, as well as garnering industry opinion from across the local authority and housing association sectors.

To enable us to continue to deliver relevant information to you, our readers, we need your help. We want to hear from you. We’ve put together a survey, which shouldn’t take long to complete.

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Help us to shape the future of LABM. We want to know what’s important to you and your organisation. If you would like to participate in the reader survey, please click the link below:

www.rdr.link/lu017

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CONTRACT UPDATE: HANOVER (SCOTLAND)

Go-ahead given for green social housing development Hanover (Scotland) has received planning approval from Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park for its first social housing development to be built to Passivhaus standards.

The Drymen development at Conic Way and Montrose Way will comprise 15 affordable homes, replacing the original Drymen housing which was the first development that Hanover (Scotland) owned when it became independent in 1979.

The site has since been demolished to be replaced by the new Passivhaus project and existing Drymen residents will move into the new development once completed.

Buildings built to Passivhaus standards use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling, and up to 70% less energy than conventional buildings, and have therefore been identified as a key strategy for tackling fuel poverty. They also futureproof occupants from increasing unexpected weather patterns.

Julie McKinnon, Projects Manager at Hanover (Scotland) says: “Drymen marks the first Passivhaus development for Hanover, and we are proud to be among the first social housing organisations in Scotland to be achieving this important

environmental standard. The Drymen site has special significance for us given that it was Hanover’s first development when we became independent in 1979. We thank all development partners and contractors for their vision and expertise.”

The Drymen development will feature a mixture of terraced bungalows for returning residents and two-storey semi-detached residences for general needs housing.

Design features and benefits include optimal solar orientation, thermal comfort, excellent indoor air quality, and wildflower meadow grass for increased biodiversity.

Hanover’s development partners and contractors include ECD Architects, Cruden Building & Renewals, and TCS Construction Consultants.

Jennifer Rooney, of ECD Architects comments: “By adopting the Passivhaus standard we are ensuring that we are protecting residents from rising fuel costs.

In particular, it’s great to know that the amenity houses will be offered up to

returning residents who previously lived at this address.

These residents will be returning to a brand-new house, designed specifically as amenity housing, and with very low energy bills yet excellent levels of thermal comfort.

Martin Muir, TCS Construction Consultants, adds: “TCS Construction Consultants are delighted to provide Employer’s Agent and Principal Designer services for Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association, for the procurement of these high quality and exceptionally energyefficient properties.”

Gordon Lee from Cruden Building & Renewals Ltd remarks: “Cruden are delighted to be involved in the construction of this milestone development for Hanover.

We recognise that fuel costs are of particular concern especially in the current climate and the project will provide the residents with highly insulated, energyefficient dwellings resulting in reduced energy bills.”

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Council housing finance after the pandemic Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), discusses the impact of the pandemic on local authorities. rovided roll-out of the vaccination programme permits a return to near-normal working and social interaction by the summer, the British economy is expected to grow by around 4% by the end of the year, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. This forecast, issued with the Budget on 3rd March, is good news, but implies that the economy is not expected to return to its pre-COVID level before the summer of 2022. It remains uncertain how much permanent ‘scarring’ the pandemic will inflict and how far our ways of working, shopping and socialising will be changed forever.

Local government has been profoundly affected. The National Audit Office reports that councils forecast that COVID-19 has created £6.9bn of additional cost pressures in 2020-21, together with a reduction in non-tax income of £2.8bn; together these represent 17.6% of revenue expenditure.

Impacts vary across authorities, with district councils being most exposed to loss of income, while counties and unitary authorities under greatest cost pressures because of their social care responsibilities.

Some authorities are at risk of financial failure. Up to February 2021, MHCLG had provided exceptional financial support to four, with two further councils — Croydon and Nottingham — where action is likely.

The NAO estimates that around 20 councils remain at high risk of failure.

Not surprisingly, councils’ housing services have been among those affected. HouseMark data suggest that there has been a 30% increase in rent arrears over the last 12 months, together

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with a 50% increase in the number of void properties, which will also impact significantly on council HRA income.

There has also been significant growth in the backlog of non-emergency repairs, which will require concerted action once a return to near-normal working is possible.

Variation among councils COVID has forced major changes in the way councils interact with their tenants, with a major increase in digital transactions.

Interestingly, this may have made communication with their landlord easier for some tenants, and there is some evidence that tenant satisfaction has improved over the last year despite the curtailment of some services.

However, these generalisations conceal wide variation among councils. Some report no increase in arrears or voids, and repairs backlogs appear to vary too.

Although all social landlords have been working to the same MHCLG guidance throughout the pandemic, it is clear that councils have interpreted it differently in adjusting their ways of working, with more and less successful results. Sickness absence has risen in all councils, but the impact on service delivery seems also to have been very variable.

The year ahead poses councils multiple challenges. Most face difficult decisions over where and how to cut service spending, while at the same time service pressures are growing, whether backlogs of work that could not be completed during lockdown, or higher service demand as a result of COVIDdriven problems including unemployment

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are crucial choices “to There be made about how services are delivered in a post-pandemic (or possibly a permanent-pandemic) world…

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or reduced income. Virtually all are planning to use reserves to shore up spending, which risks simply postponing the pain until next year.

In parallel, however, there are crucial choices to be made about how services are delivered in a post-pandemic (or possibly a permanent-pandemic) world; how far, in other words, should the new normal resemble the old? What has been learnt from having to rely for a year largely on digital communication and staff working from home?

Alongside these service challenges, last year’s Social Housing White Paper proposed a more demanding regulatory regime to raise standards across the sector. If councils’ experiences have been as diverse as the data suggest, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of what has driven these differences and to draw out and share the lessons to help all council landlords plot a route to better performance.

www.arch-housing.org.uk

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PROJECT PROFILE: APPRENTICESHIP AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AT SOVEREIGN

©magele-picture/AdobeStock

Setting people up to succeed No more long stands or tartan paint. Sovereign’s Head of Employment & Training, Erica Watts, talks to LABM about the Government’s Kickstart scheme, the work the housing association is doing to deliver apprenticeship and full time career opportunities, and setting people up to succeed. any of us will have stories from the early days of our careers either as apprentices, on YTS or in our most junior jobs, where someone in the business had a laugh at our expense as we were sent on wild goose chases. From getting hold of a left-handed screwdriver, to being sent out for a long stand, those positions were designed for us to be teased and lumbered with the most enormous tea rounds.

But in the post-pandemic world today, where a recent report from the Alliance for Full Employment estimates that there are now around 1,000 under 25s in every constituency in Britain who’ve been without a job for at least six months, looking for work is no longer a laughing matter. And research for the same organisation shows that just three young people out of that 1,000 have so far been able to access the new government Kickstart scheme.

At Sovereign, we opened applications for Kickstart — accessible to young people

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Adult Improver Apprentice, Harry Eagles

on Universal Credit aged 18 to 25 — at the end of March, with a view to 40 new starters joining us in May. But we haven’t gone into this arrangement without giving it careful consideration as to how we’ll make it work.

We know that managing the future of 40 youngsters — some of whom will come from quite heavily disadvantaged backgrounds — into our hands, is not something that can be taken lightly. Luckily, we’re experienced.

Sovereign actually has a long-established apprentice programme, which has brought a range of ‘inexperienced yet willing’ people to our business.

Trades programme In recent years, our apprenticeship efforts have centred quite heavily on our trades programme under the excellent leadership of Property Services Director, Lianne Sheppard, not only supporting young people into a sustainable career but also with a particular focus on bringing in women and older applicants looking to completely

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Stevie Chadwick joined Sovereign as an apprentice in April 2018 and is now Community Development Officer for Hampshire

shake up their employment journeys.

Thanks to this concerted effort we have 25% of our trade apprentices are female and our apprenticeship programme sees 95% of apprentices moving into real jobs.

Two great examples come in the form of Simone Shephard, who in her past, held roles as a teaching assistant and marketing guru for the Saracens, but is now an apprentice plumber, and Kirk Tovey, a plumbing apprentice who has now progressed to the role of Property Manager.

A recent awards ceremony for our apprentices recognised their dedication and hard work, with 11 of them completing their studies in 2020, despite the pandemic. The winner of our ‘apprentice of the year award’ Pasquale Montauro, (21) is actually a year ahead of schedule in his studies — and other colleagues were recognised for the personal hurdles they had jumped to secure a better future.

We also made sure to recognise our mentors — with Sean Shears, a plumber, commended for the way that he supported his mentee Kaylee Allen ‘to show competence early on in her apprenticeship, by encouraging her to be proactive and independent in the development of her skillset.’

Full time employment prospects For us, you see, it’s not just about churning out high numbers of apprentices. In fact, at Sovereign we pride ourselves in not ‘over offering’. This is because we want to make sure that everyone who comes to us an apprentice has an excellent chance of becoming a full time employee once their traineeship is over.

