Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

JANUARY 2020

Understanding the Government’s Infrastructure Priorities

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VOLKERFITZPATRICK-KIER INSTALLS 1,000-TONNE LUTON DART BRIDGE BAM wins new design & build contract for Danish school

O’DONOVAN WASTE DISPOSAL LTD Jacqueline O’Donovan crowned Entrepreneur of the Year at the Growing Business Awards

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Contents January 2020

05

Construction slowdown continues as General Election extends uncertainty

06

Property & construction workers seek balance between security & family life

08

VolkerFitzpatrick-Kier installs 1,000-tonne Luton DART bridge

10

Works complete on £13M science laboratories at Keele University

12

Interview: Construction Director at Northacre, Robert Gibson

19

Kier completes £10m WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre

23

Understanding the Government’s Infrastructure Priorities

26

The Care Leaver Covenant for the Construction Sector

30

Amey turns to augmented reality in fight against £90M ‘unflushables’ issue

36

Forterra finesse elevates modern masterpiece in King’s Cross

44

Perfect Circle announces new chair for final year of scape framework

45

BAM wins new design and build contract for Danish school

06 08

12

10

23

26

30

36

44

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Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 03

Latest News

WISE SAYS UK NEEDS 30% OF WOMEN IN CORE STEM AS IT PUBLISHES ITS ANALYSIS OF ONS DATA WISE, the campaign for greater gender balance in science, technology and engineering (STEM), is calling for employers, professional bodies and educators to set a target of achieving 30% of women in core STEM roles.

Currently, women hold just over 24% of these roles. WISE’s analysis shows that the number of women in technology roles is a particular cause for concern with women representing just 16% of IT professionals; a figure that has remained almost static for ten years.

Helen Wollaston, Chief Executive of WISE, explains: “Having seen the number of women in core STEM roles reach our target of 1 million, we now need to keep up the momentum and aim for a target of 30% of women in STEM which is critical mass for sustainability. The fact that women remain so under-represented in tech is incredibly disappointing.

Technology roles account for 25% of core STEM roles and are among some of the most exciting careers to be a part of and yet companies are failing to attract and retain women.”

WISE, which annually analyses statistics from ONS*, says that while technology has remained stubbornly stagnant, other sectors there have made progress in recent years. Engineering has doubled the number of women

represented in the profession overall to 50,000. Science has also made significant progress with women now in touching distance of representing 50% of science roles and the number of women in STEM management roles has increased to 14% which could help encourage others to enter the profession.

Helen adds: “The progress made by these sectors clearly demonstrates that forward thinking companies can create change.”

The business case for greater gender diversity shows that companies are more adaptable, productive and responsive to what their customers are telling them.

Helen concludes: “We know from our members what works, and we are here to help other employers understand what they need to do and help them create action plans, including targets, to improve their workplace culture.

“Directors and board members need to take responsibility and be accountable for creating an inclusive workplace culture and helping their middle management to deliver it.

Employers need to be clear; to get ahead in STEM, they need to recruit, retain and develop female talent – failing to do so will mean being left behind.”

Having seen the number of women in core STEM roles reach our target of 1 million, we now need to keep up the momentum and aim for a target of 30% of women in STEM which is critical mass for sustainability. The fact that women remain so under-represented in tech is incredibly disappointing. Technology roles account for 25% of core STEM roles and are among some of the most exciting careers to be a part of and yet companies are failing to attract and retain women.

BIRD NEST INSPIRES ENGINEERS TO BUILD NEW BRICKS FROM PLASTIC WASTE A new brick made from domestic plastic waste has been proven to provide 10 times better insulation than traditional bricks made from clay.

Dr Karthikeyan Kandan, senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), has created a novel brick made entirely from upcycled plastic waste.

Believed to be the first of its kind, the brick is constructed using 3D printing and lattice architecture technologies, which involves criss-crossing strips of the plastic materials to form a grid or weave.

The design is inspired by nature, after Dr Kandan examined the structure of the Baya weaver bird’s nest; renowned for its elaborately woven construction.

“The Bayer weaver bird’s nest’s ingenious construction gives it excellent thermal insulation and mechanical properties for inhabitation,” explained Dr Kandan.

“Inside there is a central nesting chamber, which makes it the ideal micro-climate for inhabitation. By replicating this structure, we have manufactured a brick that improves energy efficiency of modern buildings and therefore can reduce carbon foot print.”

Saad Alqahtani, a first-year PhD student at DMU, carried out controlled experiments on the plastic bricks, under joint supervision from Dr Kandan and Dr Farukh – also a senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the university.

04 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Latest News

CONSTRUCTION SLOWDOWN CONTINUES AS GENERAL ELECTION EXTENDS UNCERTAINTY Whoever forms the next government must give much needed confidence to the construction industry says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response the construction PMI data published today.

To test its thermal insulation characteristics, Saad placed the brick in a hot-box calorimeter – a piece of equipment used to measure the U-value of an object, which can be set up to simulate the regulatory standard for buildings.

U-value is a measure of the flow of heat through an insulating or building material: the lower the U-value, the better the insulating ability.

The results showed the new design delivered an impressive U-value of 0.25 Watts per Metre Kelvin (W/m²K). This is 10 times more effective than a clay brick, which delivers an average of 2.94 W/m²K. Traditionally, a range of building blocks are required to achieve the regulatory standard U-value, however, the newly designed plastic brick can achieve this on its own.

“Our brick, made from all kinds of domestic plastic waste – from coffee cup lids to plastic bottles – exhibits a tremendous thermal envelope over conventional building materials,” said Dr Kandan.

A building envelope refers to the exterior elements that protect the property and its inhabitants from the elements and also contributes to keeping the building structurally sound.

“This provides significant potential to not only improve the energy efficiency of modern building, but also to conserve space and reduce dead-weight in multi-story buildings,” added Dr Kandan.

Saad, who received a PhD scholarship from DMU to complete this work with Dr Kandan and Dr Farukh, said their brick could lead to a new era of energy-efficient construction while tackling the issue of plastic pollution at the same time.

Our brick, made from all kinds of domestic plastic waste – from coffee cup lids to plastic bottles – exhibits a tremendous thermal envelope over conventional building materials.

“Our work has demonstrated that 3D printed bricks made from household plastic waste are thermally far superior than the existing bricks made in the market,” he explained.

“This breakthrough can literally help us build the future.”

This project marks the second time this year that Dr Kandan has been recognised for his work to repurpose plastic waste.

In August he made headlines when he created a prosthetic limb socket made from recycled plastic water bottles for amputee patients.

Saad, who also completed his MSc at DMU, was invited to showcase their work at the prestigious 39th International Workshop on Computational Mechanics of Materials in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in September.

Construction companies have recorded a fall in activity in November for the eighth month in a row.

Jessica Levy, Director of Communications at the FMB said:“In November, the construction industry weathered the storm of continued Brexit uncertainty, a general election and unusually wet weather. Unsurprisingly, this has led to another fall in output leading to the longest period of decline of new orders in the industry since 2013. While the slightly better results than expected in today’s data are welcome, it is clear the industry is in dire need of some Christmas cheer, once a new government is elected.”

Levy added: “Whoever forms the new government, needs to give some much-needed confidence and certainty to this vital industry which makes up almost 9% of GDP and employs almost 3 million people. House building, which forms a major part of the construction industry, should become a national infrastructure priority for the new government. This will not only help tackle the ongoing housing crisis but give much needed confidence to the industry.”

“It was a great opportunity to meet industry experts and tell people about our work,” he said. “The next step is to get the brick into commercial production, which we hope to do by the end of the year.”

Dr Kandan added: “It is fantastic to see one of our own PhD students taking the lead on this project and sharing our results on an international platform.

“There is a constant drive for energy efficient building materials so it is very exciting to know that our brick can outperform the thermal insulation of standard building materials by an order of magnitude.”

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 05

Latest News

PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SEEK BALANCE BETWEEN SECURITY AND FAMILY LIFE Property and construction workers use temporary work to increase their income and achieve greater work-life balance, but are held back by concerns over benefits, according to research released on (17.12.2019).

The research, carried out by recruitment experts Reed Specialist Recruitment asked 5,000 UK employees about their experience of, and attitude to, temporary and contract working.

Of the sample of 5,000, 150 respondents were from the property and construction industry. The survey found that while 9% of workers in property and construction considered non-permanent work to be their main job, and just 6% held more than one temporary role there was a real desire for the flexibility, variety of and autonomy that temporary working offers.

There are 38% of people working in property and construction who identify work-life balance as a positive of temporary working – higher than the national average of 37% - with more than a third (31%) saying that greater variety of work was a positive effect of temporary working. There was almost a quarter (23%) that were drawn to the idea of working for themselves and 17% that liked the ability to supplement their income from a permanent role.

Despite the positives experienced within the property and construction sector, almost half (47%) of those asked said they preferred the security of a permanent role and almost a third (32%) said they liked the benefits such as sick pay and pension of a permanent role.

John Darby, Reed Property & Construction expert, said: “Property and construction workers find themselves already steeped in a history of contractors and sub-contractors. While the sector is experiencing a period of uncertainty, it’s also primed to make use of a versatile and skilled workforce.

“An upturn in orders for building work could see a repeat of past situations, for example as in previous years, when there was a shortage of highly skilled staff and during a peak of demand project completion timescales suffered. In this scenario, the belief by a significant number that temporary work could supplement their income is certainly a valid one.

“With skills and technology within the sector in constant development it certainly plays into the lap of the employee that can upskill with the times. However, temporary work also gives the employer an advantage.

“High order volumes of work can be addressed in a sustainable manner that doesn’t affect the resilience of the business – an issue which is rife in construction which experiences thousands of insolvencies each year.

“If employers and employees can find the right balance between temporary and permanent work there is a real advantage to be had with a consistent flow of work for employees and strength and durability for employers. And that benefits everyone.”

CAN ROBOTS FILL THE SKILLS SHORTAGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? The construction industry is increasingly exploring the use of robots to speed up work and alleviate skills shortages. But where could this lead?

GlobalData’s construction journalist Luke Christou explores the future of robotic construction.

Christou says: “The use of single-task robots (STR) in the construction industry has been growing for some time. The use of robotics in construction dates back to 1970s Japan. As young workers turned their back on manual labour in favour of less dangerous and physically demanding office jobs, Japan’s largest architecture, engineering and construction companies turned to automation and robotics in an attempt to stem a labour shortage.

“Many of these technologies failed to break ground, and construction’s labour issue persists.

According to Turner and Townsend’s 2019 International Construction Market survey, 66% of construction markets globally report a shortage of skills.

“Labour shortages is just one of many issues that the construction industry faces, however. Lacking worker safety is another pressing issue, with construction the leading industry for workplace fatalities in many parts of the world. The industry seems largely in agreement that these significant advancements will first focus on removing humans from dangerous tasks. Automation is also likely to take over the tedious tasks, freeing up time for labourers to complete more fulfilling work.

“Companies such as Built Robotics are developing solutions to solve the labour crisis. The construction robotics company has developed an AI guidance system that can be fitted to heavy equipment, enabling it to operate autonomously and reducing the need for human workers.”

Erol Ahmed, director of communications for Built Robotics, tells GlobalData: “There is a huge demand and backlog of construction work that can’t be built — think roads, solar and wind farms, energy pipelines, levees and homes — because we don’t have enough skilled workers entering construction. The tasks that are the most dangerous, most repetitive, or most remote are the tasks likely to become automated to keep construction workers safer and allow them to focus on more complex and skilled labour.”

However, Stuart Maggs, CEO of Scaled Robotics says: “The end goal has to be not just automating tasks that human beings can do, but developing new construction manufacturing methods that are only possible through robotics, opening up new possibilities for building design and performance.”

06 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Grab it while you can!

This month leading construction accountants City Accountants (London) Ltd offers advice on a major tax saving for Civil Engineers.

With construction tax bills seeming to forever be spiralling up out of control for civil engineers, wouldn’t it be good if some of the tax you have paid over the past two years could be reclaimed? Well now there is a way. It’s called Research and Development Tax Credits – and it’s easy to claim.

It’s amazing how often as accountants and tax specialists we come across situations where a construction company is incurring Research & Development (R&D) expenditure, but isn’t claiming it against their tax bills.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Many Civil and Structural Engineers don’t realise quite how wide the boundaries of R and D can be. It’s not just Boffins in white coats staring at test tubes!

This is an entitlement from HMRC which allows civil engineers to claim back between 25 – 33% of all qualifying R&D costs over the previous two accounting periods. It is there to reward civil engineers for undertaking technically challenging work within the UK, with the benefit being either a reduction in your corporation tax bill or direct cash injection to your business.

The entitlement means civils can claim, for example, £2,300 against tax for a £1,000 expense incurred.

Areas of costing to be explored by the construction accountants include: Office salaries Director’s wages Construction Materials and research costs Specialist and subcontractor costs

CIVILS AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS The first stage is to identify activities in your practice where research and development costs may be applicable. This is where your construction accountant’s experience and knowledge comes in. Areas where we have had great success include: • Diagnosis and identification of new approaches or new ways of thinking in construction and engineering.

• New construction techniques for challenging cases • Intelligent buildings and AI

• Improve the efficiency of construction methods on smart motorways and infrastructure • Innovative use of rebar and pre-cast concrete • Using challenging construction technology (including AutoCAD and intelligent buildings)

SPECIALIST SURVEYORS Specialist surveyors in particular suffer greatly with large tax bills.

Fortunately there is even more potential R and D to be claimed in the areas of geotechnical engineering, water mechanics and environmental technologies including: • Advanced materials and polymers including recycling • Development of Robots and AI in construction • New computer algorithms showing new ways of running a construction project • Trial of new admixtures in concrete including caissons and slip form

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS Contractors also have R and D potential • Developing new construction machinery and techniques for using them. This would include developing a new use for a piece of plant not envisaged by the original designer • improve efficiency of piling and foundations • Innovations in earthmoving • Wind turbines and HS2 • Digital modelling (including Computer modelling and AI) • Improving tunnelling (my favorite!)

