Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

June 2020

CONSTRUCTIONMAGUK.CO.UK

Creativity from Schöck at new Greenwich Design District

AMEY SECURES 90,000 ITEMS OF PPE FOR UK CARE HOMES

RINNAI INNOVATION

- MOBILE HAND WASH & HOT WATER HYGIENE STATION

Can technology make the “new normal” a little less abnormal?

ARBICON: Q&AS RELATING TO COVID-19 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

KIER APPOINTED TO DELIVER PHASE ONE OF QUAYSIDE REGENERATION Agility Alliance secures five-year contract extension as part of Thames Water infrastructure alliance

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

Contents June 2020

07

La Liga Stadium Central Spain Specifies Bespoke Fibrelite GRP Trench Covers

10

Actis continues to offer expert technical advice during Covid-19 crisis

11

Agility Alliance secures five-year contract extension with Thames Water

13

Feature - Futureproofing the workforce with new blood

15

Kier appointed to deliver phase one of Quayside regeneration

16

Amey secures 90,000 items of PPE for UK care homes

17

Biosite launches portable site hygiene solution

18

Rinnai innovation - Mobile hand wash & hot water hygiene station

20

How the Construction and Engineering industry has adapted to Covid-19 crisis

21

Creativity from Schöck at new Greenwich Design District

23

Arbicon: Q&As Relating to Covid-19 for the Construction Industry

27

Feature - Can technology make the “new normal” a little less abnormal?

07 10

11

13

15

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Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 03

Latest News GLEEDS WORKS AGAINST THE CLOCK TO DELIVER 1000 BEDS FOR NORTH WALES IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 International property and construction consultancy Gleeds has been appointed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to manage the delivery of more than 1000 new hospital beds for patients battling the novel coronavirus across Wales.

Following the completion of emergency works to prepare Wrexham Maelor Hospital for an influx of confirmed cases, Gleeds was further appointed by the Board to provide project and cost management services for three new ‘rainbow’ hospitals in North Wales, so named after the symbol which is being widely used to support the NHS. Now nearing completion, the facilities at Ysbyty Enfys Glannau Dyfrdwy (Rainbow Hospital Deeside), Ysbyty Enfys Llandudno (Rainbow Hospital Llandudno), and Ysbyty Enfys Bangor (Rainbow Hospital Bangor) will open their doors next month.

In addition to supporting the Board’s reaction to the pandemic, Gleeds is also appointed as project and cost manager for a further two of its ongoing capital projects. Within 24-hours of the announcement of the Rainbow programme, the business had been able to implement a plan whereby additional resource was allocated to ensure that the development of both the North Denbighshire Community Hospital and the Ablett Unit redevelopment at Glan Clwyd Hospital could continue without delay, despite the heavily increased workload.

Mark Lewis, who is heading up Gleeds’ BCUHB team, said; “Gleeds has been working with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for 15 years but never in such challenging circumstances.

Thanks to our existing relationship, the team was able to adapt and mobilise the necessary resources incredibly rapidly in order to meet the needs of the Board as it seeks to ensure the population of North Wales receives the best care possible in the face of this pandemic. I am extremely proud of what has been achieved so far and Gleeds will of course continue to offer its full support as the situation develops.

Neil Bradshaw, Head of Capital Development for BCUHB, added; “These are unprecedented times and, like health organisations across the globe, we are doing our upmost to ensure that all those who need our services are able to access them. This has necessitated the construction of a number of temporary hospitals in North Wales which we are pleased to confirm will be completed by the end of the month. We have been hugely impressed by the herculean efforts of the supply chain and are incredibly grateful to Gleeds for their flexibility and skill in getting us to this point so quickly, without impacting on the progress of ongoing developments.”

FURLOUGHED ENGINEERS VOLUNTEER TO DELIVER FOOD PARCELS Finning engineers back behind the wheel to feed the vulnerable Furloughed Finning service engineers in Belfast have signed up to a community scheme to deliver food parcels to vulnerable people across the city. Lee Jones and Glyn Mccartney, based out of the Finning UK & Ireland branch in Lisburn, have volunteered to do their bit to help the local community at this time of national crisis.

Bosses at Finning UK & Ireland, the exclusive distributor of Cat® products, were contacted

by Belfast City Council as part of a bid to recruit volunteer drivers and warehouse operatives to support its new community food distribution hub. The initiative will ensure essential food parcels are delivered to those at risk across the city either because they are self-isolating, elderly or have underlying health conditions.

Council chiefs put out an initial plea for eight delivery drivers, with Jones and Mccartney being among the first to volunteer their services, and their Finning service vans, to help. Bosses at Finning quickly arranged insurance cover and agreed to pay all fuel costs so neither of its workers will be out of pocket.