Another fine example of that is actually within my own team — Stevie Chadwick joined us fresh out of college in April 2018, as an admin apprentice for Communities. Just this week she has been made a Community Development Officer for Hampshire, a job that carries a great starter salary — thanks to her hard work, dedication and commitment to learning the role inside out. I’m thrilled to have her on board.

So this is why we don’t just want to leap in with two feet when it comes to Kickstart — and it’s essential that we set up a programme that will not only bring in the right young people, but will set them up to pass, not fail. We’re looking at establishing Kickstarters in placements across our business from trades, to communities, to communications, to finance — but we need to be clear that Kickstart is offering entry level training positions, rather than thinking that participants will be coming in to do a job that is predefined.

We’ve taken a number of steps to make the process run smoothly, beginning with the fact that we’ve removed existing prerequisites for roles, wherever we can.

We want to make sure it’s understood that people can apply without previous experience or qualifications as long as they bring the right attitude and can tell us about their life experiences.

Interview process and training support When we interview, we’ll think first about transferable skills that anyone can demonstrate. We want the experience of meeting Sovereign to be as enjoyable as possible, not scary! Focusing on questions like how do you think someone else might describe you? What things about this job scare you and what do you think you might need help with? — and even more importantly — How would we be able to offer that support? should give young people a chance to open up about what really matters to them.

Once the Kickstarter joins us — albeit still online for the time being, we want to create an experience that’s as close to the real world would or will be, as possible. In the Communities team we envisage that our Kickstarter will log in every day to a virtual office where a bit of banter and chit

We want to make sure that “everyone who comes to us an apprentice has an excellent chance of becoming a full time employee once their

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traineeship is over.

chat from the manager supervising that room, their role buddy, the dedicated employment and training officer managing the entire programme will set them up for the day, as well the presence of other colleagues whose jobs are relevant to the position that they’re shadowing.

As they go along, we’ll ensure that they complete role-relevant training — 13 modules developed with training experts Skillgate to create a core offer in terms of modules that have to be completed.

We’re also setting up webinars to train up the business in how to support their Kickstarters, making sure that everyone is offered the same — hopefully exciting, hopefully inspiring experience. We’re also making an offer to those apply who don’t make it onto the programme: giving them the opportunity to access our employment and training service however they need to.

So, although we won’t be sending them out for that tin of tartan paint, we hope that we will provide a bit of fun, as well as the wrap-around pastoral care that makes sure that our new starts have the best chance of sustaining the placement as possible. Of course, once we get back to the office, we might find it in our hearts to give them the chance to make us all a celebratory brew.

Sovereign Apprentice Jack Brown

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LEGAL UPDATE

Right to Regenerate Sarah Waite is a Senior Associate in the Social Housing team at Winckworth Sherwood.

■ She can be reached by email: swaite@wslaw.co.uk.

Visit www.wslaw.co.uk.

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consultation paper has been published proposing the reform of the Right to Contest which gives the public the power to request the sale of underused land owned by public bodies in England. The Right to Contest is little-known and little-used, with only 192 requests having been submitted and of these, 145 were refused, 10 withdrawn, nine are still pending, 27 were not a valid request and one direction to order disposal was issued. The reasoning for the refusals arises largely because the public body has a use/intended use for the land or it is allocated in the Local Plan.

The aim of this consultation is to strengthen the Right to Contest, make it simpler to use and to stimulate regeneration and the more productive use of land.

The strengthened rights would also apply to unused publicly owned social housing and garages providing opportunities to transform the local housing stock. The latest figures show there were over 25,000 vacant council owned homes and according to recent FOI data over 100,000 empty council-owned garages last year, which could be put to good use by housing associations and community land trusts. Conversely, there are concerns that the exercise of the right could result in the loss of important public assets and developers land banking.

The Government’s measures aim to cut through red tape and provide an opportunity for the public and local communities to redevelop and transform eyesores, take control of unused local land or buildings and transform them into

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Winckworth Sherwood’s Sarah Waite discusses the Government’s new proposals to make it easier for the public to buy and regenerate vacant land in England to transform into homes, businesses and community spaces with the reform of the Right to Contest and the introduction of a new Right to Regenerate.

something they want in their area.

Under the proposals, public bodies in England would need to have clear plans for land in the near future, even if only a temporary use before later development.

Where the land is kept for too long without being used, the council could be compelled to sell, with the public given the right of first refusal to buy it. The current rules do not give a right of first refusal, which the Government said disincentives people from making requests, especially community groups, who may find it difficult to raise finances quickly.

The Government’s “measures aim to cut

Land definition

want in their area.

As part of the consultation the Government is considering publishing a definition of land that is unused or underused to help people in making applications and is interested in views as to whether extending the right to include unused and underused land owned by town and parish councils would increase the effectiveness of the right.

The Government is also inviting views as to whether it should require applicants making a request under the right regarding local-authority-owned land to demonstrate that they have contacted their local authority allowing requests submitted under the right to progress more swiftly. The Right to Contest is currently used as a last resort where public bodies are not engaging.

The consultation invites views on whether conditions ought to be imposed on the disposal of land, for example, that a sale could only be to someone with the intention to redevelop a site or to include overage obligations.

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through red tape and provide an opportunity for the public and local communities to take control of unused local land or buildings and transform them into something they

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The new Right to Regenerate is a step in the right direction for the public to buy into development of their area and use land and buildings for the good of the community. However, careful consideration of the details of the right will be needed.

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OFFSITE INSIGHTS: ACCELERATING MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

UNLOCKING MODULAR’S POTENTIAL

Dice is working with Bassetlaw District Council and Faithful+Gould to deliver a modular housing scheme in Nottinghamshire

Has COVID-19 accelerated modular building? Wayne Oakes, Director at multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Dice, is at the forefront of the industry and believes modular housing is an incredibly viable option for a post pandemic recovery.

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efore COVID-19, the interest in modern methods of construction (MMC), and specifically modular, was growing — albeit slowly.

However, lockdown and all the subsequent restrictions put in place — along with the Government’s ‘Build Build Build’ and ‘Green Industrial Revolution’ pledges — have seen greater emphasis placed on its utilisation as housing providers and developers look for innovative solutions to deliver muchneeded housing quickly.

The benefits of modular construction are no secret — increased safety on site and schedule certainty as well as less material waste and fewer delays. But despite many within the industry calling for greater use, modular take up has remained slow and only accounts for a very small percentage of housing delivery at the moment.

The proportion of new homes built using MMC is predicted to increase from the current 6-10% to 20% of the market share in the next years, according to the recent report from Savills. However, in order to meet not only the UK’s housing delivery target but also the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 — this has to increase.

As an industry, we’ve been talking about

MMC for many years but it still only accounts for a fairly small percentage of total housing delivery in this county, with traditional housebuilding by far the primary build method in the UK. But the last few months have forced the wider industry to start thinking differently and about how they can innovate, adapt and ultimately build more homes in the face of the restrictions we all face as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Breaking the stigma The industry has been slow to accept MMC; it is largely misunderstood. There is also a stigma around modular and a general reluctance to change as people are used to working in the traditional way — there is a perception that the product is low quality and has no integrity of design, but that simply is not the case now. There is a real lack of knowledge Modular houses built by ilke Homes

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the last 10 years “weOver have a strong track record of building modern, energy-efficient and impressive council housing in Bassetlaw and we’ve never been afraid to embrace

The project with Faithful+Gould and Bassetlaw District Council marks the tenth modular scheme for Dice

within the sector about modular and this reluctance to learn is stunting innovation and growth in the residential sector — and ultimately preventing us from building more homes more quickly.

Unlocking residential schemes The pandemic has started to change this as developers and landowners are considering how to move forwards. For instance, we have started to see local authorities look towards modular building as a way to unlock residential sites to deliver affordable housing.

One such project that we’re currently working on is with Bassetlaw District Council. The modular housing scheme is the first MMC project for the authority and will deliver 120 homes in Nottinghamshire.

Working closely with Faithful+Gould — the project/commercial manager and principal designer for the scheme — this project marks our tenth modular scheme.

We are responsible for looking at the flood risk, drainage, transport, and

The modular housing scheme is Bassetlaw District Council’s first MMC project

advancements in structural design as well as providing specialist MMC advice.

Faithful+Gould was appointed to the scheme via direct award through Lot 1 of the Pagabo Professional Services Framework and selected a local design team of Nottingham SMEs, including Dice, to work on the project.

Andrew Prickett, Director and Head of Residential at Faithful+Gould, says: “The modular approach will help us deliver the Radford Street development quicker, more cost effectively, and crucially, at a consistent and high quality. By combining Faithful+Gould’s knowledge of the modular housing sector with our exceptional approach to delivery, we can help the Council deliver on its vision, and the UK reach its target of 300,000 new homes each year.”

Cllr Steve Scotthorne, Cabinet Member for Housing at Bassetlaw District Council, adds: “Even before the Coronavirus pandemic hit, we recognised the benefits of modular housing and we are delighted to be working with

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construction methods.