Techniques and safety

It is quite amazing how many civil engineers are operating at the cutting edge of the profession and are entitled to this valuable enhanced tax deduction.

City Accountants (London) Ltd are Specialist Construction Accountants based North of London. They advise on a wide range of Construction Tax issues and regularly write for the Construction Press. City Accountants have over 20 years’ experience in Construction and Civil Engineering Accounts and are recognised for their proactive approach to Taxation in construction and business problems. They have suitably qualified Engineering staff to spot the opportunities and make the best possible tax case to HMRC. Phone 01438 722224 or email: kate@dentax.biz

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 07

Project News

VOLKERFITZPATRICK-KIER OPENS ROAD 10 HOURS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AFTER SUCCESSFULLY INSTALLING 1,000-TONNE LUTON DART BRIDGE The VolkerFitzpatrick-Kier joint-venture was able to open the A1081 10 hours early, following the team’s installation of an 80-metre long, 1,000 tonne curved bridge, which forms an integral part of the new Luton DART fast transit system.

The bridge, which will carry each DART shuttle over the A1081, was constructed at an offsite location, adjacent to the Percival Way roundabout, over an eight month period. It was then transported half a mile to the site, using self-propelled modular transporters. The structure was raised up using jacks, positioned and carefully lowered into place.

IQL’S PAVILION TOPS OUT AFTER JUST 14 WEEKS OF SUPERSTRUCTURE WORKS International Quarter London has ‘topped out’ on the pavilion at the heart of the 22-acre development. The landmark building, designed by ACME, and made almost entirely from cross and glue laminated timber, has reached its highest point and taken shape at a rapid pace since the project broke ground in February earlier this year.

The frame began arriving on site during the summer, and took 14 weeks to be assembled, with every piece arriving ready to be slotted into place in an impressive show of organisation and efficiency.

When complete, the 10,000 sq. ft. pavilion will house restaurants across the ground and first floors and a rooftop terrace and bar will provide views across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park towards the London skyline.

Andrew Tobin, Project Director of IQL, Lendlease said: “We’re very proud to be able to bring this innovative building to Stratford, and of the part it will play in bringing our local communities within IQL and the wider area together. We’re also looking forward to announcing more details in due course regarding the dining experience that will be available within this remarkable space.”

08 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

The whole operation was successfully completed over the course of three days and required significant planning and collaboration between VolkerFitzpatrickKier, London Luton Airport Ltd and Luton Council.

The Luton DART will be a double-shuttle, fully-automated people-mover (APM) which will link London Luton Airport with Luton Airport Parkway railway station and will be capable of operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Phil Hobson, project director at the Luton DART, said: “This was an especially challenging project milestone to reach and required a huge collaborative effort between all parties.

Project News WORK STARTS ON £1.2M REGENERATION OF FORMER GATESHEAD SCHOOL The first steps in the £1.2m regeneration of a former Gateshead school have been taken as onsite construction work gets underway.

The team worked incredibly well together to successfully install the bridge.

“Every aspect of the installation was specialised and complex. From setting up the temporary ramps to moving the bridge, which took us over two hours. Each operation over the weekend was expertly planned and we are really pleased to have reached this vital point in construction of the project.”

Ciaran Scanlon, LLAL Programme Delivery Director, said: “This has been an exciting achievement and a hugely significant milestone in the delivery of the innovative DART scheme.

The whole project has been full of engineering challenges and to move an object of this size ranks as one of the biggest. To see such a large object calmly trundle down the A1081 under complete control was a great testimony to both the vision of the project and the technical expertise of our contractor, VolkerFitzpatrickKier (VFK).

We appreciate that many people will have been affected by the road closures needed to allow for this move and thank everyone for their support, patience and understanding.

The green light has been given to ambitious plans that will see the redevelopment of the former 4,000 sq. ft.

Marley Hill primary school house on the A692 outside Sunniside, which has been vacant for almost 10 years.

The move will see the old school buildings, which have been at the centre of the community for more than a century, open a new chapter following its conversion into two luxury residential homes as part of wider multi-million pound redevelopment of the entire site including the former playground area.

A number of new two, three and fourbedroomed properties have recently been completed on land to the rear of the school building, while plans for the former Victorian era classrooms are being transformed into modern living accommodation while retaining some of the existing internal finishes.

The two five-bedroomed homes, which are expected to be worth in excess of £600,000 each when finished in 2020, are being designed and project managed

by Newcastle architectural technologists and design firm, Ergo Projects.

“On the back of a growing client base and an impressive portfolio of work, we are going from strength-to-strength.

The opportunity to work for high-profile individuals is always one that we would welcome as a creatively-driven design office.”

The move is part of plans by the firm to reinvigorate the former school after it closed in 2010, creating high quality properties that will retain a traditional appearance while offering contemporary luxury living.

Redevelopment will see the installation of a mezzanine floor as many of the former school’s traditional features such as coat pegs and Victorian radiators are retained to enhance the building’s overall appearance and make reference to its past.

Welcoming the news that work has started, Adrian Reay, managing director of Ergo Projects, who has been instrumental in bringing forward the scheme’s plan, said redevelopment ushers in a new phase in the site’s long history.

The former Marley Hill primary school in Gateshead is being revamped by Ergo Projects in a major redevelopment project

“As architectural technologists, you always want to work on challenging projects and for clients with ambition. Working with Camfero Homes, we have designed a highly creative development that both respects the site’s heritage and provides an outstanding vision of modern living.

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 09

Project

Works complete on £13million state-of-theart science laboratories at Keele University World-class science laboratories that will benefit students on courses including geography, geology, forensic science and astrophysics, have been successfully constructed at Keele University; with the works led by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson.

Work started on the highly-anticipated Central Science Laboratories (CSL) development in August 2017 – bringing a new 5,300 sq m four storey building to the University campus that boasts a range of features that will further the University’s work in ground-breaking research and innovation.

The £13million construction was awarded to G F Tomlinson as part of the University’s £42million overall investment into its Faculty of Natural Sciences’ facilities, and will be occupied by students studying on varying courses.

Inside the CSL building are new chemistry and pharmacy wet laboratories and flexible dry laboratories for courses in geography, geology, environment, forensic science and life sciences; laboratories for physics and astrophysics; and IT labs for subjects including mathematics and computer science.

There are also breakout social learning spaces, open plan teaching and research areas, and IT rooms – with the building aiming to bring together practical teaching and group working among undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as those studying on a Foundation Year.

The new development links to the Lennard Jones Building next to the Dorothy Hodgkin Building. It was delivered by G F Tomlinson using Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 – an enhancing design co-ordination process used for creating and managing digital design

information across the entire project from start to finish, helping to deliver increased productivity and efficiency.

It marks the latest development by G F Tomlinson within the higher education sector; with the company boasting a vast portfolio of university projects across the Midlands and further afield.

Andy Sewards, managing director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are very pleased that works have now completed on the Central Science Laboratories at Keele University – further enhancing the establishment’s reputation and improving the learning experiences of its students.

“There is already excitement for the building to open, and we are positive it will vastly benefit the innovative research that already takes place at the University. Here at G F Tomlinson, we regularly complete highquality developments across a range of sectors, and this project signals yet another successful scheme within our higher education portfolio.”

10 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Professor Jonathan Wastling, Pro ViceChancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, said: “These new facilities will provide excellent learning spaces and state-of-the-art equipment for our students, giving them access to some of the best laboratories and science teaching environments in the country. I’m delighted that the University will benefit from the transformational teaching spaces, especially during our 70th anniversary year, cementing Keele’s commitment to collaborative and interdisciplinary working. The new landmark development will facilitate practical classes and student learning, as well as allowing the University to further develop its world-class research.”

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Interview

AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT GIBSON Construction UK Magazines speaks with the Construction Director at Northacre, Robert Gibson about his journey into the Real Estate Industry and discusses two of the company’s ongoing development projects.

How are you feeling about your new role within Northacre?

Working for Northacre has been an excellent experience so far. There is a great team of people who are all of the highest calibre.

How did you start out within the Construction Industry, was this the career path you had always wanted to take?

As I child I spent most of my free time on building sites with my late father. Although he spent his working days in executive roles for large house building companies, his hobby was that of building his own homes. So, with such an early involvement it was inevitable for me to have a career in construction.

I started back in 1985 with an architectural practice as I really enjoyed the design element which I guess was in my DNA. I soon realised that an eightyear course to become a qualified architect was something I really didn’t have the appetite for, so I decided to go into house building and then into mainstream contracting.

What have you learnt through the years about the industry as a whole?

Well, I would suggest the question should really be is what I haven’t learnt!

I would say that the actual “construction” bit is relatively straight forward. You get a set of drawings, specifications and site constraints. In my opinion this can be seen as a paint by numbers process. The fun really starts when you add more people to a project. Differing agendas, experiences and personality traits all become apparent when the pressure starts to mount up. This is where I have taken great care to watch, listen and learn over the years.

What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?

My most challenging times were back in the early 90’s. As a site engineer for a large construction company I had to deal with a lot of RC (Reinforced Concrete) frame contractors who wanted line and levels constantly, sometimes before the concrete had gone off to get a start on kickers for columns and walls ready for the next day. This could become stressful when you’re looking after 50 formwork carpenters but was also where I truly learnt that having a strong relationship with your subcontractors and colleagues is key to achieving the common goal of success.

You have been a part of some of the biggest development projects in the UK, what have you taken away from these experiences and what did your role entail within project management?

Inset and above: No. 1 Palace Street

12 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Working on Battersea Power Station phase three was a fantastic experience. To work on an iconic project is something that all construction professionals should do.

Interview My role of Production Director was client side, working for BPSDC’s project manager SLW (Second London Wall). My time was spent in meetings, almost constantly. I would be reviewing programmes, method statements, writing reports and working alongside the procurement team analysing contractor packages. What I will take away from the project is how the actual build process almost got lost in the mountains of paperwork generated by such a huge team.

The Broadway

Talk us through the No.1 Palace Street development, and what the main inspirations and design elements this will feature and how this will be carried out.

No. 1 Palace Street is a unique construction of five different buildings, representing an impressive blend of traditional and contemporary design, and encompassing five different architectural styles: 1860s Grade II Listed Italian Renaissance, 1880s French Renaissance, 1880s French Beaux Arts, 1890s Queen Anne and contemporary design by leading architects Squire and Partners. Inspired by the architectural vernacular of the facades, five respective interior palettes will complete the breadth of the period stylings, ranging from classical at Buckingham Gate to Palace Street’s modern minimalism.

No.1 Palace Street is also unique in its construction method. It is probably the only current construction project in London covering retained facades, a Grade II listed building, four level basement using top down construction and an internal fit out of the highest quality all on an island site.

I have never known a project to cover all these aspects of construction and that is why I am so pleased to be involved with the development.

Talk us through The Broadway development, and what the main inspirations and design elements this will feature and how this will be carried out.

The Broadway was inspired by the Art Deco features of the neighbouring Grade I listed property 55 Broadway, once London’s tallest building when it was built in 1929.

Together with Squire & Partners, who is the lead architectural partner for The Broadway, we have studied the beautifully configured architecture of 1920’s jewellery, and its contemporary interpretations as a creative direction for the development. The shapes and structures found in luxury retail thus form the concept for The Broadway’s interiors, and the buildings have been named after three of the world’s most revered diamonds; The Sancy, The Paragon and The Cullinan.

To take advantage of the dramatic quality of light created by the unique exterior and interior architectural design, the interior design has been carefully considered too to provide a real sense of space.

Construction has seen heavy civil engineering take place. A top down construction forming the main access road running through the development and six towers rising with the tallest reaching nineteen storeys. Multiplex, our main contractor along with their subcontractor Keltbray Structures, have worked tremendously over the past year with the next main element, the façade commencing in January 2020. Logistics is key to the successful delivery of The Broadway and the next six months will really test the team. Exciting times!

What are the main challenges when a new development project is being finalised, what are the important factors to consider?

Any new development needs to be reviewed for buildability. This is where experience is key to come up with a delivery strategy, which prior to going out to tender is, for me, a prerequisite. Over the past 34 years in the industry I have seen architects go from a position of power to becoming a design subcontractor. With this comes the reduction of how a building really goes together. The “master builder” architect is a rare individual these days and more is put on to the main contractor to sort out through the use of Contractor Design Portions, CDP’s.

Working on Battersea Power Station phase three was a fantastic experience. To work on an iconic project is something that all construction professionals should do.

Do you feel that the construction industry is progressing more and how do you think Brexit will affect the industry?

I think over the last three years of suffering uncertainty over Brexit, construction has somewhat stalled. Finance is tight, sales are hard fought over to ensure the correct return is achieved. Notwithstanding this there has been some real moves into Modular construction, AI and virtual reality.

I strongly believe that once Brexit has been sorted money will start to move and construction will flow again, perhaps quicker than ever.

How important is it to ensure all people involved with the project liaise and work together efficiently?

This is an easy one. Without the working relationship it will be a fight all the way to the end. To me, it’s the single most important thing to achieve, mutual respect and a common goal. Ultimately, to really enjoy the project and create long lasting relationships.

Robert Gibson, Construction Director at Northacre.

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 13

Awards News HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES HONOURS GPS INVENTORS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE Four US engineers were awarded the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace for their work creating the first truly global, satellite-based positioning system, GPS. The QEPrize is the world’s most prestigious engineering accolade, a £1 million prize that celebrates the global benefit of engineering innovation on humanity.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales presented the trophy to Dr Bradford Parkinson, Hugo Fruehauf, Richard Schwartz, and Anna Marie Spilker, who accepted the award on behalf of her late husband, Professor James Spilker, Jr. Dr Bradford Parkinson – often regarded as the ‘father of GPS’ – led the development, design, and testing of the system. Hugo Fruehauf developed a highly accurate, miniaturised atomic clock, a foundational component of the system. Richard Schwartz engineered a satellite hardened to resist intense radiation in space, with a lifespan three times greater than expected. Professor James Spilker, Jr, was the main designer of the GPS civil signal and, with his team at Stanford Telecommunications, built the receiver that processed the first GPS satellite signals.