Jones and Mccartney are both employed as service engineers. Their primary job is to visit customer sites to provide technical support and maintenance for Cat machines used in construction, agriculture, waste management and highways maintenance.

Both engineers were furloughed by Finning in March following the temporary closure of many of its customer sites. Four out of five firms, according to the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, have furloughed staff taking advantage of the Job Retention Scheme introduced by the Government to help businesses by paying up to 80% of staff wages for a period of 12 weeks.

The government guidelines on social distancing meant that it was not safe for us to carry on doing our job and is compounded by the fact that several of our customers’ businesses have been forced to shut down temporarily.

04 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

Latest News A large part of the job involves driving across the country. It seemed such a waste for the service van to be idle on my driveway when people are being forced to go without basic food and supplies because they can’t get it delivered. I am proud to support the council who are doing a great job to help those in the community that need support and food. Finning also confirmed that volunteering for the scheme won’t affect the furlough payment package, which was important as well.

“Much of our day to day job involves meeting people on site, face to face. We spend time with them, working on their machines for routine maintenance or to get them up and running again following breakdowns,” explains Jones.

POWERDAY TO FUND 100,000 MEALS FOR THE NHS

“The government guidelines on social distancing meant that it was not safe for us to carry on doing our job and is compounded by the fact that several of our customers’ businesses have been forced to shut down temporarily.

In an effort to support the vital work the NHS is doing during the COVID-19 pandemic, waste management and recycling company Powerday and London Irish Rugby Club have teamed up to take on the Corona Care Challenge #CCC and deliver thousands of meals and vital equipment to hospitals across the capital.

“Supporting the community is extremely important, especially at a time like this. I am glad that I can help. I’m fortunate that I can get out to the shops, but so many people don’t have that option. Something so simple could actually make a huge difference to someone who’s stuck at home, isolated and probably very scared.”

“When our service manager got in touch to say the City Council was looking for volunteer drivers to deliver food parcels, we both jumped at the chance,” said Mccartney.

“A large part of the job involves driving across the country. It seemed such a waste for the service van to be idle on my driveway when people are being forced to go without basic food and supplies because they can’t get it delivered. I am proud to support the council who are doing a great job to help those in the community that need support and food.

Finning also confirmed that volunteering for the scheme won’t affect the furlough payment package, which was important as well.”

Over the next three weeks the City Council plans to expand the scheme further, hoping to recruit up to 40 delivery drivers and vans to the scheme and is calling for more people to volunteer their time.

If you or your company can volunteer your time and a vehicle to support, get in touch with Catherine Taggart at Belfast City Council on (028) 9032 0202 or (028) 9027 0417 ext 3525

London is at the epicentre of the UK’s Coronavirus outbreak, accounting for 40% of the country’s cases, according to current figures. NHS staff, including those not working on the frontline, are heroically working around the clock to ensure patients receive the very best care. But, as the numbers increase, the strain will grow, compounded by the fact these key workers are struggling to purchase food items from shops and supermarkets.

Helping #PoweringTheNHS To make sure those working on the frontline are cared for, the #PoweringTheNHS campaign will initially see Powerday and London Irish make and deliver more than 100,000 meals for NHS staff who are working under immense pressure in London and local hospitals.

The meals will be created at London Irish’s Hazelwood training ground in Sunbury, West London. Chefs from the Hazelwood kitchen team have volunteered to cook nourishing and healthy meals – regularly made for the playing squad – which will then be transported to various hospitals by Powerday and London Irish staff.

The kitchen will operate under strict operational processes as indicated by government guidelines. A minimum of 500 meals will be made every day, with the ability to increase capacity if there is a demand to do so.

Powerday, a family-run company, is calling on the waste and construction industry to join in showing their support by donating a range of vital protective equipment to the NHS, including masks, gloves and goggles, to help keep doctors and nurses safe whilst they care for all those who have fallen ill.

Edward Crossan, Vice Chairman of Powerday, commented: “Those working on the frontline during this epidemic are true heroes. The number of lives they will save over the coming weeks will be in the thousands and we will all know someone affected by this disease. It goes without saying that we owe them a great debt of gratitude. We are living in unprecedented times and it’s vital that we come together to beat COVID-19, which is why I’m so proud to be leading this initiative. Hopefully we will bring together the waste and construction community to deliver food and equipment that will help keep doctors and nurses safe while they perform life-saving work. It is the least we can do, and we will be utilising Powerday and London Irish staff and company vehicles to reach as many hospitals as possible.”

If you work at a hospital or hospice or know of anyone vulnerable and in need, then please send a message to the @Powering_The_NHS account on Instagram or email Edward Crossan at edward@powerday.co.uk

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 05

Latest News

LABC ENCOURAGES INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS TO JOIN ACTIS’ FREE ZOOM CPD SESSIONS LABC members and construction industry professionals are being urged to join some free Zoom CPD training sessions being offered by insulation specialist Actis next month.