Faithful+Gould and Dice to deliver a brand-new development.

“Over the last 10 years we have a strong track record of building modern, energy-efficient and impressive council housing in Bassetlaw and we’ve never been afraid to embrace advancements in construction methods.

“The site in Worksop lends itself perfectly to use MMC and we are looking forward to seeing work on the development start very soon.”

Delivering high quality homes It’s clear that more and more decision makers are waking up to the fact that modular housing is an incredibly viable option for a post pandemic recovery. But we still need to go further.

Schemes such as the one with Bassetlaw District Council help deliver modern, innovative and energy efficient housing schemes that improve neighbourhoods, support local jobs as well as the council’s ambition to increase the amount of housing.

However, we need it on a wider scale to really make a dent in the 300,000 new homes target set by the Government. The scale of our work has definitely increased — from roughly 10 units on a development to almost 700 on our most recent scheme — so I just hope we continue to see action rather than all the talk of pre-COVID times.

■ To find out more about Dice visit www.rdr.link/lu001

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NORDAN UK NorDan windows installed at The Pinnacle in Willenhall in 2005 have never required external maintenance

Now is the time for timber

NorDan’s windows and doors are manufactured with sustainable, pressure-treated timber at the core

LABM speaks to NorDan UK, manufacturer of aluminium-clad timber windows and doors, about the urgent need for low-carbon building products in social housing and how the company’s products provide the ideal solution. ith the UK now committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and only 460 weeks until social housing’s target to meet EPC level 3, discussions have been raging around how these ambitious targets will be achieved.

Around 230 local authorities have declared a climate emergency, meaning they are taking their own actions to reduce carbon emissions now for the future.

Within social housing, there is a growing belief that part of the solution lies in shifting focus to consider not only the operational carbon produced during the life of buildings, but also the embodied carbon of the buildings themselves.

This is where timber, which captures and stores CO₂ over its lifetime, presents a fantastic solution to materials with carbon-intensive production processes, such as plastics and metals. There is

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already increasing use of structural timber frames for new builds and in the same vein, the relatively recent innovation of Cross-Laminated Timber is being eyed-up for many projects.

Providing the same low-embodied carbon advantages, timber fenestration manufactured from sustainable sources has also been seeing a serious increase in specification among projects. As well as providing environmental benefits, maintenance is no longer an issue when timber windows and doors are clad with powder-coated aluminium flashing.

Lasting performance For Norwegian window and door manufacturer, NorDan, the drivers mentioned above present the opportunity for their robust, Alu-clad timber windows to shine within the social housing market.

From their base in Livingston, NorDan UK

has a reputation spanning coastal residential projects to high-profile housing developments in London, Manchester and beyond.

NorDan’s products — such as its highly weather-resistant StormGuard window — make for an ideal choice for social housing specifiers looking to deliver on embodied carbon targets, as well as low overall lifetime cost thanks to the low maintenance requirement of the company’s Alu-clad products. For instance, NorDan StormGuard windows were installed in the Castle Court building in Sheffield in 1990 and have required minimal external maintenance in the 30 years since. The 60+ year life expectancy of NorDan’s windows means these will easily last another 30 years.

This is something that the company’s Mike Stevenson, believes makes them stand out from the crowd, offering a perfect

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FACT FILE

Name: NorDan UK Product area: Manufacture of Alu-clad Timber Windows and Doors Size: 105 employees Head office address: 3 Almondview Office Park, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6SF Contact No: 01506 433 173 Email: quotes.projects@nordan.co.uk Website: www.nordan.co.uk

NorDan StormGuard windows at Castle Court in Sheffield were installed in 1990 and have required minimal maintenance since

solution for development and asset managers seeking a low-maintenance product with embodied carbon credentials to match.

Focus on sustainability “For myself and the wider organisation at NorDan UK, doing our bit to address the climate emergency continues to be at the core of what we do. Over its near 100-years, the NorDan Group has strived to minimise the environmental impact of its products and align itself with newbuild and refurbishment projects that focus on sustainability and high energy efficiency; something reflected in the exceptional U-values of our windows

and sustainable timber production at the heart of our business,” says Mike.

The challenge, Mike says, will be to overcome the misinformation and lack of knowledge surrounding timber as a building material: “The timber in so-called engineered wood is grown specifically for its purpose. Trees absorb and ‘lock-up’ CO₂ from the atmosphere during their lifecycle. A frequent sticking point from detractors is the felling of trees resulting from timber production, however the timber in engineered wood is grown specifically for purpose and replaced quicker than it is harvested — NorDan alone plants on average five new trees for every tree felled.

NorDan UK’s manufacturing facility in Livingston, West Lothian

“Social housing providers are coming around to the environmental benefits of using timber, changing their attitude and approaching the material in a different way. This is something that NorDan is already trying to encourage through promoting the shared benefits of its timber-cored windows and doors.”

A modern solution In combination with a powder-coated aluminium external cladding, NorDan’s timber products deliver the optimal fenestration solution, with embodied carbon credentials 50% lower than PVC-U fenestration and 25% that of aluminium windows when measured in kgCO₂/kg, according to the BSRIA guide (the Inventory of Carbon and Energy). When trying to address the climate emergency and achieve zero-carbon housing projects, there are no sustainable fenestration solutions with lower embodied carbon over 60+ years life expectancy.

With regional offices in Aberdeen, Manchester, Gloucester, Exeter, London and Inverness, and a track record of exceptional end-to-end customer service, NorDan is ideally placed for projects across the entire UK. As social housing continues to adapt in order to meet the UK’s ambitious netzero carbon goals, NorDan UK stands poised as a key window and door supplier able to deliver on all fronts when it comes to the whole life cost, sustainability, robustness and thermal efficiency of its products.

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TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE

Creating a golden thread Being able to demonstrate compliance and offer full transparency of data on a building project is hugely important, especially with regard to asset management. CertOn Pro stores all important property related documents in one easy-to-access portal. LABM finds out more. n the wake of the devastating Grenfell tragedy, it’s more important than ever on every project to be able to demonstrate compliance, and ensure the right building materials/technology is specified, installed correctly and effectively maintained. Keeping a record of all work done is essential.

In the Building a Safer Future final report, Dame Judith Hackitt cited a failure of some of those undertaking building work to prioritise safety. The report stresses the need to create a golden thread of building information for all ‘higher risk residential buildings’ to ensure ‘original design intent is preserved and changes can be managed through a formal review process’.

Transparency of data is hugely important when it comes to the asset management of any property. The report highlighted that ‘access to up-to-date information is crucial when effectively carrying out a fire risk assessment’ and ‘determining whether any action is required’. It also pointed out that the importance of holding digital records to ensure ‘accurate building information is securely created, updated and accessible, throughout the building life cycle’.

Creating a golden thread of building information should be a prerequisite on all projects. Having a digital repository to house all project data and compliance aids transparency. One company seeking to

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assist councils and housing associations in this regard is CertOn. Boyd and Katie Goulden launched CertOn in 2018. They worked with software partners Twin Technology and Cyber to develop a document management solution aimed at improving safety and demonstrating compliance in properties.

Access to important data The idea behind CertOn evolved out of desire to create a solution that could aggregate all important property-related documents — for example project handover, maintenance work, equipment installations, maintenance manuals, insurance and warranty certificates etc — into one easy-toaccess portal stored in the cloud. Storing this type of information digitally negates the need for paper copies, which can get lost or damaged over time. Digital data is much easier and quicker to search. Giving the exact information you’re looking for.

CertOn is aimed at housing associations, councils, construction professionals, and compliance and maintenance teams, as well as those working in the trades. Once uploaded in PDF or jpeg format, the documents can then be linked to a QR code specific to a property. Corresponding QR Code stickers are available and can be placed on boilers or alarm panels, for example. Allowing quick access to the right

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documents through an easily retrievable scan of the QR code sticker. The QR code provides access to all the relevant signed off and certified documentation, manuals etc, which can be viewed by anyone registered to use the system.

The new CertOn Pro, introduced specifically for housing associations and multi-property estate companies, provides full transparency of documents associated to a building. In relation to fire safety, that would mean plan drawings, location of dry risers, service intakes, fire-fighting lifts, hydrants and fire alarm panels etc.

Regulatory compliance documents such as electrical and gas safety, statutory inspections etc, would also be stored on there, as well as maintenance and repairs records. There is also the ability to report, providing photographic evidence of any damage or defects for example.

New features mean any location or asset in a building can now have its own specific QR code assigned and tagged, providing instant access to all documents associated with it, whether individual or multiple — for example fire doors, fire panels and detectors, lifts and plant equipment.