Lord Browne, Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation,

highlighted the critical role of collaboration in engineering, and in groundbreaking innovations such as GPS: “Our laureates’ success was the result of inter-disciplinary collaboration, a drive for excellence, and an ability to turn the fruits of scientific discovery into practical solutions. That is what engineers do.”, he said.

Today, an estimated four billion people around the world use GPS. At just $2 per receiver, GPS provides an accessible service and a powerful tool that people can integrate with their applications. Simple smartphone apps can track disease outbreaks, self-driving tractors can optimise crop harvests, and sports teams can improve team performance. New applications for GPS continue to revolutionise entire industries, and its annual economic value has been estimated to be $80 billion for the USA alone.

GPS combines a constellation of at least 24 orbiting satellites with ground stations and receiving devices.

Each satellite broadcasts a radio signal containing its location and the time from an extremely accurate onboard atomic clock. GPS receivers need signals from at least four satellites to determine their position; they measure the time delay in each signal to calculate the distance to each satellite, then use that information to pinpoint the receiver’s location on earth.

CREST NICHOLSON’S MONKSMOOR PARK WINS BRONZE FOR BEST PUBLIC REALM AT WHATHOUSE? AWARDS Crest Nicholson’s Monksmoor Park development in Daventry has won Bronze for Best Public Realm at the 38th annual WhatHouse? Awards, held on 15th November 2019 at Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

The Best Public Realm award seeks to recognise developments with standout landscaping, parks, open space, facilities for residents, commissioned works of art or cultural attractions and other innovations by housebuilders to enhance the public space in and around their new developments.

Monksmoor Park was recognised for its commitment to community facilities, as well as its focus on landscape-led planning and design, together with an emphasis on street schemes. In addition, Crest Nicholson encouraged cohesion across the development by creating a mobile app to keep residents up to date with community projects and events.

In their report, the WhatHouse?

Awards Judging Panel commented: “As a developer with

14 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

strong sustainability credentials, Crest Nicholson has always embraced the Garden Village creed of green space, wildlife and trees and not just houses. Monksmoor Park near Daventry is driven by public realm and community facilities, as the development beside the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire moves into its fourth of five phases.”

The annual WhatHouse? Awards are considered the Oscars of the housebuilding industry, bringing together over 1,700 industry professionals to celebrate the best new home developments.

Astronaut Tim Peake hosted the event alongside the comedian and television presenter, Dara Ó Briain, presenting awards across a range of categories.

Monksmoor Park is nestled alongside the Grand Union Canal incorporating 25 acres of open space, including an extension to the Daventry Reservoir and Country Park. The latest phases brought are Meadowside, a traditional collection of homes, and Waterside & The Rowans, with its striking contemporary designed properties.

Fibrelite Trench Covers Provide an Engineered Covering Solution Over Bearing Pits for Iconic Hammersmith Flyover in London As part of the essential refurbishment and strengthening of this iconic London flyover, roller bearings at the base of the supporting piers were replaced due to wear, corrosion and the ever increasing vehicular traffic volume. The replacement spherical sliding bearings are located in underground bearing pits, which are now covered by an encapsulating row of bespoke GRP trench covers. The cover design layout accommodates minor movement of the pier.

Roller bearings at bases of supporting piers before being replaced

Spherical sliding bearings located in underground pits, allowing for minor movement of the piers

What Was the Problem?

The previously installed concrete recess covers were cumbersome, preventing easy inspection and maintenance access to the bearing pits. They also exhibited major fatigue.

A solution was required in specific sizes with a securing mechanism to prevent unauthorised removal of the covers, while allowing easy access when essential maintenance was required.

Bespoke composite trench covers designed with encapsulating frames

As the covers would potentially experience both pedestrian foot traffic and the occasional vehicular wheel the covers had to be designed for both environments.

Solution Fibrelite worked in close collaboration with the designing engineers (Ramboll) and the installation contractor (Pro Steel) to design, manufacture and deliver a custom made covering solution for the 15 piers, totalling 500 individual GRP trench covers encapsulated within purpose designed frames. The bespoke GRP trench covers were equipped with locking device to prevent unauthorised access.

Handling pedestrian and vehicle traffic was achieved by supplying C250 (25 tonne) load rated covers with a unique anti-slip/skid tread pattern surface.

Results Fibrelite’s GRP composite access covers have an inherent resistance to corrosion, offering a maintenance free ‘fit-and-forget’ solution.

This means when you fit Fibrelites, they will continue to perform over time and retain their snug fit, minimising water ingress.

When essential maintenance is required, the lightweight trench covers can quickly, safely and easily be removed using the custom ‘key’ and Fibrelite’s ergonomically designed lifting handles. Fibrelite’s GRP covers also have anti-slip properties equivalent to a modern high grade road surface whether wet or dry, far exceeding health and safety advisory limits [independent test reports] providing a safe walking surface. All Fibrelite access covers are BS EN 124 load test compliant, meaning consistent high quality is assured.

For more case studies, visit the Fibrelite website

Lightweight tailor made Fibrelite covers set into frame around supporting pier

Securing system moulded into covers which locks into frame, preventing unauthorised access

Replacement bearings located in the underground pits, covered by a continuous set of access covers, allowing for the minor movement of the pier

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 15

Feature

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY VAT REVERSE CHARGE

By Adam Prince, Vice President of Product Management, Compliance, Brexit and Migration at Sage Undeserved it may be, but the construction industry suffers from a reputation for tax avoidance. It only takes a few cowboys who offer a discount for cash to tarnish all the others, which is why the sector has welcomed efforts to combat tax avoidance through the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). Now, the government is looking to tackle VAT fraud within the sector, a problem that is estimated to cost the Exchequer over £100m a year.

To address the issue, HMRC is bringing in the VAT domestic reverse charge for building and construction services. This may seem like another complex and time-consuming piece of box-ticking for an industry that is already beleaguered

by Brexit uncertainty, skills shortages and rising costs. But in truth, the VAT reverse charge is both simple to understand and – for those that put in the work – easy to implement.

Despite that, however, the reality is that many construction businesses are illprepared. For example, the Federation of Master Builders recently found that over two-thirds of SMEs in the sector hadn’t even heard of the charge – while of those that had, only 33 per cent were prepared for the changes.

As a result, HMRC recently announced that the compliance deadline will be pushed out to next year to give businesses more time to get their processes in order. The

extension just underlines how important it is to prepare in advance for regulatory change, whether that means the regulator providing enough information or SMEs working out how to comply on time. A lack of preparation can cause costly delays and even result in fines.

The good news is that construction companies now have an extra 12 months to implement compliance programmes. To help them succeed, this guide to the VAT Reverse Charge provides everything you need to get your business ready.

What is the Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge?

The goal of HMRC’s change is to fight against ‘missing trader’ fraud, where contractors receive high net amounts of VAT from their customers before going missing and pocketing money that’s owed to the taxman.

The problem stems from the fact that construction is a many-stepped process with multiple contractors involved along the way. Currently VAT is charged by the sub-contractor to various subcontractors and contractors in the chain of construction before finally being charged to the endcustomer, providing plenty of scope for missing trader fraud.

When the reverse charge comes into effect this October, the liability to account to HMRC for the VAT will shift from the supplier of goods and services to the recipient with the exception of the end user.

In other words, a contractor will no longer

pay VAT over to their sub-contractor and will instead pay it directly to HMRC via their own VAT return.

Who is affected?

The Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge applies to any businesses that are registered for VAT in the UK and supply or receive specified services that are reported under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). Under the CIS, deductions are made from payments to subcontractors by contractors and are passed onto HMRC as advance payments towards the subcontractor’s tax and national insurance.

Although contractors have to register for the scheme, subcontractors may or may not be officially registered so need to ensure they understand that if they provide specified supplies which are reported under the CIS then they will have to apply the reverse charge, whether they’re registered for the CIS or not.

There are exemptions, of course. The reverse charge should not be applied to supplies to end users and intermediary supplier businesses. End users are deemed to be consumers or final purchasers of building and construction services and may or may not be registered for VAT and CIS, Intermediary suppliers are VAT and CIS registered businesses that are connected or linked to end users.

In all, the Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge is estimated to affect up to 150,000 businesses in the construction and business sector.

What is included?

The reverse charge will apply to supplies of building and construction services (with the exception of those that are zero rated which are excluded from the new legislation) that also need to be reported under CIS. These are referred to as specified supplies and a full list of what services are included and excluded are included in the HMRC guidance.

However, there is one significant difference between CIS and the reverse charge.

Under CIS, payments to net-status subcontractors are made on the service only but the reverse charge will apply to the whole supply including any materials.

However, supplies of solely goods with no associated service are excluded from the reverse charge.

Although this distinction may seem like an added complication it’s intended to ease the burden of the impending legislation. In fact, to try and simplify the implementation, HMRC has specified that if any element of a supply is subject to the reverse charge then companies should simply apply the reverse charge to everything within the supply.

This means invoices shouldn’t need to be apportioned and the reverse charge can either be applied to everything or nothing.

16 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Feature How does it work?

Getting your business ready

In practice, the supplier will need to check if the customer is registered for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and is VAT registered. If they are, then the supplier simply issues a slightly different VAT invoice that clearly indicates that the supplies are subject to the Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge, and that it’s the customer who is required to account for the VAT.

With an extra year’s grace before the Reverse Charge comes into effect, construction businesses need to take concrete steps to ensure that they have the systems in place to ensure they can implement the reverse charge.

While the VAT amount should be clearly stated, this must not be included in the total amount charged and the supplier will no longer include the VAT value in box 1 of their VAT return. The recipient must include this amount in their own VAT return in box 1 and effectively pay it over to HMRC rather than to the supplier. If the supplier is invoicing a customer who is not VAT or CIS registered then there are no changes to the way invoices are raised or VAT is accounted for.

When does the Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge apply?

Following the HMRC extension, the reverse charge requirement will begin on the 1st October 2020. This means that in most cases the reverse charge procedure should be applied to any invoice raised after this date even if it relates to work carried out before 1st October. For further explanation on when to apply the reverse charge please refer to the HMRC guidance.

The latest versions of CIS-specific software from reputable vendors should take the Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge into account and guide businesses through the required steps to ensure that they are compliant with the new rules. But not all software is equally capable or up-to-date, which is why it’s vital that construction businesses check their systems to ensure that they have the right tools in place before the deadline.

an application for payment to your client to request additional costs, while ensuring that the Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge is applied where required. The same goes for creating reports such as cost-value reconciliation and actual versus budgeted contract costing: the right software will save businesses significant amounts of time in hunting through paper records or spreadsheets.

The Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge isn’t something to be feared; and similar schemes have worked well in other countries. Reviewing your software today won’t just mean that you’re compliant with the new rules when they come into effect; it will ensure that you’re prepared for other incoming changes.

For example, you’ll need to check that your software can verify CIS statuses and that it gives you instant access to completely accurate data on subcontractors. Small to medium-sized businesses should also check that they have the ability to claim retentions held or owing without having to search manually through massive spreadsheets; they must also be able to easily chase up payments and keep on top of multiple applications across different projects.

Since variations are an inevitable part of any construction job, it’s also crucial that your CIS software can help you to send out

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Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 17

25/11/2019 14:07:37

‘Typical’ conventional use of the Alphadock in a reinforced concrete wall

The Schöck Alphadock product

NEW PRODUCT FROM SCHÖCK – FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE WALLS The Alphadock is an innovative new addition to the Schöck range of solutions for minimising thermal bridges in building structures.

This new product thermally insulates connections for reinforced concrete walls and columns, providing optimum thermal insulation and maximum load bearing capacity. Thermal bridges in concrete wall and column connections cause significant energy losses, making it difficult to achieve the highest energy standards in new buildings. Additionally they present a risk area for condensation and mould growth that can cause structural damage and occupant health issues. The Schöck Alphadock dramatically reduces the effect of thermal bridges in those areas where previously the problem was very difficult to combat.

The first product installation in the UK is at the landmark Keybridge residential development, in the heart of London’s Vauxhall regeneration area. The scheme combines elements of Manhattan architecture with London’s prestigious mansion block style, offering 595 new homes across six individual buildings. One of the buildings, Keybridge Lofts, which stands at 37 storeys, is the UK’s tallest residential brick tower and there are exposed brick-clad columns which span two floors and tie back into the structure at the very top of the building.

The requirement was to provide a thermally broken base fixing for the columns. Previously Schöck have offered a hybrid solution involving the steel-to-steel modular Isokorb, combined with a specially designed base plate. This formed a thermally broken base fixing, which was cast into the slab and to which a further Isokorb product was attached. Allowing a steel column to be installed, which was then clad in brickwork. The top of the column being retained and tied-in using standard Isokorb elements to provide a fully thermally broken solution. The method was effective, but not the most efficient in terms of time and cost. Now with the Schöck Alphadock, installation is easy. It is an important new solution as linear thermal bridges at reinforced concrete walls and columns are often neglected – and the resulting energy loss simply compensated for in the thermal calculations.

The Keybridge development

For further information on the new Alphadock product contact Schöck on 01865 290 890; or download the brochure at www.schoeck.co.uk

18 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Project Kier completes £10m WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre at the University of Warwick Kier, a leading provider of construction and infrastructure services, has completed the £10m Degree Apprenticeship Centre for WMG and handed it over to the client, the University of Warwick.

The project was completed on time and has seen the construction of a threestorey 2,400m² development centre. It includes a number of teaching rooms, breakout space for students, employee offices, a laboratory and a wind tunnel to be used for transportation aerodynamics.

The centre will provide up to 1,000 student places and provide training programmes up to Level 7 (equivalent to a Master’s Degree).