■ For more information on CertOn and CertOn Pro visit www.rdr.link/lu002

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SPECIAL REPORT: CONSTRUCTING WEST MIDLANDS

Khalsa Academy in Wolverhampton

Centenary Square in Birmingham

Choosing a framework Frameworks are widely acknowledged as the most efficient method of procuring public works but how do local authorities and other public sector bodies ensure a potential framework partner will deliver the best possible outcomes? Damian Donnelly, the Commercial and Contracts Manager for Constructing West Midlands, provides some essential guidance on the key selection criteria to consider when choosing a framework. ccording to the UK Government’s ‘Transforming Public Procurement’ Green Paper published last December, the UK spends £292bn on public procurement every year. Clearly not all of this spend is construction related but the procurement of public sector construction works will undoubtedly play a key role in delivering the Government’s “levelling up” agenda, rebuilding the economy and meeting the UK’s net zero carbon target by 2050.

With the Government actively promoting the use of frameworks, they have an important role to play but in recent years choosing a framework has become more complicated. Many new entrants have joined the framework marketplace but not all of them adhere to best practice standards.

The Government is now proposing a major overhaul the UK’s procurement rules and looking to create a ‘gold standard’ for frameworks. Delivery of time and cost savings to maximise taxpayer value continues to be at the heart of its approach but there are also calls for greater flexibility, the removal of complex regulations, much greater transparency and more emphasis on social value.

As a minimum, public sector

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organisations should satisfy themselves that any framework meets relevant rules regarding the value and type of work involved, the duration of the framework and which contracting authorities can access the framework agreement. There are also a number of other important considerations when choosing a framework.

Run by sizeable and well established organisations, publicly owned and managed frameworks offer an enhanced level of financial stability and continuity of supply. Importantly, they also provide access to a team that shares your values and is focussed on delivering benefits for local communities in your region, not just for its shareholders.

Ownership and management Who owns and runs your framework? By choosing a framework that is hosted, administered and controlled by a public body or bodies, you can be reasonably confident that your framework is OJEU compliant and meets stringent best practice standards for public procurement.

If, like Constructing West Midlands (CWM), the framework is a member of the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF) it will also satisfy all the requirements to be affiliated with this Local Government backed organisation.

Our framework principles are in line with those promoted by the Local Government Association (LGA), central Government (The Cabinet Office and BEIS) and Constructing Excellence. As one of only 11 NACF frameworks, we are also at the forefront of developments in public procurement.

Impartiality When selecting a framework, it is important to establish in whose interests your framework operates. Does it exist solely for the commercial benefit of its shareholders or does it have a vested interest in the local communities in which it operates?

Publicly owned and managed frameworks exist for the benefit of the public sector. Their management teams understand their local region’s needs and politics, follow best practice guidelines with regard to procurement, contractor selection and framework management, and act in the best interests of the communities they serve.

Local Government Officers have a genuine interest in the local communities in which their frameworks operate and are

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committed to delivering tangible benefits for them. When providing advice, they offer a level of impartiality that is difficult if not impossible for frameworks purely commercially driven to achieve.

selected following a robust tender process carried out in accordance with Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 and recognised industry standard PAS91/SQ.

Performance monitoring Industry leading expertise Selecting a framework gives your organisation an opportunity to gain access to a group of experienced public procurement and framework professionals who will provide the support and guidance you need to create the very best buildings.

Your framework team should include industry-leading experts who are driving the adoption of best practice and new Government initiatives. Members of the CWM team, for example, are directly engaged in supporting national, regional, industry and governmental initiatives including: The National Procurement Strategy Construction Working Group; The Government’s (Grenfell) Industry response Group, Constructing Excellence and the Construction Leadership Council.

We are also actively involved with the NACF, a best practice organisation of local government procurement professionals working to shape construction, consultancy and infrastructure frameworks that deliver scalable, consistent and tangible value.

Contractor selection Contractor selection is an important and often overlooked consideration. Many frameworks operate a commercial model, which means the more contractors they sign up, the more money they make. As a result, these frameworks offer access to a long list of contractors of varying capabilities.

Frameworks such as Constructing West Midlands adopt a completely different approach. We work with a select number of contractor partners that lead the market in terms of the level and quality of service they provide. They also have experience of delivering public sector projects at a regional level.

When selecting a framework, it’s important to choose one that gives you access to market leading contractor partners with a proven track record in the delivery of public sector projects. As a minimum, ensure that contractors are

How much experience does your potential framework have? Working in partnership with our contractors, we have been delivering improvements to the public estate since 2004. Our contractor partners have delivered more than £4bn of framework projects in the last three years alone.

Ongoing performance monitoring is also important. If your framework is a member of the NACF, it will be required to monitor its performance against stringent KPIs on a regular basis. The adoption of such high standards means NACF member frameworks consistently achieve higher performance scores than the national average for public sector projects.

Framework flexibility As a minimum your framework should be cost-effective, simple to use and OJEU compliant. The provision of a flexible framework structure, which can be tailored to meet project-specific requirements, will also be beneficial. Market leading frameworks offer a choice of contractor, call off type, level of design, contract type and procurement process including the two stage open book process advocated by the NACF and Constructing West Midlands.

Transparent, honest pricing Last but by no means least, how transparent and honest is your framework provider when it comes to pricing.

Frameworks, like any organisation, need to be funded to survive and despite what some frameworks will claim, nothing is free.

Does your framework provider operate in an open and honest way or does it pretend its service is provided free of charge?

Although there are no membership fees for organisations wishing to access the Constructing West Midlands framework, we are completely transparent about the access rebate we charge contractors on procured contracts to cover framework management costs.

Transparency is a core focus of government reforms and we believe one of the most important factors influencing your choice of framework provider.

In summary, choose your framework partner carefully. Consider the points covered in this article and opt for a partner that has the expertise, shared values and experience to act in the best interests of your local authority or public sector body.

Ultimately by operating a robust framework selection criteria, your organisation and the local communities your serve will benefit.

■ For more information about Constructing West Midlands, visit www.constructingwestmidlands.co.uk

The Schools of Engineering at the University of Birmingham. Image ©Willmott Dixon

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SPECIAL REPORT: LOCAL AUTHORITY INVESTMENT IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Paul Hanratty, National Sales Manager at Hambleside Danelaw, talks to LABM about maximising the asset value and performance of local authority commercial properties.

Midlands Logistics Park with Zenon GRP rooflights

Rooflight refurbishment — existing rooflights on the left, new Zenon GRP rooflights on the right

Liabilities – or hidden assets? he National Audit Office report ‘Local authority investment in commercial property’, released in February 2020, revealed that from 2016-17 to 2018-19, councils in England spent £6.6bn on commercial property; and that since 2010-11, the amount spent on commercial properties by councils has increased from £53m to £2.2bn in 2018-19. Of the £6.6bn, £957m of that was spent on industrial property.

These figures give some indication of the size of local authorities’ commercial property portfolios, which have largely been developed in an attempt to generate much-needed income in an era of austerity when it comes to central funding. There is now concern over whether, especially during and postCOVID-19, these properties could become a liability.

What is certain, though, is how critical it is that income from each asset is maximised.

With this in mind, it’s time for local authorities to look up. One area where many commercial buildings’ value or income could be being compromised is the roof. More specifically, the rooflights. Paul Hanratty, National Sales Manager for Hambleside Danelaw, says: “Local authorities might be taking the rooflights element of their commercial and industrial buildings for

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granted — but the right adjustments could make a world of difference.

“If local authorities are experiencing some of their older commercial and industrial buildings as a drain on their finances, attending to the rooflights provides an opportunity for very significant savings and quick payback on investment through a combination of reduced costs and increased rental value. The added advantage is that the right rooflights solution will also contribute to their green agenda, which is only going to become more demanding as the years pass.”

More light, lower cost Getting the level of light right in a building is critical to the working environment, health and wellbeing, productivity, safety and sustainability. High quality GRP rooflights should achieve the all-important Daylight Factor of between 4% and 8% at floor level.

This level of illumination is well above the recommendations in BREEAM (2%) and the CIBSE guidelines (3%).

These improved lighting levels contribute to a building that has lower running costs, a lower carbon impact and is a safer and more pleasant environment to work in — which can help lower other business costs associated with covering sick days and healthcare. For local authorities, the benefits

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of high performance GRP rooflights can also help to optimise building asset and rentable values, building in a futureproofing element to cope with possible future changes in building use. The product’s long service life and its versatility only add to the confidence local authorities can have in their investment.

Sustainability Sustainability is a driving force in most local authorities and this will only intensify as increasingly stringent targets are put in place by the Government on the road to Zero Carbon by 2050. While operational carbon has been the focus for some time, the importance of measuring and reducing embodied carbon is now being recognised as a critical factor.

GRP rooflight systems can make a significant contribution to the reduction of both operational and embodied carbon, while also offering enhanced performance compared to other rooflight systems. These systems are used in large new-build or refurbishment warehouse/factory buildings, which usually need high levels of diffused internal lighting.

Bringing free, ‘renewable’ natural light into a building during the daylight hours significantly reduces the cost and environmental impact associated with artificial lighting — even when lower energy-

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consuming LED systems are used. This makes GRP rooflights the logical choice for a range of reasons: lower operational carbon, lower embodied carbon, a long useful life meaning a reduction in lifetime costs and whole-life carbon, durability and service life meaning lower levels of replacement.

One manufacturer — Hambleside Danelaw — brings a further advantage to using its rooflight systems: they are the first industrial rooflight manufacturer to secure Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in the UK, independently verified by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). This came as a result of intensive work that allowed them to reliably confirm the embodied carbon for each component used in rooflight configurations.

The company has also developed an Embodied Carbon Calculator, which allows for any configuration of components in the rooflight, according to the requirements of the project — meaning that whatever configuration is used, the embodied carbon will always be clear and measurable.

Refurbishment

the building’s value and utility. With a focus on enhancing the asset value and return, There are a number of ways to refurbish lowering carbon impact and improving existing roofs, from the major task of tenants’ working environment, those re-sheeting — the removal and experts can demonstrate the difference replacement of the existing building that rooflights can make and how quickly envelope; to overcladding — installing a payback on your investment will occur. new cladding system over the existing building envelope; to rooflight ■ For more information about how replacement — the most cost-efficient GRP rooflights can help improve your solution depending on individual project asset values visit www.rdr.link/lu003 circumstances and demands.

Local authorities’ architects and contractors might like to engage experts from roofing/ rooflight companies to look at any buildings where they think roof Warehouse facility with Zenon GRP Rooflights, refurbishment uniform daylighting with artificial lights switched off might increase

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Modular ward space

To enhance the integrated look and feel of the new buildings they have been finished externally in ‘Whiston red’

LABM finds out how Portakabin delivered a ‘Dementia Friendly’ ward space right on schedule at Whiston Hospital, in spite of pandemic challenges. hen the award-winning St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust required additional high-quality ward space for the Whiston Hospital in Prescot, they turned to a partner they knew could provide the health sector experience and expertise they needed: Portakabin.

Extra room was required for 52 beds to be placed in spacious surroundings where a ‘Dementia Friendly Scheme’ could be used throughout to improve facilities for Frailty patients. In this case it centred around contrasting colours for patient accessible areas as well as specialised doors, frames, grab frames and trims. All, of course, incorporating the usual provisions for hygiene and ease of cleaning.

The Trust were very keen to maintain the reputation they have for providing the very best in healthcare buildings and they were clear from the start that they wanted to see those standards reflected in the new buildings. Integration was a key component of the specification. The Trust had spent a lot of time designing the existing buildings and they did not want patients who moved from one part of the hospital to the new

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additional ward space to notice any appreciable difference.

Aside from the design challenges presented by the sloping site and the original tight time scale for completion, there was a further hurdle that no one could have foreseen.

Unfortunately, the devastating COVID-19 pandemic hit the world during the five months on-site project installation phase of the programme.

The Trust voiced understandable concerns that the unavoidable constraints on supply chains and availability of construction staff might hinder the programme. However, offsite specialist Portakabin was able to fully manage and mitigate all restrictions and possible delays and with fully COVID-compliant procedures in place, still delivered the programme on time.

Operating under one roof With the double storey, double spanned addition the whole of the therapy unit can now operate under one roof, a space they have named ‘Bevan Court’, and it means staff can facilitate a safe and timely discharge of patients from the unit, from

what Kirsty Lion, an occupational therapist at the hospital has described as, “…a lovely, brand new space.” Kirsty continues: “It’s really important that our older patients can access the MDT team, therapists, social workers, pharmacists to mention just a few and that they can see them all in one place.”

Sue Drenan Clinical Lead of the Frailty Team adds that as far as she’s concerned: “In this hospital we’re all about the patient and this is undoubtedly the best place for patients living with frailty.”

To enhance the integrated look and feel of the new buildings they have been finished externally in ‘Whiston red’ to complement the existing environment.

They also feature a bespoke canopy covering a newly added concrete ramp to accommodate the vital accessibility requirements.

A model of care Talking about the total service that Whiston is now able to provide for Frailty patients and the community, Dr Michael Horner,

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

There were a number of “challenges for this installation, not least COVID-19 restrictions, but the resulting ward space Consultant Physician says: “It’s made it a hugely exciting and novel way of providing care for older people. It’s a model of care that not many places offer, if any, so we’re somewhat forging the path here.”

Reflecting on the completed project as a whole, Peter Williams Estates, Project Manager at the Trust says: “There were a number of challenges for this installation, not least COVID-19 restrictions, but the resulting ward space has exceeded our expectations and has helped us to continue to provide optimum care for our patients.”

Peter continues: “I think we’ve got a really high-quality building here, I think it

meets all our needs. It’s spacious, it’s airy and I think patients will enjoy being in here.”

has exceeded our expectations.

Successful project Jess Leahy-Fitzgerald of Portakabin who worked on the project and who lives in the local area herself has spoken about what the unit means to the community and of the enormous pride that she and the whole team feel over what they were able to achieve.

“Frankly it’s been a positive light in what has been an awful time for everyone during this dreadful pandemic, especially the elderly and frail. It’s great to know that

The new buildings feature a bespoke canopy covering a newly added concrete ramp to accommodate the vital accessibility requirements

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Portakabin was able to step up to the mark and that really comes down to the dedication of everyone involved from the start to the finish of this project,” says Jess.

Meanwhile, Steven Smith who was also part of the Portakabin team put a lot of the success of the project down to the collaborative relationship and open dialogue between Portakabin and The Trust. Steven says: “The communication between us and The Trust was fantastic and I think that was the key.”

The last word on the shared vision and collaboration that resulted in the success of the Bevan Court wards goes to Peter Williams from The Trust, who summed up the project by saying: “In any estates project the choice of partner is really, really important. I would happily work with Portakabin again and I’d happily recommend them to others embarking on similar projects.”

With thanks to Portakabin for preparing this article ■ For more information on modular solutions from Portakabin visit www.rdr.link/lu004

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Stopgap F78, shown here being applied to floors at Cornwall College, is a high performance waterproof surface membrane

There is no doubt that floor coverings in schools take a lot of punishment throughout their lifetimes. Neil Sanders, Technical Director at leading subfloor preparation products and adhesives manufacturer, F. Ball and Co. Ltd., explains how to ensure a long-lasting professional flooring finish in education facilities while working to tight deadlines.

Textbook flooring installations nstalling floor coverings in any environment requires proper subfloor preparation to ensure a long-lasting professional appearance. Incorrect or insufficient preparation can create the potential for floor failure, leading to costly recalls and remedial work. In educational settings, there can be additional pressure for projects to be completed as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the latest fast-track subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floor coverings mean flooring installations that would once have taken a week can be done in a day.

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Creating a base An important part of any flooring installation is the application of a suitable levelling compound to create a perfectly smooth and sturdy base for the receipt of floor coverings. The fastest setting products on the market are 'walk-on' hard in 30 minutes and ready to receive new floor coverings from 45 minutes.

High performance levelling compounds that can be applied directly over wellbonded bitumen and adhesive residues, eliminating the need for their mechanical removal, also offer significant timesaving benefits for contractors undertaking

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refurbishment projects to a deadline. One such product takes as little as 60 minutes to set and is ready to receive floor coverings from as little as four hours.

Choosing the right adhesive Once the levelling compound has cured, the contractor can then select a suitably fast-working adhesive to install appropriate floor coverings. The choice of adhesive will be determined by what type of floor coverings are being installed and where, but there are options for when timesaving is a priority. Currently, acrylic and vinyl adhesives are available that build up a strong enough bond to allow for foot-traffic in less than an hour after the application of floor coverings.

It is always advisable to check the compatibility of particular floor coverings and adhesives to ensure against floor failure. For this purpose, F. Ball produces its Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG), which details the compatibility of its adhesives with over 6,000 floor coverings, produced by over 200 manufacturers. A continually updated version of the guide is available on the F. Ball website and as a free app. Contractors can also consult floor covering manufacturers instructions.

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Prior preparation Before undertaking any flooring installation, a thorough assessment of the subfloor should be completed to ensure it is sound, smooth and free of contaminants. If the subfloor is a newly installed screed, laitance may still be present. To avoid costly floor failure, both laitance and contaminants, including old adhesive residues if the project is part of a refurbishment (unless a levelling compound that can be applied over old adhesive residues is being used), should be mechanically removed before proceeding with a flooring installation. Dust or debris should also be swept away, and damaged subfloors should be repaired with an appropriate floor repair compound.

Safeguarding against moisture Unmanaged subfloor moisture, whether residual construction moisture or rising damp, is one of the leading causes of floor failure. For this reason, a moisture measurement test, to determine subfloor moisture levels, should be conducted as part of any flooring installation.