Throughout construction, Kier has committed a number of social value activities giving 8% of the contract value back through social value. This includes: • Creating three part-time jobs • Providing three apprenticeship opportunities (40 weeks in total)

• Hosting three work experience opportunities • 10 people days of technical training • 50 WMG Academy for Young Engineers student site visits • 82% of spend with companies in a 50mile radius Mark Pausey, managing director at Kier Regional Building Central, said: “Handing this project over on time and on budget to the client is great. Throughout this project, we have engaged heavily with the local community and have enjoyed delivering social value to the area.

“We are thrilled to have reached this completion, I look forward to seeing the centre flourish and to continue our strong relationship with the University of Warwick and WMG.” Sue Parr, Director of Degree Apprenticeships, WMG comments “The iconic WMG Degree Apprenticeship Centre, delivered in partnership with the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Midlands Engine, demonstrates a step change in design philosophy to make a world class study environment that is absolutely in keeping with modern delivery for industry.

It has been wonderful to welcome the first intake of apprentices being able to provide a dynamic and professional environment in which to study and to develop the skills needed for their future careers and for the businesses in which they work.”

Tony Davies Senior Project Manager UoW Estates:

This is a landmark project for the University and I’m delighted this striking design was delivered on time and within budget

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 19

Project News

Willmott Dixon lands £19m academy school in Yardley Wood Willmott Dixon has added to its extensive track-record of education projects in Birmingham by being awarded the £19m contract to deliver a new three storey secondary academy school in Yardley Wood.

Christ Church, Church of England, Secondary Academy – which is due to open in 2021 – is being built by the Department for Education (DfE) to create a further 1,150 school places in the region.

Designed by architecture firm CPMG Architects, the new school will comprise of a pick-up and drop-off area for pupils, a sports hall, two full-size football pitches and one FA standard 3G pitch. When complete the school will accommodate 900 pupils and a further 250 students in the sixth form The contract extends Willmott Dixon’s track record in Birmingham building places where people can learn life-long skills. Other schemes include University of Birmingham’s School of Engineering and its Teaching and Learning Building as well as projects for Birmingham City University and the creation of the National College of High Speed Rail. The company’s focus on Midlands growth also saw it recently open two Birmingham-based offices in Snowhill for its construction and interior fit-out teams.

Dan Doyle, operations director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are pleased to be working with the DfE to create a new contemporary building which will meet the needs of the local community. This new building will enhance the current area, provide state of

the art facilities for students and create an outstanding school for Yardley Wood.”

Constructed under the Education & Skills Funding Agency High Value Contractors Framework, the new building has been designed to be both elegant and sophisticated, using robust and durable materials that will stand the test of time.

Working closely with the customer, CPMG has established a design concept based on the Academy’s new branding, introducing a calming colour palette of neutral colours, interspersed with feature elements in the Academy’s signature blue and yellow.

Traditional materials have been used in a contemporary way to create a clean and simple aesthetic, whilst providing robustness and ease of maintenance including; a concrete raft ground floor, traditional brick and block wall construction with feature of render and façade cladding to express the academy’s identity.

The Birmingham Diocesan MultiAcademy Trust said: “We are delighted that the building is underway and are certain that Willmott Dixon will deliver a school that will open new opportunities for the young people of Yardley Wood.”

Sara Harraway, director at CPMG Architects, said: “The design will create a positive, bright, robust and attractive environment for the education of the next generation of students and will promote a sense of calm and sophistication. Large, high windows will be integrated into the design to optimise daylight - just one of the many elements ensuring the wellbeing of the building’s users.”

Willmott Dixon believes it has a purpose beyond profit and has recently achieved its target of enhancing the life chances of 10,000 young people by 2020, in 2018 it was also awarded the Queen’s award for Enterprise in the category of promoting opportunity through social mobility, its third Queen’s award for Enterprise in total.

Kier installs brewing vessels at new Everards breweryd Kier has reached a major project milestone in the construction of the new Everards brewery in Leicestershire after lifting the brewery vessels into place.

Working collaboratively with its client Everards, Kier was able to use cranes to lift the 16 vessels into place, eight of which had a height of 5m, with the larger eight reaching 8m in height.

The installation of the brewery vessels prepares the building for the next milestone, which will be in early 2020 when the brewing tanks will be installed, ready for the completion of the building which will be open in autumn 2020. Upon opening the brewery will have the capacity to produce more than 4.3 million pints of beer every year.

Everards has invested £5.5m into the brewing equipment alone which was supplied by industry leaders Briggs of Burton, which is working with Everards on the design and engineering of the new brewery.

Reaching this milestone is a very proud moment for the Everards project team and vital towards us completing phase 1B of the project. Looking forward to the new year we’ll be installing the brewery tanks and continuing to deliver the project ready for the opening in autumn 2020.

20 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Project News Neil Truelove, project manager at Kier, commented: “Reaching this milestone is a very proud moment for the Everards project team and vital towards us completing phase 1B of the project. Looking forward to the new year we’ll be installing the brewery tanks and continuing to deliver the project ready for the opening in autumn 2020.”

Stephen Gould, Managing Director of Everards said: “We were inspired by the type of interesting spaces they have in America and Australia, where you see lots of bars attached to breweries. So, we set out to create a vibrant space where people will be able to enjoy a pint looking directly at the brewery and this flexible space will also play host to tasting sessions, brewery tours and many other events. There will also be a store where visitors can purchase their favourite beers to enjoy at home.”

Kier is currently constructing Phase 1B of the Everards Meadows development and previously delivered Phase 1A which opened in July. Phase 1A consisted of the construction of a cycle centre, a café, a new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the River Soar connected by over 3km of cycle ways, carparking facilities and landscaping. Phase 1A was recently awarded the ‘Regeneration of the Year’ award at the ProCon Leicestershire Awards.

As part of Phase 1B, Kier is constructing 862m² of new office accommodation, 1454m² of brewery floor area and 1054m² of retail, food and drink space. Works are due to be completed in late summer 2020.

GLEEDS STARTS WORK ON NEW FACILITY FOR SARSTEDT LIMITED Construction work has officially started on a major new base in Leicestershire for laboratory and medical equipment supplier, Sarstedt Limited. The facility, at Optimus Point, was officially granted planning permission in the summer following the appointment of International property and construction consultancy Gleeds by Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd. Gleeds acts as the employer’s agent and project manager.

The new distribution centre will be located on 5.3 acres of land at Plot 10 Optimus Point, Glenfield and requires the construction of a 61,640 square foot unit including ancillary two-storey offices and core facilities. Other requirements of the site include associated external parking, a service yard, and landscaped areas.

The facility is the latest addition to Optimus Point, an established 65-acre development scheme that sits next to Junction 21a of the M1, featuring a range of local and national industrial warehouse operators.

Sarstedt Limited is currently based in Beaumont Leys however a bigger site in order to expand. Construction is already underway and is expected to take 36-weeks, with anticipated completion date of 1 May 2020.

Cat Hartley, Group Manager for Planning and Economic Development, Blaby District Council, said: “Sarstedt’s move to Optimus Point will deliver significant and permanent economic benefits to the District of Blaby. Up to 60 jobs will be retained locally. They join other businesses at Optimus Point who have relocated or

become new members of our thriving business community, making the District of Blaby a great place to live, work and visit.”

Anthony Cork, Director, Gleeds, commented, “This prime industrial and logistics space offers significant potential to satisfy occupier demand in a strategic location. There is no doubt that this new base will help Sarstedt improve its storage, logistics, and distribution with enhanced and modernised facilities, and it’s great to be starting on site.” He went on to add.

Through our appointment as Employers Agent, we will look to use our significant skills in this sector to deliver a successful project for all parties.

Henry Henson, Development Manager at Wilson Bowden said, “We are pleased that another local Leicestershire based company has decided to relocate to our Optimus Point development site, following in the footsteps of DPD, Boden, Everards, James Latham and Geary’s Bakeries. These deals demonstrate that there has been extensive pent up demand by local occupiers, looking for high quality industrial/ warehouse accommodation within the local area and Optimus Point offers them this ideal opportunity.”

Working closely with Sarstedt Limited and developing their detailed design from the outset has enabled the project team to offer a complete design and build solution that satisfies Sarstedt Limited’s ambitions for future growth.

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 21

Project

CYCLEWAY 34 FM Conway’s Civil Engineering division is working with Transport for London (TfL) to deliver the Cycleway 34 project in West London.

The project involves creating a 5.5m wide cycleway, including a segregated footway, with a new asphalt surface alongside the westbound carriageway of the A40.

Delivering Innovation The new cycleway will add 3.5km of protected cycleway to the nation’s capital with work set to complete in early 2020.

The works will be completed in 400m segments, starting at Wood Lane and then moving west to Acton in a sequential manner.

TfL’s Project Manager, Daniel Wilson, said: “Our work includes removal of existing A40 footway and verge, with all concrete sent for recycling at FM Conway’s own recycling plant. Excavation to the right line and level then follows, with the placement of granular sub-base after.”

Utilising collaboration across FM Conway, asphalt for the cycleway’s base and surface was supplied by the company’s Heathrow asphalt plant and implemented the Surfacing team, highlighting the business’ ability to self-deliver.

The project will also feature an environmental upgrade, with additional tree planting being installed in previous parking areas and verge areas.

Martin added: “The cycle lane is separated from the footway by cycle delineation kerbs to assist the visually impaired. We’re also installing new granite kerbs for the A40 with trees being planted in verges as necessary.”

Challenges and Solutions Situated on one of Britain’s busiest roads in the A40, the project’s main challenge was working alongside high traffic levels, whilst maintaining access to the site.

FM Conway’s Civil Engineering Contracts Manager, Martin Phipps, said: “Managing the traffic, gaining access to our sites, getting muck away and delivering plant and materials are virtually all daily logistical challenges.

Being part of FM Conway means we can draw on substantial in-house resources for nearly everything that we need, crucially, when we need it.”

Careful traffic management was required on the project to ensure health and safety was paramount to the team, but also allowing for the space to work. To provide this, TfL were able to close off the A40’s west bound inside lane.

Daniel added: “We are protective of our strategic road network and don’t easily give up space – like the A40’s westbound inside lane for instance. When we do allow lane closures, we examine very carefully all plans to manage traffic and reserve the right to alter schedules in light of changing circumstances.”

This approach also enabled the general public, pedestrians and cyclists, to remain safe whilst works were carried out.

The vehicles mix concrete on site to the exact quantities required, meaning there are no leftover metres of ready mixed. There’s no waste, of either concrete or money.

The team also implemented an Asset Varioguard steel barrier to protect the team working by the road.

Martin explained: “Keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe is a key priority, with temporary traffic light controlled crossings of the A40 installed where they’re needed.”

Outcomes FM Conway’s self-delivery was also crucial in helping to deliver a successful project. By liaising within its own teams, FM Conway could easily adapt to the task at hand, should any sudden programme changes arise.

FM Conway’s resource efficiency was also highlighted as a major benefit to the scheme. In particular, the use of the company’s own Reimer volumetric concrete mixer proved to be indispensable.

Martin said: “The vehicles mix concrete on site to the exact quantities required, meaning there are no left-over metres of ready mixed.

There’s no waste, of either concrete or money.”

Value:

£3.9m

Client:

Transport for London

Division:

Civil Engineering

Other Divisions:

Surfacing, Aggregates and Asphalt, Traffic Management

22 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Infrastructure

Understanding the Government’s Infrastructure Priorities Greg Fernie, CEO of utilities and infrastructure specialist Ipsum Group, discusses the importance of updating the UK’s energy infrastructure and the difficult job left for National Grid in meeting the needs of customers today whilst making crucial decisions for the future.

“National Grid projects that electricity demand is likely to increase significantly by 2050.

However, there is difficulty in predicting how severe the demand will be.

“Obvious increases in demand can be attributed to the uptake of electric vehicles and a deviation from natural gases for heating. With constant developments and innovations that can impact public energy consumption, there is no sure way of knowing what the energy world will look like in 2050.

“In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. This government led target of net-zero emissions puts clean growth at the heart of our modern industrial strategy, monopolising on the economic opportunities of becoming a greener economy.

“While the electrification of heating and transport through low-carbon sources will help the government’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050, there is still much to be done among a breadth of sectors to near that target. Agriculture, land use, waste, as well as industry and consumer buying habits, all have a key role in making net-zero emissions by 2050 achievable.

“In order to meet the 2050 goal, the government also needs to invest into upgrades for the current energy infrastructure.

Our outdated infrastructure “The majority of current electricity distribution and transmission networks were built over the last 60 years with the sole purpose of transporting electricity from power stations to homes and businesses.

“The expected life of electricity assets can typically be between 30 and 50 years, but some can live beyond that. There are a number of factors such as weather conditions, third party damage, how well they have been maintained, as well as investment decisions made by electricity companies that all affect the lifespan of assets.

“However, developments in technologies, the introduction of new policies, and changes in consumer demand, have all meant that these networks have to operate very differently than originally intended when they were first built post-World War II. Upgrading the UK energy infrastructure “The priority for the UK energy infrastructure should be to invest wisely and efficiently in a way that meets short, medium, and long-term needs.

“Balancing the cost of maintaining old infrastructure, retrofitting new technologies onto them and replacing the worst condition assets with the right long-term solution is all made even more difficult in a changing landscape.

“The funding for all of this comes from customers’ energy bills and there is already huge political pressure to see reductions rather than an increase in this area.

“Due to this, It has been recognised as ‘good practice’ to extend the life of electrical infrastructure, instead of spending customers’ money replacing old assets with brand new infrastructure. Some companies have adopted strategies to replace equipment when it fails.

However, there are still billions required to maintain, replace and upgrade the current infrastructure.

“There is always a fine balance to be made between sweating your assets and replacing them too early. In most situations, the cost of electricity assets failing is huge for a number of reasons. Firstly, this brings huge disruption to customers, secondly there are health and safety risks associated with faulty electrical infrastructure as well as environmental impacts, and finally the financial cost of repair and replacement.

Balancing the cost of maintaining old infrastructure, retrofitting new technologies onto them and replacing the worst condition assets with the right long-term solution is all made even more difficult in a changing landscape.

The solution “There are a number of solutions that have been developed to improve the efficiency of electrical infrastructure which can range from being relatively simple to quite complex innovative solutions.

large investment costs that would otherwise be required in order to reinforce the infrastructure to meet demand are reduced.

“The companies who have really embraced innovation and new technologies as well as putting customers at the heart of their strategies are likely to be making the best investment decisions. This all plays a key part in moving towards a low-carbon economy and having infrastructure that can facilitate emerging technologies and renewables.

“My personal experience tells me that there is still a lot of money to be saved through having better visibility of asset data and performance which leads to making better investment decisions. Every time an asset fails there is a cost, so the ultimate goal has to be preventing failure through better condition data or the use of remote monitor and sensor technology.

Looking ahead “Since the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment was published in July 2018, there is a clear drive towards decarbonisation through the number of renewable energy schemes that are currently in planning or being developed.

“Councils and private customers are also looking to install charging points for electric vehicles. Electricity companies are installing technology onto their networks to accommodate renewable technology and the monitoring of their low voltage networks so that they can begin to understand how this affects performance and demand. This shows commitment is being made to long-term transport strategies through the volume of enabling and diversionary works that are being undertaken.”

Ipsum Group is a utilities and infrastructure specialist that delivers efficiencies and drives values through innovation with specialisms in wastewater and drainage, electricity and telecoms.

Greg Fernie

“We would always recommend that companies continue to carry out periodic inspections of their assets so that their condition and health can be assessed and recorded in an asset management system. This enables companies to prioritise their spend on replacing or refurbishing their poorest condition assets, and delaying spending money on old assets that are still performing beyond their expected life.

“More advanced solutions include the use of monitoring equipment or sensor technology that allows intervention to be made in advance of an asset failing and becoming damaged.

“Some companies have also incentivised large energy consumers to reduce their usage during times of peak demand, commonly known as Demand Side Response (DSR). This means that

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 23

People On The Move

NEW YEAR NEW TEAM MANUFACTURER GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Leading roof tile manufacturer, Russell Roof Tiles has kicked off 2020 by boosting its team as part of strategic succession planning to support business growth.

In the past six months the company has welcomed eight new starters which includes four brand new roles (including two key senior appointments).

Russell Roof Tiles is the largest independent manufacturer of concrete derivatives in the UK pitched roofing market.

Employing 160 staff at three sites totalling 22 acres in Scotland and the Midlands, the award-winning firm manufactures nearly one million roofing products per week.

The manufacturer has also continued its dedication to nurturing graduate talent. Five of the employees are recent graduates and will be able to take advantage of a significant training programme.

The newly-filled roles will be crucial in supporting the business to meet the highest levels of customer service. An IT Manager has been appointed for the first time to further develop business growth, while a brandnew Management Accountant role has been created, enabling the Finance Director to focus on other pivotal areas of the business.

A new Business Support Administrator has also been vital in helping the Business Support Manager to alleviate vital areas of the business, including sustainable initiatives and computer system development. The Administrator is one of six new employees to join the administration, logistics and customer service team in Burton, as part of ongoing plans to maintain and increase the level of service Russell Roof Tiles is providing customers.

Andrew Hayward, Managing Director at Russell Roof Tiles said: “Russell Roof Tiles has enjoyed a tremendous 12 months of success and 2020 is expected to be no different. As a result, we have recruited a number of talented individuals to ensure we are meeting the highest levels of customer service, while also planning for future growth.

“Each of our new starters will be able to take advantage of a dedicated development programme which will help them prosper within their career at Russell Roof Tiles. Some of our new recruits have already benefitted from hands-on training and courses, allowing them to play a fundamental role in supporting customer demand and driving the business forward to deliver excellent roofing solutions. I am delighted to kick-start the year with a strengthened talented team.”

PRP CONSULTING ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS CELEBRATE 35 YEARS WITH TWO NEW DIRECTORS The Leicestershire and Northamptonshire based firm PRP Consulting Engineers and Surveyors, celebrates 35 years in business by announcing the appointment of two new directors to their current management board of six, showing that the company has no plans to slow down.

PRP undertake design, planning and management of all types of residential and commercial construction projects. The company was established in 1985 from a home office and has since had an impressive journey.

Like most businesses who have witnessed several decades, it has not been without its challenges, particularly when the construction industry was hit by the recession in the late 2000s. Despite those challenges, the board’s ambition and motivation has never faltered. With a head count of 34 employees, PRP is stronger than ever and looking forward to a bright future.

The appointment of PRP’s two new directors forms part of a strategic plan to achieve their long term goals for the business. The newly appointed directors, James Martin and Himenshu Patel, have both been promoted from within the company

24 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

to join Samantha Maunder, Matthew Sharlott, Barry Smith, Jack Norris, Colin Lambert and Dan Edwards on the board.

Himenshu Patel joined the business in 2011 as a graduate and worked his way up to the role of senior engineer. Himenshu is not the first graduate to be promoted through the ranks to become a director. He joins directors Barry Smith who progressed from a graduate role in 1991 and Matthew Sharlott who originally joined PRP as a trainee surveyor back in 2005.

Promoting from within the business where possible is an important PRP company value as they strongly believe in forming guided career paths and supporting growth within the company. James Martin has been with PRP for two years, bringing with him a wealth of experience working for consulting engineers in London and the West Midlands.

PRP has continued to actively encourage graduate schemes and regularly sponsors students from Loughborough University, with whom they have a long standing relationship with.

The company’s recruitment plans will be ongoing well into 2020 as they continue to add to the PRP family.

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The Care Leaver Covenant

THE CARE LEAVER COVENANT

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR The Construction Sector underpins our economy and society as we invest in our future: building the homes we live in, the schools and hospitals we rely on, the leisure facilities we demand and the offices, factories, transport and energy infrastructure that keep the wheels of industry turning.

Employing nearly 1 in 10 working people in the UK, few sectors have the same potential to provide large numbers of high-skilled, well-paid jobs, now and in future.

However, the sector is not without its challenges when it comes to the skills agenda; an ageing workforce heading towards retirement, large numbers of EU Nationals who due to the uncertainty created by Brexit may leave the country. A dwindling supply of young people who for a variety of reasons are not being drawn to the sector; many of them not aware of the variety of jobs available in the sector or perceive the ones they do know can only offer them an undesirable or uncertain future. All these factors are compounding the skills gaps and shortages regularly reported by the Construction Industry Training Board and employer representative groups.

Against this backdrop, finding new and diverse pools of talent is high on the sector’s agenda and that’s why there is no better time for the industry to be engaging with the Care Leaver Covenant.

The Care Leaver Covenant (‘Covenant’) is focused on helping an often-overlooked group of people within our society: care experienced young people. Launched by the Government in October 2018, the Covenant is asking organisations of all kinds to make a public commitment and take practical action to help these young people progress into happy and fulfilled independent lives. This

help can come in many forms from offering routeways into employment through to support with managing finance and finding accommodation.

Each year around 10,000 young people leave foster and residential and start to build their independent lives. A significant number will be interested in construction and have the qualities to become skilled operatives, technicians and managers within the sector.

Unfortunately, and too often, these young people lack the networks and support they need - including careers advice and guidance - to make informed decisions about opportunities and the next steps they should take to build a career in this sector.

So from launch the Covenant Team have been making links with major employers in the sector like Engie, Kier, Lendlease, Redrow and Wilmot Dixon, and have been developing good practice that can be shared throughout the sector.

Whilst these companies are working on hugely varied projects with different skill requirements, they have quickly recognised the benefits of collaborative working with the Covenant Team to identify new talent and take practical action to put their Social Responsibility Strategies and Policy into action. To start they have all made a very public commitment to support the initiative and are promoting their career and job opportunities, holding dedicated Open Days for Care Leavers, identifying and ‘ring fencing’ work experience placements, which could lead to apprenticeships and other full time employment opportunities. And some are ‘going above and beyond’ the skills agenda for example Engie are supporting care leavers by using their expertise and resources to improve the accommodation and living conditions of these young people when they make their first step into independent living.

We are committed to creating a diverse and talented workforce and importantly helping previously underrepresented groups reach their full potential in the business.

Outlined below are two case studies that are designed to inspire and motivate others to become involved in this valuable initiative.

Case Study 1. Kier Kier is a leading UK construction and infrastructure services company, providing specialist design and build capabilities. The company take pride in bringing specialist knowledge, sector-leading experience and workable solutions for clients on a huge range of projects.

It is also a company who recognise the importance of attracting, retaining and developing a diverse workforce that reflects society and develops initiatives that attract and enable talented individual to enter the sector. The company also realise that attracting diverse talent is only part of the challenge and that it must have in place approaches that enable underrepresented groups to not only join but to stay, thrive and succeed.

This approach is evidenced in the company’s commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant and the opportunity that they have posted on the Covenant website ‘Whether you are a school leaver, student or graduate Kier can give you the opportunity to develop exciting careers.

With over 2,000 genuinely different jobs within the Kier Group, the diversity of our business means that there are career opportunities to suit everyone.

We are always looking for bright, talented individuals to join our business from a wide range of backgrounds, to bring fresh thinking to our business.

If you are enthusiastic about finding solutions to get a job done for the benefit of customers and communities; are good at taking on board others’ views and working as part of a team, to achieve more and you’re prepared to embrace new ways of doing things, with innovation and technology – then a job in Kier could be for you.’

When Care Leavers apply for these opportunities which may include Apprenticeships, Industrial Placements as well as graduate roles: Civil Engineer, Quantity Surveyor, Construction Manager, Design Engineer, Design Manager – they are given extra support with their application and interview.

In addition, the recruitment team have organised dedicated webinars to brief prospective applicants and to answer any questions they may have.

Kim Thomson Early Careers Recruitment Business Partner and key contact for the Covenant sums up the approach of Kier ‘We are committed to creating a diverse and talented workforce and importantly helping previously underrepresented groups reach their full potential in the business. This is why we

26 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

The Care Leaver Covenant have signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant and will work proactively with the Care Leaver Covenant Team to make a difference in this sector’.

Each year around 10,000 young people leave foster and residential and start to build their independent lives.

Case Study 2. Engie ENGIE is a leading energy and services company focused on three key activities: Production and Supply of Urban Energy, Services and Regeneration. With 17,000 employees the company works in close partnership with local authorities, private sector funders, landowners and registered providers, to deliver thousands of much needed new homes and repairs across the country each year.

As a major contributor to local economic development, Engie are also passionate about creating vibrant, efficient and sustainable communities, and making a real difference to people’s lives – including Care Leavers.

Not surprisingly these aims, and values led Engie to become an early signatory of the Care Leaver Covenant and their Social Value Manager Claire Preston has been a champion of the initiative from the outset.

Claire says ‘Engie work within the community, listening and responding to community needs so signing up to the Care Leaver Covenant was a natural thing to do. Not only are we investing in the future of an important group within society, but we are also identifying new employees to join the Engie Group’ Whilst Engie have played an active role in making the work prospects of care leavers better by offering skills training leading to industry CSCS qualifications, Placements, Apprenticeships and other employment opportunities.

They have also taken positive action in helping care leavers improve their living environment through their exemplar ‘DIY SOS Project’ initiative.

Working in partnership with the Care Covenant Team, Engie completed their first project in March 2019 for a Care Leaver called Katie. Katie was 18 at the time and planning to move into a one bedroom flat in Leeds that badly needed refurbishment.

Engie came to Katie’s aid by sending one of their qualified painters who completely redecorated the flat ensuring Katie moved into a clean and welcoming environment.

Katie summed up her happiness ‘ I can’t thank Engie enough for giving my flat a complete makeover because when I first saw the state of my flat, I was a bit overwhelmed as I knew I could not get it redecorated in the foreseeable future’ She went on to say ‘ I have now moved in and am absolutely over the moon with my first home since leaving foster care and I can’t thank Engie enough’ Lucy, a 22-year-old care leaver who in her short life, has already moved 27 times and expecting her first baby had a very similar

experience. Lucy summed up on behalf of herself and other Care Leavers ‘Thank you team Engie – thank you’ Engie have now completed 7 DIY SOS Projects and Claire Preston the Social Value Manager has confirmed ‘that the team at Engie plan on doing further volunteering days, to carry out small DIY Projects for care leavers helping them achieve independent living’.

In recognition for this work and Claire’s own personal efforts the pilot was recognised earlier in the year by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families on Behalf of The Department of Employment of Education who presented her with a certificate to recognise her and the team as Sector Based Champions of the Care Leaver Covenant.

For more information – contact the Care Leaver Covenant Team 0800 077 3557 and visit our website mycovenant.org.uk

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 27

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Feature

Helen Frape, Business Analyst Change & Innovation at GCP Applied Technologies explains how her journey to revolutionising concrete delivery management began.

I first ventured into the world of construction back in 2001, when I joined Lafarge as a Business Analyst. At the time, if you’d told me concrete would become my area of passion and expertise, I probably would have laughed at you. But my first project was to help the company prepare their people, processes and systems for EN206 – the European legislation governing concrete. This gave me an introduction to the concrete sector, and I could immediately see the opportunity to truly innovate to make an impact. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Right from the beginning, I was fascinated by the way concrete is produced and the challenges this incurs. This curiosity led to my next role as operational performance manager for Lafarge Readymix and I spent the next 10 years trying to reduce the variability in the manufacturing side of concrete production. I was always thwarted when the product was driven away in the back of a truck. At the point the load entered the vehicle, we lost all control and visibility.

All my team’s hard work could be ruined during that journey and there was nothing I could do about it.

The problem is that freshly batched concrete is the start of complex chemical reaction known as ‘Hydration’. It is a material that requires precise handling from batching to point of delivery, however it rarely gets the positive attention it requires and this neglect during the delivery stage can result in concrete that is not fit for purpose arriving at the job and in many cases being poured.

Fortunately, about four years ago, I heard about the VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system developed by GCP

Applied Technologies, and about a pilot that Tarmac were running on 100 trucks in London. The system works by installing IoT sensors on ready-mix trucks, enabling us to measure, manage, monitor and record multiple attributes of the concrete inside.