One way of measuring subfloor relativity humidity (RH) levels with certainty, and the method advocated by British Standards, is to use a pre-calibrated hygrometer. If RH

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levels exceed 75% (or 65% when installing timber floor coverings), a moisture management solution will be required to stop excess subfloor moisture potentially causing floor failure.

Liquid waterproof surface membranes are the usual moisture management solution. The best-performing epoxy waterproof surface membranes will fully cure in as little as three hours and isolate excess subfloor moisture where relative humidity values are up to 98%, with a single coat application.

Quicker, two-coat systems are available that will create an effective barrier against residual construction moisture where relative humidity values are up to 95%. The first coat cures in 15-20 minutes, and a further 30 minutes curing time is required for the second coat.

Prime importance Once the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and dry, or a suitable moisture management solution is in place, it will be

The STYCCOBOND F49 HYBRID PS here being applied to the floors at Wellington College, is a water-based pressure sensitive adhesive for bonding vinyl floor coverings

essential to prime the subfloor in almost all circumstances. When used over nonabsorbent surfaces, such as waterproof surface membranes, priming promotes adhesion between the subfloor and subsequently applied levelling compounds. Applied over absorbent subfloors, such as concrete, sand/cement screeds or plywood, priming also prevents the unacceptably rapid loss of water from the levelling compound into absorbent substrates, maintaining its working time.

Priming also prevents ‘pinholing’; small holes in the levelling compound

that have the appearance of pinholes or blisters caused by the slow escape of air from absorbent surfaces as the levelling compound cures. One exception to the need for priming is when working with levelling compounds that can be applied directly over old adhesive residues, such as F. Ball’s Stopgap 1200 Pro. When used in this way, there is no need to prime beforehand.

■ For a copy of F. Ball & Co’s Recommended Adhesives Guide visit www.rdr.link/lu005

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Loft compartmentation should be seen as an essential fire safety measure for local authority buildings

Loft compartmentation is ideal for use in buildings with a high top floor occupancy

Loft compartmentation Novus Property Solutions is investing in the compliance works it carries out on behalf of local authorities, including offering the installation of loft compartmentation. Compliance Works Manager, David Barnes explains why this measure should be regarded as an essential fire safety feature. hile it’s always been an important subject when it comes to local authority buildings, compliance has understandably taken centre-stage within the build and refurbishment sector since 2017. Of course, cladding — and which materials are suitable for use — has remained at the forefront of discussions.

However with cladding the key focus for compliance, especially for high-rise social housing, it can be easy to overlook other fire safety measures which are ultimately equally as important.

Lessons in compliance continue to be learnt across the sector as it works to ensure that the events of 2017 are never repeated. It goes without saying that fire endangers the life of both residents and those involved in rescue and clean-up operations, as well as leaving behind high levels of destruction, which can be both costly and time-consuming to repair. Fire safety measures have become a key focus for both local authorities and social housing landlords in recent years, which have resulted in significant investment in compliance measures for new-builds and in remedial works for existing buildings.

Fire moves quickly in concealed spaces, and particularly in high-rise buildings, loft spaces can present a severe risk of rapid spread — so it’s essential that precautions are taken in such areas. Loft compartmentation provides a solution to

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this problem as it is ultimately designed by specialist manufacturers to prevent the spread of flames through the use of barriers, which subdivides the loft space into areas of manageable risk. Non-load bearing vertical or horizontal barriers are constructed to provide and extend fire separation into the loft space from the identified compartment walls and floors below; slowing the movement of the fire.

fire barriers to have the same integrity and insulation values as the wall or floor on which they will be mounted, so this will be accounted for with the fire barrier product selection. Compartment wall identification is dependent on the building’s fire risk levels and can be installed to suit existing arrangements depending on the roof construction.

Looking to the future A versatile solution Novus has seen an increase in requests for loft compartmentation for local authority buildings — with its East Midlands region alone having carried out more than 50 installations. While many requests have been for sheltered housing schemes, Novus’ work in this field has also taken place across a variety of local authority buildings, including hospitals and universities. The solution is specially designed by manufacturers to fit the requirements and space available, with the design of the loft compartmentation based on a building’s marked floor plans.

Contractors like Novus will work directly with clients to ensure the layout of the loft compartmentation is the perfect fit for each building. This includes identifying where the barriers are required and how much extra time they should give — 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes are the most commonly requested integrity ratings.

Building Regulations also often require

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Loft compartmentation should be seen as an essential investment for local authorities in the provision of fire safety measures. It will ultimately save the lives of residents in social housing — and users of other local authority buildings where it has been installed — by reducing the spread of flames and buying more time for evacuation.

It’s particularly important for buildings where the top levels are frequently used, such as flats where there is high occupancy on the top floors. Loft compartmentation in such buildings is often incorporated into the evacuation plan requirements, so it’s also worth considering its installation in communal areas, which are used as escape routes.

By investing in loft compartmentation now as part of fire safety measures, local authorities will reduce the risk of the physical, financial and emotional toll of fires in the future.

www.novussolutions.co.uk

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS ROUND-UP Hygienically clean paint solutions

£9.8m project for new unit at St Peter’s Hospital

Healthcare settings and schools demand exceptional levels of cleanliness and need to be able to withstand more intensive cleaning regimes.

Crown Trade’s Clean Extreme Anti Bacterial paint, which is formulated to help create hygienically clean walls and ceilings, offers an ideal solution.

It is enhanced through the use of the independently tested SteriTouch silver ion technology, which not only inhibits the growth of any bacteria that comes into contact with the surface, but also prevents bacteria from multiplying. The ‘built-in’ silver ion anti bacterial protection cannot be washed off no matter how many times the surface is scrubbed clean. It is also said to offer exceptional stain resistance for ease of maintenance.

The paint range also boasts an upgraded Ultimate Opacity formulation and can be specified in either scrubbable matt or washable acrylic eggshell finish.

Offsite construction specialist Premier Modular has been awarded a £9.8m project for Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to build a 62-bed Priority Assessment Unit at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey. Main contractor Premier will be supported by strategic delivery partner Claritas Group. Due for completion by summer 2021, this fast-track building project will reduce the programme by up to nine months compared to in-situ construction.

The offsite solution has been engineered to maintain patient flows between the existing facilities and the new unit, with continuous level floors throughout.

Externally, the assessment unit will be finished in vertical rainscreen cladding in shades of grey and brickwork to complement adjacent buildings. The building envelope has been designed to be highly thermally efficient to reduce running costs and carbon emissions, and the picture windows will have solar control glass and integral brise soleil sunshading. A building energy management system (BeMS) will optimise energy use.

■ For more information on the Clean Extreme Anti Bacterial paint visit www.rdr.link/lu006

■ For more information on Premier Modular’s solutions for healthcare visit www.rdr.link/lu007

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION

A successful external wall insualtion installation

Fix Fabric First should be the motto of any retrofit campaign

Internalising damp leads to retrofit failures Mishandling external wall insulation installation can create and exacerbate rising damp problems. This is why care must be taken to fix fabrics first, especially in respect of PAS 2035 retrofits, says Hudson Lambert, Director of Safeguard. xternal wall insulation (EWI) — the application of an insulation layer fixed to the existing facade, with a protective render or decorative finish — is a popular and very effective way of transforming houses into warm, energyefficient and modern-looking buildings.

However, the absence of a proper survey, defects in the building fabric and the possibility of installation errors mean there’s a good chance that EWI will make any problem with rising damp far worse.

EWI reduces the risk of vapour condensing on the inside skin of the wall as the dew point temperature moves closer to the external face of the insulated wall.

When installed correctly, it can also protect against penetrating damp, which is caused by driving rain. However, it is crucial to survey the property before installation and treat any issue with rising damp. Not doing so means the EWI will simply trap the damp inside the walls and make the problem worse. It is also important to ensure that there are no gaps, at the eaves for example, where rain can find its way in and get trapped behind the insulation.

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This has always been the case, yet the Government’s PAS 2035 Retrofitting Dwellings for Improved Energy Efficiency scheme and the Green Homes Grant have heightened concerns about the risk. PAS 2035 has been inspired by the Government’s commitment to achieving a Net Zero Carbon economy by 2050.

This requires a significant improvement in the energy efficiency of domestic properties — and a huge number of energy-efficient retrofit projects — as, in 2017, the UK’s housing stock was responsible for 13% of the UK’s carbon emissions.

According to statistics from the Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) there are around eight million homes with solid walls in the UK, a third of UK housing, and half of them are occupied by people in fuel poverty. All these properties need some form of insulation to stop heat being lost through their walls — the choices effectively being limited to Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) and EWI.

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Rising damp Rising damp occurs because water travels up through the pores in a wall’s material, with the height it reaches governed by a combination of pore size and the rate of evaporation from the surface of the wall.

Cover either side of a wall up and you prevent evaporation, although with IWI the problem is less obvious as it is hidden and may take some time to emerge.