The result? Through real-time management and control of the concrete slump and monitoring of temperature during transport, we could achieve improved concrete quality at the point of delivery.

As soon as I found out about it, I could see it was the perfect solution to the problem I was facing on a daily basis and would give me the visibility I needed to completely control the concrete delivery process, including the most critical part of the concrete production process. It enables all interested parties to see what is happening to the load after it leaves the plant. But, most importantly, it manages the load by keeping the concrete at the specified ‘slump’, so that it is ready to pour upon arrival at the job site. Aside from providing consistent concrete quality, it can also be used to increase productivity and provide data control.

I immediately got involved in the project and the system was even better than I’d imagined. I became a strong advocate for the technology, and could see its potential to be an industry game changer, providing end-to-end process control. I was so passionate about it, that two and a half years ago I joined the GCP team, and have lived and breathed the VERIFI® system ever since!

Since joining the GCP team, one of the things I like the most is seeing how data can quickly become knowledge. The VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system provides a contractor app with detailed truck and concrete records with real-time viewing of where the truck is and the quality of the concrete, which in turn can help improve job site planning.

By enabling tighter control over the monitoring, measuring and managing of construction project delivery, I believe one day this cutting edge technology could even be developed further and adapted for use across other areas of the industry to optimise delivery processes, avoiding delays and improving efficiency. This in turn would help reduce carbon emissions, save time, energy, and money - and I think it could truly revolutionise the way the industry works. I am really excited to see where it takes us next!

analytical skills to the table. The industry has moved on a lot in the past ten to fifteen years and it’s not just a ‘man’s world’ anymore. However, more work still needs to be done to get this message across to the next generation, from school age and above.

My advice to other young women looking for a career in the construction sector is don’t be afraid of the industry. There is no reason why women can’t be successful in construction. I’ve been working in the industry for 20 years and in my mind I haven’t suffered any discrimination. In fact, I’ve always been treated with respect and acceptance. That said, I’ve always approached my work and professional relationships with the following principles in mind: • Be humble and open to learning – never assume. If you want to understand how something works, go to the coal face and speak to the people that do the work.

• Be genuinely interested and challenge preconceptions. Manage by fact. Where possible collect objective data or observations from the actual process to help inform yourself and the team around you. It can be tempting to just go along with the prevailing perceptions or hearsay but these are both subjective and may not be up to date.

• Be passionate and resilient. If you really believe in something and you have the evidence for why it’s going to be good for business then share that passion with your colleagues. Don’t be disappointed if they don’t all immediately jump on your bandwagon.

Sometimes it takes a while for people to be convinced of something new and that’s where resilience comes in.

For more information, contact Helen Frape at Helen.frape@gpat.com or visit www.gcpat.com

With advancements in digital technology becoming more and more prevalent in the construction sector, there are lots of new opportunities for women to bring their

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 29

Company News

Amey turns to augmented reality in fight against £90m ‘unflushables’ issue Leading public services provider, Amey, will be turning to a new augmented reality app to help fight ‘unflushables’.

The app uses technology commonly used in video games, to show householders right before their eyes how flushing the wrong items would block their drains and sewers.

Amey has partnered with ClicksandLinks, a specialist supplier in the augmented reality field, to develop the app, which will be piloted across the Severn Trent contract. A contract which serves 4 million properties and 8 million customers across the Severn Trent area.

The app allows sewer operatives to ‘overlay’ a typical sewer network on a customer’s property or surrounding area on their Android mobile phone. The app then runs animations which mock-up how ‘unflushable blockages’ are formed – in real time.

Currently, blockages are the most frequent waste issue reported to all water companies, with around 70% of sewer blockages on the network caused by unflushables, such as fats, oils, grease and wet wipes.

Previously, operational teams have issued print-based guidance informing customers of what should, or should not, be put down their drains. However, research shows that 25% of ‘unflushable blockages’ will happen again within 12 months of the customer being notified, suggesting this method of communication may not be effective.

Amey is hoping that the app will be an effective way to increase customer understanding about the impact unflushables have on the water network, and help to prevent future blockages. Speaking about the app, Ben Hawkins from Amey’s innovation team, said: “The UK water industry spends about £90m a year clearing sewer blockages.

Many of these are caused by putting unflushables down the drain. This app is the first of its kind and demonstrates Amey’s commitment to using new technology, in increasingly techreliant times, to help our customers visualise and solve these issues.”

From the next Asset Management Period (2020-2025), the penalties for poor blockage reduction performance will increase for water companies. Amey aims to assist clients with educating their customer base, to tackle the huge task of blockage reduction.

The app will be launched in 2020.

KIER HIGHWAYS RETAINS CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE STANDARD FOR SIXTH YEAR Kier Highways has retained its Customer Service Excellence Standard certification for the sixth year running and, for the first time, is compliant with every aspect of the criteria.

The Centre for Assessment (CFA) evaluated Kier Highways’ on the quality of the customer experience across five key areas; customer insight, culture, information access, delivery and quality. The CFA awarded compliance against all areas, as well as a further eight Compliance Plus marks which were awarded for the business going above and beyond.

The auditing process is rigorous and includes a site visit, face-toface and telephone interviews with key customer, communications and quality staff and senior management from all contracts across the business unit.

CFA commended Kier Highways for understanding its customers’ needs through team collaboration, praised it for regular stakeholder mapping, ensuring that people were aware of any planned works and problems were mitigated at an early stage and also highlighted that it continued to work in line with Highways England’s three imperatives; Customers, Safety and Delivery.

Report feedback included: “There was no doubt having spoken to several senior management during the visit that strong committed ‘customer focused’ leadership appeared to be in place. This dedication to the customer (at all

30 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

levels) indicated that Kier Highways always wanted to put the customer at the heart of everything that they did.”

Natalie Geraghty, head of customer and communications at Kier Highways, said: “Achieving this great result is testament to the good work our teams do to look after our customers. We’ve been on a journey with this audit and each year have achieved better results than the previous. To now achieve full compliance with every aspect of the criteria is fantastic. We just need to keep up the good work and continue to improve the customer experience.”

External auditors, CFA, awards UK companies and organisations the Customer Service Excellence (CSE) quality mark, a nationally recognised standard, developed by the Cabinet Office and designed to identify best practice and drive customer-focused change. Kier Highways has been part of this process of external recognition for the past six years and is proud to be the only UK highways maintenance contractor that holds the certification.

Achieving this great result is testament to the good work our teams do to look after our customers. We’ve been on a journey with this audit and each year have achieved better results than the previous.

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Latest News Found your stop tap?

Now check it’s working advises UK plumbing register WaterSafe WaterSafe is encouraging homeowners to not only make sure they know where their internal stop tap is – but to make sure it’s working properly in case of a plumbing emergency.

The internal stop tap shuts off the water supply quickly if pipes freeze and burst in winter weather, reducing devastating damage to properties and the high cost of repairs.

However, a recent WaterSafe survey of 2,000 UK homeowners reveals that 63% DON’T check where their stop tap is as part of their winter preparations.

Internal stop taps are most commonly found under the kitchen sink, but can also be in downstairs bathrooms, kitchen cupboards, garages, cellars and under the stairs.

The UK plumbing register advises homeowners to check their stop tap regularly to make sure it’s working – around every six months for peace-ofmind.

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “Knowing the location of your internal stop tap is essential but it’s just as important to double-check that it won’t be stuck fast in an emergency. Taking the time to test it before colder weather sets in will give you peace-of-mind this winter. But take care – if you over tighten or use excessive force you may damage the stop tap. Talk to an approved plumber if you need help, just use the watersafe.org.uk postcode search to find one near you.”

Stop taps should be turned on and off slowly, and never forced. If your stop tap is a screw-down type, turn it back half a turn after opening it fully to prevent it seizing. If it is a lever type valve always leave it fully open.

WaterSafe’s advice supports the Met Office’s year-round #WeatherReady campaign, which encourages everyone to think about what they can do to prepare for and cope with severe weather.

Ongoing financial concerns are prevalent not only to large construction firms, but to construction firms of all sizes and across the country.

This continues to be highlighted by the profit warnings that have been issued in recent years from groups like Kier and Galliford Try.

AVOIDING DISPUTES POST-CARILLION Firms are being urged to promote better internal governance and assurance and to take steps to ensure their businesses are more risk averse following an analysis of the collapse of construction giant Carillion and the ongoing trend of struggling construction businesses.

Zoe Stollard from solicitors Clarke Willmott LLP says disputes reaching the High Court have risen for the third consecutive year to almost 400 cases with owners, contractors and suppliers all still continuing to experience tough trading conditions.

According to advisory firm Accuracy who analysed the court data, the collapse of Carillion in January 2018 has driven a rise in claims throughout the supply chain between owners, contractors and suppliers, all eager to recover cash and mitigate the impact of other collapses.

Zoe, a partner in Clarke Willmott’s construction team, says with the trend set to continue, a more prudent and assertive approach may be necessary in identifying risks for construction business before signing on the dotted line.

“Ongoing financial concerns are prevalent not only to large construction firms, but to construction firms of all sizes and across the country. This continues to be highlighted by the profit warnings that have been issued in recent years from groups like Kier and Galliford Try. “It is therefore essential to understand your potential clients and partners to ensure the relationship you are getting into is one that will be reciprocal. This means checking the soundness of proposed designs, upskilling where appropriate, and scrutinising contacts for potential risks and problems.”

32 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Zoe says, along with lack of profitability and tight margins, some of the main triggers for insolvency in the industry are payment issues and bad debts which can cause problems with on-going projects.

“Checking the wording of a contract so that it clearly sets out how payments should be dealt with, together with actually implementing the provisions of the contract, is of the utmost importance.

“A company can give itself a better opportunity of success by ensuring that sufficient governance and assurances are in place in respect of any payment due under a contract.

“While this may seem basic, all too often we see issues arising around requests for payments and the valuation of an application, simply because notices are issued incorrectly, or are not issued at all.

“Getting the fundamentals right can help avoid unnecessary and protracted disputes – and unwanted legal fees!”

Zoe warns that without proper consideration, the profits that can be made across multiple projects can just as easily be wiped out by a single bad project.

“Taking a minute to stop, however, and thoroughly consider the assurances and contingencies that are in place, together with the advice of the wider project team, could be the difference between securing a profit on a project, or absorbing a significant loss.”

According to Accuracy, the UK’s specialist Technology & Construction Court heard 397 construction related disputes in the year ending 30 June, the third consecutive annual rise.

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Latest News Construction industry to receive small boost from election, but Brexit uncertainty remains, says GlobalData The UK’s construction industry has suffered from political uncertainty in the past two years, with output growth having slowed to an average of just 0.5% in 2018-19. The decisive outcome of the December 2019 general election will provide the industry with confidence that the new government will be in a strong position to push through its policy agenda, particularly on the vital issue of the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU). However, there will still be significant challenges ahead as the industry will need to adjust to operating outside of the EU under new trade and investment deals.

The most likely outcome is that parliament will approve the Brexit withdrawal deal of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, ahead of the January 31st 2020 deadline, leading into a transition period during which the UK and the EU will negotiate a new political and economic relationship. By avoiding the ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario (the worstcase scenario in terms of the impact on the UK’s economy), investor confidence could improve, potentially resulting in the resumption of stalled construction projects.

For this reason, GlobalData now forecasts that construction output growth in 2020 will be slightly better than previously expected,

at 1%, before recovering to a healthier rate of 2.5% a year in 2020-2023.

Danny Richards, Lead Economist at GlobalData, commented: “Although the December 12th election brought about a positive outcome in terms of renewed government stability, and ensures that Mr. Johnson will be able to pursue his Brexit objectives, it still remains unclear exactly when and under what conditions the UK will leave the EU. Therefore, investments in industrial and commercial construction, particularly for speculative developments in offices, retail and hospitality buildings, could be constrained.

ESTIMATED 7.75 MILLION UNINSULATED DWELLINGS WITH SOLID WALLS The building insulation market grew by 3% in 2018. This could be attributed to positive growth in new housebuilding levels as progress towards government targets are made. Rapidly increasing levels of new housebuilding is seeing a demand for insulation products. Home extensions and a strong non-residential new build sector is another avenue that is growing in demand for insulation products. This growth from the new build sector thankfully offsets the decline in the retrofit market, where the key areas of demand by application remains cavity walls and lofts.

The building insulation market is heavily influenced by government schemes, programmes and funding. There is massive potential for retrofitted insulation to Britain’s existing housing stock, with an estimated 7.75 million uninsulated dwellings with solid walls. However, when there is no funding available how can this be achieved? There are currently no forecast increases in Government funding for new schemes to support retrofitted installation, despite the potential to better insulate millions of existing dwellings.

Evidence suggests that homeowners are reluctant to implement insulation-based

“Infrastructure remains a key source of growth in construction activity, supported mainly by large-scale investments in public infrastructure projects through government flagship programs, such as the National Infrastructure Plan. In the first ten months of 2019, infrastructure construction expanded by 7.4% year on year. Total residential construction growth also remains positive, and the government will push ahead with a house building agenda. In January-October 2019, housing construction was up by 4.9% year on year, but much of this growth was driven by public housing (up by 15.4%), with private housing projects posting growth of 3.3%.” energy saving measures without a strong financial incentive, especially for solid walled properties, which are generally the most expensive to insulate. It is worth noting that many installers have gone into liquidation in recent years. So how can the building insulation sector encourage these 7.75 million uninsulated dwelling to insulate?

Michelle Turner, the Editor of AMA Research’s Building Insulation Market Report stated: “Overcoming a downturn in 2015, the building insulation market has recovered well into 2018, despite the decline in government funding initiatives. Supported by the potential opportunities within millions of dwellings with little or no insulation, prospects for the market remain positive.”

Overcoming a downturn in 2015, the building insulation market has recovered well into 2018, despite the decline in government funding initiatives. Supported by the potential opportunities within millions of dwellings with little or no insulation, prospects for the market remain positive.

34 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

A New Era of Connected Construction.

Introducing Autodesk Construction CloudTM, uniting office and field teams from design to planning, construction to operations to help make construction more predictable, safe and sustainable.

Learn more at: autodesk.com/construction UK: +44 8081 892253

Project

FORTERRA FINESSE ELEVATES MODERN MASTERPIECE IN KING’S CROSS A 1980s office building in the heart of London’s King’s Cross has been transformed into a contemporary, highspecification workspace for The Office Group (TOG), following an ambitious project collaboration between building product specialists Forterra and architects dMFK. The new façade of York House, which is located on Pentonville Road between London’s architecturally diverse King’s Cross and Islington, is a leading example of the craftsmanship of Forterra’s Cradley Special Brick division.

Working closely with Structural Engineers Webb Yates, the entire structure was designed to be self-supporting, meaning the bricks we selected had to have a relatively high compressive strength, contain penetrations internally to allow for continuous vertical reinforcement, and of course be delivered to a budget

dMFK was employed by TOG to design and oversee the transformation of York House. As the existing building was faced in a plum-coloured engineering brick, dMFK set out to source new bricks that matched this tone. In addition to the colour match, Cradley’s Blue Brindle brick was integral to the design and build in several respects.

Firstly, York House’s façade features a dog-tooth parapet consisting of bricks at 45 degrees, which sits directly on top of the existing brickwork. Changing the orientation of this brick to create a different textural quality clearly differentiates the two aspects.

The second element is the straight lattice to the ground floor, which ties into the existing façade and opens up the building by visually pulling apart the brickwork.

The third and most ambitious element – and the principal reason Forterra was chosen by the design team – is the front extension formed of a lattice of angled bricks.

Tom Smith, Associate at dMFK, explains: “Working closely with Structural Engineers Webb Yates, the entire structure was designed to be self-supporting, meaning the bricks we selected had to have a relatively high compressive strength, contain penetrations internally to allow for continuous vertical reinforcement, and of course be delivered to a budget. The long format block in brindle finish was an obvious selection for this design and we worked closely with the product development team at Forterra to refine the specification, in order to ensure the design and structural aspirations were met.”

Through early engagement, Swift Brickwork Contractors advised dMFK on

36 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

buildability issues and went on to carry out the supply and installation of the brickwork envelope for main contractor Collins.

Michael Walsh, Managing Director of Swift Brickwork Contractors, says: “A brick was required to match the existing one and Cradley’s Blue Brindle was considered the best option, along with Cradley’s ability to manufacture a 440mm-long brick.” dMFK and Swift Brickworks Contractors worked closely with Forterra’s Design Manager Gareth Rouse and Cradley Special Brick’s General Manager John Richardson on the design, specification development and structural testing for the project, from initial design talks and trials in 2017 to delivery of Cradley’s unique product on site in July 2018.

Gareth Rouse explains: “The intricate latticing and V-shaped form of the finished structure is the result of a highly successful collaborative approach between Forterra (production, testing and technical) and dMFK. “Cradley Special Brick initially ran numerous trials to manufacture a product which met the architects’ requirements for aesthetics and configuration to accommodate reinforcement, whilst remaining durable.

“Latterly, our technical teams conducted a series of rigorous tests – including compressive strength, lateral loading and extended frost testing – to ensure that the Blue Brindle was fit for use in a multi-storey façade.”

The finished product showcases Cradley Special Brick’s skill in precision manufacture, as well as the team’s expertise and innovative approach to creating characterful, high-specification builds.

Viewpoint for Projects is a collaborative solution featuring sophisticated document management capabilities and operates as a Common Data Environment (CDE) bringing all project stakeholders together and working from the most up to date models and data. delays are recognised early. A BIM module, compliant with ISO19650, keeps projects on track and increases efficiencies.

Viewpoint, a Trimble company, is a leading developer of cloud-based software solutions for the construction industry and counts most of the top tier 1 and tier 2 Contractors as customers along with many specialty sub-contractors and asset owners. This is in addition to the thousands of monthly supply chain users who utilise the software as provided by the main contractor.

Construction has a number of challenges, which Viewpoint looks to solve with a laser focus on what the industry requires to be more efficient, increase quality and improve margins. Viewpoint solutions span the office, team and field and are utilised across the construction lifecycle, improving collaboration and site processes to deliver better projects.

Take for instance Field View, a mobile/ tablet based application that offers users the ability to create standardised forms based on their own needs, issue permits, take photos as part of the snagging process and issue directly to Sub Contractors. Field View removes the need for pen and paper and gives site managers a clear view of project progress while allowing them more time to spend doing their job, not creating more paperwork.

Viewpoint for Projects is a collaborative solution featuring sophisticated document management capabilities and operates as a Common Data Environment (CDE) bringing all project stakeholders together and working from the most up to date models and data. Information can be restricted so your supply chain only sees what they require and a powerful workflow engine ensures progress is monitored and potential

The newest product offering is Viewpoint Team, which brings together document and drawing management and project communications, eliminating siloes and improving workflow. Team offers companies who may currently be experiencing frustration by using non construction-specific alternatives, an easy way to store and share information that is fit for purpose. Managing multiple projects at once is made simple by standardising processes within the software.

According to the Get It Right Initiative (GIRI), 21% of construction industry turnover is spent on correcting poor quality. In a recent customer survey, 90% of Viewpoint customers reduced errors and rework by at least 20% and saved up to 20% of time in the design phase. By embracing digitisation it is possible to realise such tangible benefits to deliver great projects, with highly satisfied customers and a healthy bottom line.

For more information about Viewpoint solutions and how they can help you call 0845 330 9007 or visit www.viewpoint.com

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 37

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BBA CERTIFICATION FOR RCM PRODUCTS – QUALITY GUARANTEED! RCM are delighted to announce that three further products have successfully achieved the prestigious BBA accreditation.

Through extensive testing RCM have secured BBA approval for its Supertech Weatherboard, Multipurpose sheathing board and Renderflex render carrier board.

The BBA - British Board of Agrement was initially set up back in 1966 by the government of the day. Today the BBA is an independent body, which provides extensive and independent testing of products designed for the construction industry. BBA accreditation supports today’s government by being an independent voice within the construction sector.

Only products which meet the highest specifications will receive BBA approval as ‘fit for purpose’, bringing great

reassurance and ultimately maintaining quality in the construction industry.

RCM offers a wide portfolio of building boards and facades, with its popular A1 noncombustible Y-Wall fibre cement building board having already achieved BBA accreditation a few years ago.

Recently, RCM applied for BBA accreditation for three additional products and after having undergone rigorous testing, an approval was achieved for all three. RCM are highly delighted with this prestigious outcome, confirming the outstanding quality of their sheathing boards, render carrier board and weatherboard façade.

The latest BBA certifications pertain to three of RCM’s popular products: Firstly, Multipurpose, RCM’s A1 noncombustible, cellulose fibre cement building board. With its excellent strength, weathering and mechanical properties it is the perfect choice for multiple applications, especially for buildings over 18m.

Secondly, Renderflex, RCM’s A2-s1,d0 fire rated cellulose fibre cement render carrier board, offering excellent strength, weathering and stability properties when used in conjunction with polymer renders.

The importance of an independent certificate demonstrates commitment to quality and is further proof of RCM responsibly operating in line with industry best practice and management systems.

“We are very proud of achieving the acclaimed and trusted BBA certification for our products. This accreditation will further bring great reassurance to our customers and highlight the high-performance and reliability of RCM’s products. It also enables us to give confidence to architects, contractors and designers to specify and install the RCM range of materials, whether the product is being used on its own or forms part of an overall solution, both in internal and external applications.

“We believe that the BBA certification will open up new opportunities for RCM and help us to break into new sectors and markets. We look forward to ongoing business growth and the opportunities which will present themselves.” (Ian Quinton Managing Director, RCM) For more details call 0800 612 4662 or email info@rcmltd.biz.

And finally, Supertech Weatherboard, a simple to install, fully ventilated cladding system, which

SALTO releases updated MyLock customization tool SALTO Systems has upgraded MyLock, its online lock customization tool that allows users to choose and see potential door configurations before final architectural project and design definition.

has an appearance similar to that of traditional timber cladding but the durability and strength of cellulose fibre cement.

With MyLock, users can select a SALTO electronic lock model, door type, and choose from a broad range of colours, finishes, handles and functions. The new MyLock design has an improved user experience for web as well as mobile access and adds important new capabilities,

including configuring accessory products like wall readers. SALTO Space accesscontrol-management software and SALTO KS keys as a service-compatible product ranges also are included.

Whether it’s a change model, finish or door type texture, SALTO MyLock users can easily navigate through a menu to make their selection and customize the chosen model as much as possible. Users can choose between different door standards and technology platforms, like SALTO Space access-management software or the SALTO KS cloud-based solution, and opening mode options like contactless smart card, mobile key or keypad.

SALTO Space access-controlmanagement software and SALTO KS keys as a service-compatible product ranges also are included.

Users can now also make more than one configuration in a single MyLock session, which allows those seeking electronic lock solutions the ability to configure a variety of door models within a building. Once completed, a MyLock user can preview and download 3D and 2D files, including BIM files, in a variety of industry formats.

To see what MyLock can do for you, visit: https://mylock.saltosystems.com

40 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Construction Materials

WHY SIPS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE UK CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Introduction Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are engineered panels used to construct walls, ceilings, and floors.

Either as a material for Modern Methods of Construction, such as offsite manufacturing, or as a replacement for traditional construction materials such as framing lumber and insulation, SIPs provide an extremely durable, strong, and energy-efficient building option.

In this document, we explain why SIPs are so relevant and crucial to building new homes and industrial and commercial premises. The benefits cover their costeffectiveness, speed of build, safety, durability, flexibility, energy-efficiency and ability to improve overall build quality.

SIPs building provides spacious room-inroof attic rooms which increases total floor space by up to 25% in any project. Clearly, added floor space is desirable and adds to the value of the property.

SIPs: the UK context The urgent need for alternative building materials The UK construction industry is in a state of transition. New housing stock is needed urgently; particularly affordable homes.

Successive governments have similarly failed to live up to targets pledged. The need for more commercial and industrial building is also well-publicised.

Yet the construction industry has been failing to meet these needs, due to a combination of factors. A chronic shortage of skilled labour, the unpredictability of British weather, and arguably the biggest factor – an unwillingness to change.

Now, however, the changes are beginning, and architects, developers and contractors are all considering how to adopt Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report Off-site manufacture for construction recommends a presumption in favour of MMC when granting planning permission for new developments.

Widespread use of SIPs throughout the world MMC requires not only new methodologies, but also different materials. Whilst SIPs are not new (they were first developed in the 1950’s and 60’s), growth in their use in construction in the UK follows widespread usage and predicted growth throughout the world, and is to be welcomed for a variety of reasons.

Let us now consider the benefits of SIPs in greater detail, each of which together demonstrates the significant contribution SIPs can make in the future of UK construction.

Planning a project with Hemsec SIPs in mind, before entering into the design phase, can lead to improved efficiencies during the process and eliminate unnecessary changes during later stages.

Flexibility in Building Design Designed and custom-built Those unfamiliar with new building technologies tend to confuse SIPs buildings, with last century’s rather ugly, prefabricated constructions.

SIPs enable the creation of buildings where design possibilities are almost endless.

Complicated shapes can be produced economically using SIPs. Each building can be uniquely designed and custombuilt to architect or designer-provided specifications.

The unique design flexibility of SIPs enables town-planners, along with their architects to create buildings to complement local styles, needs, and trends.

Precision and accuracy using CAD drafting systems CAD drafting systems help to detail the SIP fabrication process, allowing precise cutting instructions to be sent to the SIP manufacturers (such as Hemsec) or engineers for foam, relief and spline set up. With the help of technological design systems the architect optimises the use of materials in all areas of the building.

The super-eco building benefits The ultimate environmentally-friendly product One of the major qualities of SIPs is that they are an environmentally-friendly resource. Their facings are made from renewable, farm-grown trees. This means that these components do not contribute to environmental degradation, making them an obvious choice for construction companies that care for the future of our planet.

Economic advantages across the project A shell constructed from SIPs is erected much faster and, therefore, more economically than a conventional shell.

They enable builders to complete their part of the building project quickly and to provide a safe, weather-protected environment for other trades to carry out their work.

Continued >>

A key advantage of using SIPs in design is that there is no requirement for trusses in finished roof spaces. As an example, a

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 41

Construction Materials And not being weather-dependent, the project is much easier to plan and complete, which also reduces cost and uncertainty.

Unbeatable insulation values Insulation values for SIPs are vastly superior to conventional framing and insulating methods, as a building constructed with these panels is virtually airtight. Occupants have excellent control over the interior environment without the problem of draughts and irregularities in air temperature. To be precise: In a building constructed with SIPs there are none of the hot and cold spots found in homes built with conventional building materials.

As well as reducing the cost to the occupant of heating fuels, a key advantage of using SIPs in the construction of homes is that they produce far less waste than buildings constructed from conventional materials as there is a reduction in harmful gases released from burning waste as well as a reduction in the need for landfill space.

Excellent sound resistance As with timber studwork, acoustic performance using SIPs is determined by the mass and continuity of the plasterboard linings. Acoustic rated plasterboards are used to improve the insulation performance of walls where required.

Resistance to airborne sound: Hemsec test data indicates that separating walls, with additional plasterboard and soundproof linings will provide excellent sound resistance.

Longevity of Finished Buildings Before a SIPs building is constructed on-site, it is important that its component parts are packaged correctly and are transported and stored safely.

Handling SIPs During construction, the SIP structure is likely to be exposed to poor weather conditions and may become wet. When general precautions are followed this is not an issue for SIPs. If any panels do get wet, it is important to ensure that they are allowed to dry thoroughly. Panels should not be tightly wrapped in plastic, but loosely covered to promote the movement of air and drying.

Repair and Maintenance of SIPs As with any construction method, the

long-term performance of the building will be largely dependent on repair and maintenance as necessary.

It is important to: • Regularly check and clean guttering and rainwater down pipes. This ensures that water runoff is collected and diverted away from the building.