Typically, rising damp only rises to a few inches and remains concealed by skirting boards. It becomes a real issue when it reaches heights where it can impact upon

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Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods have been designed to form an effective DPC in walls of all types

structural elements such as floor joists, or damage interior décor, with occupants noticing blistering paint or peeling wallpaper. Anything that prevents evaporation — such as EWI over a failed or non-existent damp-proof course (DPC) — can drive the damp line up to 1m or more. (In Venice, heights of 6m have been recorded!)

Where severe rising damp is present in a property where EWI is planned, advice should be sought from a specialist surveyor. However, installing a remedial DPC can treat cases that are not severe quickly and cheaply.

Treating rising damp The treatment of rising damp can be costly, especially when expensive replastering is required. However some damp-proofing products are more effective and reduce the need for replastering and there are now fast, low cost replastering systems which have recently reached the market.

Installing a DPC has been greatly simplified with the development of modern products that can be installed rapidly.

Holes are drilled at set intervals along a mortar bed and damp-proofing rods

inserted. The chemicals the rods diffuse out to form a new DPC. The potential problems with rising damp should not be a reason to discount EWI as a possible solution to solid-walled properties requiring insulation. It is a vital tool in improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock and decreasing the UK’s carbon emissions.

However, it is important that more care is taken when surveying properties prior to EWI installation, so that even the most minor cases of rising damp are treated.

The last thing that anybody wants to see is measures aimed at improving a household’s quality of life leading to damp and the health issues that it can cause.

■ For more information on Safeguard’s Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods visit www.rdr.link/lu008 ■ For more information on the treatment of rising damp visit www.rdr.link/lu009

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION

Before embarking on thermal improvements to solid wall properties specifiers should consider the HAMM principles of good moisture control

Solid solution Iain Fairnington, Technical Director at A. Proctor Group, looks at the evolution of solid wall solutions. he issue of how to address thermal insulation in the refurbishment of existing solid wall buildings is a conundrum that leaves many moisture/heat experts discussing at length. Solid walls, usually masonry construction are further defined in BS 5250, Control of Condensation in Buildings, as a wall with no cavity in the load bearing structure. According to the National Energy foundation, 28% of UK properties have solid walls. These buildings will have been built before 1919.

This provides a good opportunity to not only save money by improving the insulation, but also deliver CO2 savings.

In the last 100 years the solid wall has been replaced with cavity walls when building masonry, but why? Solid masonry walls were relatively easy to build using locally sourced stone that provided structure to support a roof. The difficulty with the solid wall was that in areas of high exposure, in the North and West of the UK, water ingress was found due to driving rain. Thicker walls and even render did not solve this issue until the cavity wall was

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introduced. The cavity prevented the wall ‘seeping’ moisture from the outside to the inside, and this same air cavity also provided a degree of thermal benefit compared to its former solid predecessor.

The cavity wall was then adopted throughout the UK in the building booms of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. With the later oil crisis putting a strain on energy efficiency, these cavities became the ‘easy to treat’ thermal upgrade measure we see today, with the innovation of a range of suitable insulation materials and methods of application.

Unfortunately, the solid masonry wall is not as easy to treat and has been labelled as a HTT (Hard to Treat) construction in terms of thermal upgrades. There are no cavities that can be easily filled with insulation and the owner is therefore left with only two options — insulate externally or internally.

EWI (External Wall Insulation) can be a very efficient way of insulating a property.

By insulating externally, the buildings water tightness is improved, as well as its thermal value, and the thermal mass retained. However, this can detract from

the original intended aesthetics of the building and could fall foul of local planning conditions. This then leaves the only other thermal upgrade involved, which is IWI (Internal wall insulation).

HAMM principles Depending on your mindset, solid wall properties can be a challenging proposition.

Many moisture experts agree that the best way to keep a building healthy is to put the heating up and open the windows. However this raises valid concerns in terms of the issues of climate change, energy efficiency and fuel poverty. So, what is the answer?

There are answers to IWI but the options must be carefully weighed up, and with the current Green Homes Grant the options increase and costs can be offset.

However, before deciding on the thermal improvements to solid wall properties specifiers should first consider the HAMM (Heat Air Moisture Movement) principles of good moisture control.

It is important to assess the wall condition and whether it is allowing water ingress to the property, as improving the

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION important to assess the “wallIt iscondition and whether it is allowing water ingress to the property, as improving the thermal performance may accelerate the deterioration of the

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building envelope.

hence maintaining the relative dryness equilibrium. Once a low permeability insulation is applied internally, the solid wall loses an additional drying out mechanism through heat loss, as well as losing its inherent vapour permeability. Remember these walls were designed to absorb and release moisture internally and externally to maintain the moisture balance, which could become increasingly important as periods of wind and rain continue to increase due to climate change.

Thermal performance thermal performance may accelerate the deterioration of the building envelope.

High performance rigid insulations can be seen as an obvious choice for retrofitting solid walls internally as they will improve the reduction in heat loss. However, this high-performance insulation usually comes with increased vapour resistance, which can be an advantage in some cases, but not necessarily in a solid wall.

A solid wall may have been successful in resisting water penetration to the inside due to its breathability, or to put more accurately its vapour permeability. With its inherent vapour permeability, the wall can dry out faster than the wall can be wetted,

Mineral and cellulose fibre can improve the thermal performance and help maintain the vapour permeability, but are at a much thicker option which most old buildings cannot accommodate.

The A. Proctor Group has been providing IWI solutions for many years, some as far back as the original plasterboard laminate of Styrofoam, Plusboard. Many of these systems have evolved over time culminating in the Aerogel laminates called Spacetherm, including its new Spacetherm A2 range. This aerogel insulation is a high-performance insulation, which has low thermal conductivity without compromising the vapour permeability. This dual performance

Spacetherm is a high-performance aerogel insulation, which offers low thermal conductivity without compromising vapour permeability

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is enhanced by its inherent water resistance, which makes it the ideal solution in solid walls to fix directly against potentially damp walls. This does not mean the insulation completely stops water penetration, and good practice with any wall should be assessed before IWI is installed and measures taken to fix areas of water ingress.

In areas where other insulations are used such as mineral fibre, the inclusion of an intelligent vapour control layer can help with moisture controlling measures. Procheck Adapt is a variable membrane within the A. Proctor Group’s range of vapour control layers, which allows the membrane to open and close its vapour permeability depending on the climate. In the summer it allows the wall to dry out, whilst in winter it closes to prevent vapour passing into the envelope.

The A. Proctor Group is extremely experienced and skilled in HAMM principles, with a strong technical department to advise on the options.

■ For more details on A.Proctor Group’s HAMM solutions and webinar series visit www.rdr.link/lu010 ■ For more information on the Spacetherm aerogel insulation visit www.rdr.link/lu011

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION ROUND-UP

RIBA accredited CPD on sustainability and solar PV With predictions of a fivefold increase in new homes built with solar technologies, roof systems manufacturer, Marley, recently launched a new RIBA accredited CPD course on the renewable energy solution for architects and specifiers. With the long-awaited response to the Future Homes Standard, outlining the Government’s target of a 31% reduction in home carbon emissions, the role of renewable energy sources in achieving these targets will be crucial.

The new CPD, titled ‘Sustainability & Solar PV: Pitched Roofing Specification’ will provide architects and specifiers with the expert advice and support on including solar panels within their roofing specifications. In addition, the online seminar covers the features and sustainability benefits of solar PV, before finishing with practical guidance on successful installation and how its performance can be optimised further.

■ More information about the CPD from Marley here www.rdr.link/lu012 New Resource Hubs for specialist insulation solutions Stone wool insulation manufacturer, ROCKWOOL, has created a series of technical Resource Hubs to help specifiers access information and advice on specialist insulation solutions with ease. The new online areas span passive fire protection, HVAC, ventilated façades, flat roofs and acoustics.

Each hub has been developed to provide visitors with extra support on more complex insulation applications where multiple design conflicts may be at play. The new areas feature a wealth of technical literature, proof of concept case studies, specification tools and CPD learning modules, making it simpler for specifiers to have all the necessary information available to make an informed and confident product choice.

The online hubs also include the latest Building Regulation requirements for each application, along with virtual product simulators.

■ You can access the new Resource Hubs here www.rdr.link/lu013

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

Delivering safer showers Bristan’s OPAC TMV3 shower range benefits from integral thermal flushing for infection control

1. Safety first The safety of residents is a priority in social housing specification, so taking their needs into account is the first step in the process.

The HSE has identified a number of groups who are more susceptible to scalding from hot water: children, older people, people with reduced mental capacity, mobility or temperature sensitivity, and people who cannot react appropriately or quickly enough to prevent injury.

Investing in showers with a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) is a guaranteed way to ensure safety of residents. Thermostatic technology works by mixing the hot and cold water supply together to create a safer, more desirable temperature before it reaches the shower head. Plus, it has an automatic shut-off feature that prevents any unexpected hot or cold spikes, creating a smooth, safe showering experience for the user. Bristan, for example has a range of thermostatic showers to suit different needs and projects — from electric and bar showers to its newly updated OPAC TMV3 commercial shower range.