• Flashings around the roof should be checked and repaired or replaced as required.

• If the building is clad in render, any cracks or damage to the render should be repaired promptly.

To be expected, the external build up is likely to wear out well in advance of a main SIPs structure.

Because of the longevity and durability of SIPs, the strength of SIPs buildings are proving legendary around the globe. They can withstand hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. Provided the installation remains weather-tight and all maintenance is carried out properly, a life of at least 60 years may be expected for SIPs buildings.

Building quality Snagging could be a thing of the past for builders and contractors who use SIPs 99% of home owners report snags and defects…. When we consider that in the 2019 Customer Satisfaction Survey by the NHBC shows that 99% of customers reported snags and defects in their home to their builders after moving in, quality is a big issue in the UK construction industry.

70% of those surveyed reported between six and fifteen problems, and more than a quarter of them (26%) reported more than 16 problems.

Straighter and flatter walls – a key benefit Not only are SIPs buildings faster and easier to erect than conventionally constructed buildings, but they also have straighter and flatter walls. Industrially manufactured, SIPs are not subject to the inconsistencies of man-made construction This means that interior and exterior walls which are made of SIPs, are straighter and flatter than hand-built, rendered walls. This unique aspect reduces the requirement for onsite adjustments – which means little or no snagging.

Resistance to damage Using SIPs to construct the exterior envelope of the building creates an extremely tough, durable barrier to the elements for the protection and comfort of the building’s occupants. SIPs buildings are capable of resisting hurricanes and tornados in storm-prone areas of the world. In Kobe, Japan in 1993, an earthquake devastated a large area of the city, but houses built with SIPs came through it virtually unscathed.

42 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Rigorous testing and products which meet the highest levels of compliance A technically superior product SIPs are manufactured to the very highest standards and technically superior when compared with all other building materials.

This statement is proven in a number of ways.

ETA and CE Mark Certification All Hemsec SIPs have ETA accreditation and CE Mark Certification. This is a guarantee to any construction-related company in the UK and Europe that Hemsec’s products have been tested to the very highest levels.

SIPs are extensively tested for Structural, Acoustic and Thermal properties, including Fire Resistance. The results of these tests are verified by the Eurocodes.

The CE Mark Certification process classifies SIPs as a System 1 product ensuring that during audits there is a strong focus on Factory Process Control (FPC) processes.

Hemsec is BS EN ISO 9001:2015 certified, quantifying our quality management system and demonstrating our ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Mechanical resistance and stability SIPs provide unbeatable strength, mechanical resistance and stability; they are strong, reliable, durable and suitable for all walls, roofs and floors in domestic, industrial and commercial construction.

Assessing mechanical resistance and stability Hemsec adheres to the European Technical Assessment (ETA) document, specifying precisely the rigorous tests followed as part of the Factory Production Control (FPC) process.

SIPs panels are manufactured by sandwiching together a core of rigid closed-cell polyurethane foam (PUR) insulation bonded to the two OSB skins.

This bonding makes them intrinsically strong, air and water-tight.

Jacqueline O’Donovan crowned Entrepreneur of the Year at the Growing Business Awards In a gala event at the end of November in the Tower of London, Jacqueline O’Donovan was announced as winner of the Growing Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year. The awards were established in 1998 to give highly valued recognition to exceptional growing businesses.

Now in their 21st year, the awards celebrate the strength, vision and resilience of fast-growing SMEs and Business Leaders across all sectors.

Jacqueline was selected by the judges for her outstanding positive leadership coupled with a strong track record of commercial success and driving a positive agenda for best practice and change in her sector whilst demonstrating her commitment to the community through her charitable activities.

Jacqueline said: “I was totally shocked to win this award but also delighted. It is no easy feat to navigate a business and achieve continuing growth whilst advocating for innovation and change in our sector but it is worth it to have

BECAUSE OF THE LONGEVITY AND DURABILITY OF SIPS, THE STRENGTH OF SIPS BUILDINGS ARE PROVING LEGENDARY AROUND THE GLOBE. THEY CAN WITHSTAND HURRICANES, TORNADOES AND EARTHQUAKES. The six elements to verify mechanical resistance and stability are:1. Horizontal load capacity for walls SIPs are composited structurally insulated panels, pre-engineered and carefully designed to withstand vertical and horizontal loads. The load bearing ability of SIPs derives from the strong, structural bond between the three layers.

2. Vertical load capacity for walls (with or without eccentricity) Under the Eurocodes our industry-leading panels generally provide a vertical loading capacity of 80kN/m.

3. Combined vertical/horizontal load capacity Although SIPs are relatively light, they have the ability to bear high loads as a result of the strong structural bond between the layers. The load supported by SIPs is conveyed to the ground by the OSB skins, with the structure held in position by the fully bonded insulation core. SIPs can therefore bear considerable vertical

and horizontal loads with reduced internal studding.

4. Racking load capacity for 150mm thick walls: SIPs provide a stable racking resistance for modular buildings and can reduce the overall frame of the module. In addition, by using SIPs it is possible to reduce some of the components of the frame (e.g. the amount of cross bracing) or sometimes remove the external frame of the module.

Panels demonstrate racking resistance of 13.9 kN for an example panel height of 3 metres.

This determination of the racking strength of walls constructed using SIPs is a measure of a building system’s ability to resist wind loads.

5. Fixing capacity SIPs are fixed with either nails or screws.

Both fixes provide sufficient strength although screws are stronger and recommended.

tributes like this and see the hard work paying off. I am incredibly proud of our family and our team who all have a part to play in our collective success.”

As MD of O’Donovan Waste, Jacqueline has achieved impressive growth that has seen the award-winning business flourish into an industry-leading company surpassing ground-breaking milestones for innovation, health and safety, leadership and sustainability.

She is passionate about education and knowledge sharing and believes everyone should have the chance to learn and progress. She works tirelessly to raise industry standards and in particular road-safety and best practice The Growing Business Awards judges commented: “Jacqueline is a unique individual who is a real influencer in her sector. She is a passionate investor in people and is building sustainable business growth with clarity on value over price.”

Website: www.odonovan.co.uk

Conclusion SIPs are the ultimate solution for all types of construction projects, whether they are residential, industrial or commercial.

We are proud to be one of the UK’s largest and longest-standing insulated panel manufacturers. We work in partnership across the supply chain; trusted by companies who need absolute confidence in the timely delivery of high quality, durable building materials.

It can be an attractive solution to integrate SIPs with other materials in construction projects, whether as a load-bearing structure, for insulation, speed of construction etc. When we consider that SIPs are very easy to incorporate with a wide range of materials, such as CLT, it’s an important consideration when planning a project.

6. Roof structural capabilities SIPs are equally as strong and effective for use with roof systems. A SIPs 125mm panel thickness, a panel span of 3.0m and a roof slope of 60° has Panel Design Capacities of 5.04 k/N.

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 43

Company News PERFECT CIRCLE ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIR FOR FINAL YEAR OF SCAPE FRAMEWORK Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has announced industry heavyweight Jon Enever as its chair.

Handed the reins by fellow Perfect Circle senior management board representative Richard Whitehead, Jon will be taking on the role for the remainder of 2019 through to October 2020 – seeing the organisation through its final year of Scape Group’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework.

Set up in 2016 by sector-leading firms Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, the consultancy delivers the broadest range of consultancy services available to the public sector via BECS. It is also the most efficient route to market, allowing direct award for commissioning services with full public procurement compliance.

Jon said: “It’s been an incredibly busy and exciting three years for Perfect Circle so far. We’re really proud of what we have achieved and the strong relationships we’ve forged with clients and our growing number of supply chain partners. I’m looking forward to stepping into the role of chair for the next 12 months.”

Managing director of Perfect Circle Victoria Brambini said: “Our unrivalled levels of expertise and experience have ensured that Perfect Circle sits firmly at the top of the market for efficient partnering and outstanding service performance. The combination of experience and support from an extensive supply chain has led to huge growth and unrivalled levels of professional consultancy leadership and management, delivering real value for clients. We are currently taking a renewed focus on successful strategies and forming strong new development plans for 2019 and beyond.”

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said “Jon Enever joins the chair of Perfect Circle at a very exciting time. With more than 1,000 projects delivered to date, Perfect Circle has ensured that socio-economic benefits sit at the heart of every project, by consistently engaging with SMEs within the local area. By utilising the diversity of skills within the joint venture, our public sector clients have enjoyed vastly reduced procurement time, real savings from the public purse and importantly, they’ve been able to deliver their projects with social value as standard.”

Previous Perfect Circle chairpersons include Duncan Green from Pick Everard and Richard Whitehead from AECOM.

WATERSAFE HAS JOINED FORCES WITH WELSH WATER AND NORTHERN IRELAND WATER TO LAUNCH A PLUMBER RECRUITMENT DRIVE WaterSafe has joined forces with Welsh Water and Northern Ireland Water in a drive to sign up qualified, competent plumbers to its approval register.

The UK plumber approval body is launching a recruitment drive in Wales and Northern Ireland to add to the 6,000 members already on its online database – a source of qualified, professional plumbers the public know they can trust.

Welsh Water and Northern Ireland Water both support and promote WaterSafe and will play a key role in the campaign by engaging with colleges and holding events and online forums for plumbers.

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “Being a member of WaterSafe is a great way for competent plumbers to provide immediate reassurance to their customers that they are qualified to do the job and keep their drinking water safe.

“WaterSafe is supported by all the water companies in the UK, as well as the water industry regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Membership comes with many benefits and in many cases it’s free to join. We’d urge plumbers who are proud of their work and want to find out more about joining, or taking the final training steps to join, to get in touch today.”

Michael McGreevy, Water Regulation Manager at Northern Ireland Water, said: “The water we supply is consistently top quality and we want to ensure it stays that way when it reaches our customers’ taps.

“For this reason, we always recommend to our customers they use a plumber or plumbing business approved by WaterSafe and that’s why we’re working with WaterSafe and its member body the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation on this vital recruitment campaign.”

We know there are many talented plumbers out there who we would welcome to join the register and we’re looking forward to hearing from them and working with them to keep our drinking water supplies safe.

44 Construction UK Magazine - January 2020

Company News James Lees, of Welsh Water, added: “To make it easier for everyone to know how to quickly find a trusted, qualified plumber near them, we’re calling on plumbers who think they meet the criteria to sign up to WaterSafe and be listed on its online register.

“We know there are many talented plumbers out there who we would welcome to join the register and we’re looking forward to hearing from them and working with them to keep our drinking water supplies safe.”

Members of WaterSafe benefit from: 1. Free promotion and branding – a listing on the largest online directory for approved plumbers in the UK – which is promoted by all UK water companies, including Welsh Water and Northern Ireland Water 2. Customer reassurance – that you’re qualified and trusted to work safely with water by your local water company and the drinking water regulator 3. A direct link to Welsh Water or Northern Ireland Water – to self-notify plumbing work and access free advice on the water regulations.

Paul Williams, a Master plumber and member of WaterSafe based in Wales, said: “Being part of WaterSafe has been great for my business. It’s a transparent way for the public to know that I am certified and hold the relevant qualifications and insurances.

“I get frequent calls from the public who have used the online search facility and found my company details.”

To join WaterSafe, plumbers must be qualified, have a water regulations certificate, and be a member of an existing approved contractors’ scheme. In Northern Ireland this can be the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) or the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE).

BAM WINS NEW DESIGN AND BUILD CONTRACT FOR DANISH SCHOOL The City of Copenhagen has commissioned BAM Danmark to design and build a community school with sports hall and swimming pool in the Arena Quarter in Ørestad. Ørestad is a developing urban area in Copenhagen, located on the island of Amager, south of the city centre of Denmark’s capital. The contract value is more than €60 million.

For this project, BAM Danmark has entered into a partnership with architects RUBOW arkitekter and Nøhr & Sigsgaard, as well as the engineering firm Rambøll.

The Arena Quarter school (Arenakvarteret Skole, AKS) is situated on an area of approximately 8,500 m2 next to the multifunctional stadium Royal Arena.

AKS will accommodate around 1,120 students. The project has approximately 17,500 m2 of floor space and will create an important landmark in this urban development area. BAM Danmark is expected to complete the project in March 2023.

In September 2019, BAM Danmark also won a contract from the City of Copenhagen for a community school in Sluseholmen with a project value of €46 million.

In co-operation with our architects and engineering partners, we are very proud that we can contribute to the further development of Ørestad by this iconic project.

Bo Svendsen, managing director of BAM Danmark, said: ‘BAM Danmark has been a construction company in the Danish market for almost six years and has already delivered very important projects. As the Danish subsidiary of Royal BAM Group, BAM Danmark benefits from a strong network of European sister companies.

“Major school and education projects have successfully been completed and two new school projects are in progress.

In co-operation with our architects and engineering partners, we are very proud that we can contribute to the further development of Ørestad by this iconic project.’

BAM Danmark was founded in 2014

by Royal BAM Group, and this project fits well in BAM Danmark’s project portfolio. The company currently employs 50 people. Previous projects include construction of an office building for the Department of Micro and Nanotechnology and a biotechnology research centre, both for the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the European school in Copenhagen (design and build) and a mixed use commercial building in Carlsberg Byen as well as offices for the department of public works for the city of Helsingør. Projects in progress include an office building with storage and service facilities for HOFOR (Greater Copenhagen Utilities) and a community school; Læringshus Nærheden in Høje-Taastrup, west of Copenhagen.

In Wales this could be the Water Industry Approved Plumbers Scheme, (WIAPS) Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, (CIPHE) the Association of Heating and Plumbing Contractors, (APHC) or Severn Trent Water’s Approved Plumber WaterMark scheme.

Membership of WIAPS and WaterMark is free and charges apply to join SNIPEF, CIPHE and APHC, which offer wider benefits and support.

Plumbers interesting in finding out more can visit watersafe.org.uk/howtojoin or call 0333 207 9030.

People looking for an approved plumber can search the directory at watersafe.org.uk.

Construction UK Magazine - January 2020 45

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