Bristan recently helped Sheffield City Council, which has one of the largest social housing portfolios in the UK, choose the right products to upgrade its bathroom specification. Safety was the council’s primary concern, following a scalding incident at one of its properties a few years ago. Bristan’s Joy Thermostatic 8.5kW electric shower was specified.

Andy Hill, the council’s Senior Housing Officer, says: “Sheffield City Council has a duty of care to its tenants and the Joy showers not only guarantee safer

For social housing specifiers, it can be challenging selecting the right bathroom products to meet both residents’ needs and budget requirements. Underpinning all that is safety — the most important element when creating a bathroom that’s fit for purpose. Craig Rendall, Specification Sales Director at Bristan, shares his insights on specifying safer showering solutions for affordable housing.

showering and the prevention of harm or injury from water that is too hot or too cold, but they’re also compliant with the Building Regulations (Part G), BEAB approved and WRAS approved for water use.”

(0.2bar), allowing social housing specifiers to deliver more in less time.

Product maintenance and ongoing servicing is another important factor, for example, Bristan’s commercial shower range has added isolation integrated in the elbows to make maintenance quicker and easier, in addition to a front mounted one piece cartridge.

Sheffield City Council specified Bristan’s Joy Thermostatic 8.5kW electric shower

2. Infection control When assessing the risks within a bathroom, legionella is another consideration for social housing specifiers.

The bacteria can build up and cause a potential harmful disease if the appropriate maintenance and servicing is not carried out, so choosing a product that makes antilegionella routines simpler, is important.

The OPAC TMV3 commercial shower range features a patented built-in thermal flush mechanism. It is designed for easy infection control and supports anti-legionella regimes. Plus, filter change is incorporated into the elbows for easy cleaning and replacement. Also, TMV3 compliance means the showers offer high levels of protection against scalding from hot water.

3. Meeting deadlines Ease of installation is an important consideration for social housing providers, especially on large-scale projects that have to be delivered in a specific timeframe. OPAC commercial showers feature adjustable elbows and have the ability to work at a very low pressure

4. Flexibility When designing safe showering environments, social housing providers must take into account the varying needs of residents, especially when creating accessible bathrooms. Choosing a supplier that offers flexibility across its ranges is vital to ensure specifiers can meet those varying requirements while staying within budget.

Suppliers offering a broad range of showers with either exposed and concealed options, and handwheel or lever operated designs, such as Bristan for example, means specifiers have access to greater choice. Also, with products that can be flow limited to 8 litres/min, specifiers can look to save both water and money.

■ To find out how Bristan’s Specification Managers can help you with your next project visit www.rdr.link/lu014

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

James Kane from Airtech Solutions considers how to tackle condensation and mould in social housing and proposes effective ventilation as the ideal the solution.

Installing effective ventilation is key to removing condensation and avoiding mould growth and poor indoor air quality

Keeping condensation and mould in check ccording to USwitch’s recent ‘Mouldy Nation’1 report, 62% of people have had an issue with mould in their home at least once, with conditions in the home the most common reason for the spread of mould.

The report also uncovered the huge costs for councils and housing associations in tackling mould — ranging from the low thousands to the hundreds of thousands of pounds. And it’s impacting residents too with over 25% saying it has affected their health, anything from a runny nose to an asthma attack or weakened immune system. Mould can irritate airways causing respiratory illness, putting people at higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch COVID. Add to this, 13% said mould had

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made them depressed. It’s clear that condensation and mould isn’t an issue to be taken lightly by either landlords or residents.

Condensation is caused by excess moisture in the air and can come from a variety of sources. Everyday activities such as taking baths, washing, drying clothes, cooking and boiling kettles produce moisture. This makes bathrooms and kitchens particularly susceptible to condensation and mould issues.

Additionally, modern airtight homes with insulation and double or triple glazed windows, trap water vapour inside. So if there is a lack of adequate ventilation, the moisture cannot escape thereby increasing the risk of condensation.

windows to let the stale, moist air out (where safe to do so). Heating a property is also helpful in lowering moisture levels as the higher the temperature the more moisture the air can hold, preventing it from settling on surfaces as condensation.

These everyday actions all help fight condensation and mould but what’s the long-term solution to deal with condensation and mould and to prevent it coming back?

Experts can help social landlords meet their duty of care under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 by offering comprehensive property surveys to identify condensation, damp and mould problems and recommendations to solve the issues; including mould removal treatment and redecoration.

Prevention So, what can be done to eradicate condensation and mould? First and foremost is to produce less moisture. This can be achieved by advising residents to avoid drying laundry on radiators, putting lids on pans while cooking and venting tumble dryers outside for example. It’s also important to make sure that any moisture in the home cannot spread. Keeping doors closed whilst showering and wiping up spillages promptly both reduce moisture levels in the air.

Other ways to remove moisture include leaving trickle vents open and opening

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Future proofing To prevent condensation and mould returning to properties it is vital to install effective ventilation in properties. Effective ventilation is key in removing condensation to avoid mould and poor indoor air quality.

Ventilation solutions include installing Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) and using an extractor fan whilst washing and cooking.

It’s also helpful for social landlords to use fans with datalogging to ensure ventilation is being used properly and not tampered with. Airtech Solutions, for example, can offer landlords the correct solution for each

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A member of the Airtech team removing mould build up in a bathroom

individual property, including an installation service.

PIV is proven to reduce both condensation and mould.

With both loft and wall mounted options available, PIV gently operates in the background removing stale humid air and replacing it with fresh filtered air from outside. It draws fresh air in where it is filtered and warmed before being gently added into the habitable areas of the house.

Some PIV units, such as Airtech’s Air+ PIV, offer high grade F7 filters to filter out harmful PM2.5 particles that cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Another option is environment sensing and data gathering bathroom and kitchen extractor fans. Fans with dataloggers record details of the home environment to allow a landlord to clearly track the effects changing lifestyle habits have on a home environment. For example, Airtech’s ventilation products allow landlords to identify the relationship between temperature and relative humidity.

They can also monitor all ‘on/off’ occurrences and map them in relation to the temperature and humidity readings, giving a clear indication of whether the fan has been running as intended.

Hand-in-hand with the data logging, a specialist control platform monitors the data as it is collected and modulates the fan accordingly to react automatically and proportionally to rising humidity levels, offering quick and effective humidity control. This ensures the resident keeps the optimum environment in the home to avoid condensation and mould forming in the first place.

With most people spending more time at home than ever during the pandemic, the need for a healthy home has never been more important. It’s crucial that social landlords meet the requirement of the Homes Act and protect their residents from the unhealthy effects of condensation and mould. Effective ventilation is the ideal solution.

1. https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/mouldy-nationreport/

■ For more information on Airtech’s property surveys visit www.rdr.link/lu018 ■ For more information on Airtech’s ventilation solutions visit www.rdr.link/lu019

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KITCHENS & BATHROOMS ROUND-UP Stylish shower cubicle The Onyx Care Pod from AKW is a stylish, standalone shower cubicle developed in consultation with local authorities, housing associations, occupational therapists and contractors. It is available as alcove or corner shower units, in a range of dimensions, with a choice of either the AKW SmartCare Plus BEAB Care approved electric shower, or Arka thermostatic care mixer valve (TMV3) shower. The solution comes with AKW’s Larenco 6mm toughened glass, two mid-grey grab rails and a height-adjustable padded fold-up shower seat as standard. The accessories meet the required Light Reflective Value (LRV) rating.

■ For more information on the Onyx Care Pod visit www.rdr.link/lu020 Cubicle door with emergency access Maxwood Washrooms has launched Movana, an inward opening door that can also be opened outwards in eight seconds in emergency situations.

Inward opening doors have traditionally been the preferred choice for washrooms, however there is a key aspect of safety that has been difficult to justify. The solution from Movana is a fullheight door that retains all the benefits of inward opening, but with an emergency release that sits flush with the door. In an emergency, a coin, credit card or access card slots into the occupancy indicator, to twist it anti-clockwise out of the door and pull a cord that disengages the door stop. This allows the door to swing outwardly open. All in eight seconds.

■ For more information on the Movana range visit www.rdr.link/lu021 New mobile shower change trolley The new height adjustable Shower Change Trolley from Pressalit is suitable for both adult and child environments in Changing Places facilities and schools. Introducing foldable safety rails at the head and foot of the table, as well as on both sides, improves access for two or more carers to assist a user at the same time.

The easy-to-fold rails provide security for the patient and help prevent falls. The contoured laminate rails feature black trim edges to aid the visual definition, with integrated grab handles.

With a height range of 550 – 950mm, carers can adjust the table to suit their preferences, including wheelchair transfer and minimising inappropriate lifts.

■ For more information on the Mobile shower change trolley visit www.rdr.link/lu022

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