Only a few spaces remain on the first four small scale interactive webinars announced last week for specifiers, building control officers, builders and architects.

The training was, until recently, a regular feature at LABC’s monthly technical roadshows, with modules delivered to up to 100 delegates at a time - a format both organisations are keen to resume once it is safe to do so.

The online sessions, delivered by Actis specification manager Dan Anson-Hart, are identical in content, but delivered to just a handful of attendees at a time.

LABC head of engagement Anna Thompson is a huge fan of the training modules, and both organisations are continuing to work very closely together to offer insight and training across the industry, for the time being in virtual format.

Anna said: “This is the ideal time to upskill and develop your knowledge in new areas.

We’ve always found Dan to be a very engaging speaker and these sessions are definitely worth attending.”

The training is also encouraged, and allowable, for construction professionals currently on furlough.

Both sessions are certified by the Construction CPD Certification Service.

The first, Addressing the Performance Gap with Reflective Insulation, looks at the impact of thermal bridging on a building’s energy performance. It is also currently undergoing approval by the RIBA, at which stage it will be worth double the usual number of CPD points for RIBA registered architects.

The second, Proven Compliant Systems, looks at how installers can ensure their insulation and membrane use complies with building regulations - not just Part L, but also Parts B (fire safety), C (site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture), D (toxic substances) and E (resistance to the passage of sound).

The initial sessions on Tuesday June 2 and Thursday June 4 at 10am and 2pm are almost full - with bookings being taken for the final slots on a first come first served basis.

Email maria.yousaf@insulation-actis.com now to book, nominating your preferred date, time and whether you’d like the Proven Compliant Systems or Addressing the Performance Gap with Reflective Insulation module. Further sessions will be added should demand require it.

BRIGGS & FORRESTER GROUP SUPPORT THE PRINCE’S TRUST IN HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE For many years now, the Briggs & Forrester Group have been proud supporters of youth charity, The Prince’s Trust. As a business who strive to build the skills of young people and openly invests into supporting their future career prospects, it’s clear to see that the charity and business share a similar goal of inspiring young people and changing their lives for the better.

Founded in 1976 by, HRH The Prince of Wales, The Prince’s Trust supports young people aged 11-30 from all over the UK. The Trust works with delivery partners throughout the UK to offer a wide range of courses, grants and mentoring opportunities to help kick start the careers of young people. To date The Prince’s Trust

has returned £1.4 billion in value to society through their help supporting young people over the last 10 years.

Inspired by the incredible work that The Trust do, the Briggs & Forrester Group wanted to be a part of helping the charity continue doing what they do. Without their work, many young people wouldn’t have the support or even the opportunity to commence their career.

To help fundraise for the charity, Briggs & Forrester held a variety of events during 2019, including the Group’s Bi-Annual Charity Golf Day held last June. In support of The Prince’s Trust, throughout the day guests took part in fun challenges including a prize raffle to help raise further funds. Altogether, the Group have donated £20,000 to the Trust through the Briggs and Forrester Foundation which is managed by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation.

The Prince’s Trust give much needed hope to the young people who need it. The Briggs & Forrester Group are proud to say that through this donation they will help to support more than 13,450 young people across central England, including more than 250 in Northamptonshire.

The Briggs & Forrester Group will continue to support The Trust and help them with reaching their goal of supporting their first one million young people.

For more information on The Prince’s Trust and to read some of their inspiring success stories, please visit their website: www.princes-trust.org.uk

06 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

Case Study

LA LIGA STADIUM CENTRAL SPAIN SPECIFIES BESPOKE FIBRELITE GRP TRENCH COVERS Fibrelite trench covers installed at new Spanish stadium

This case study tells the story of a project completed before the lockdown went into place, where bespoke Fibrelite trench access covers were specified to provide protection and easy access to utilities (electrical, water and similar) in and around a new La Liga stadium. In keeping with many Premier League stadiums, this high-profile venue embraced GRP composite technology in its infrastructure. In this instance, GRP trench covers provided a light, practical and proven alternative to traditional solutions in areas of high footfall.

Problem Conventional load-bearing access and manhole covers are heavy, susceptible to corrosion in harsh weather conditions and difficult to install and remove. The problem facing the stadium’s architects and developers was how to retain the accessibility and strength, but improve the practicality, durability and performance, while providing a safe walking surface in heavily trafficked areas.

BELOW IMAGES: Fibrelite access covers provide a safe walking surface due to their unique tread pattern

Solution Having worked with leading clubs across the world, Fibrelite’s flexible engineering and manufacturing departments were able to create custom designs to match the exact specifications required by the stadium. Like all Fibrelite’s GRP composite access covers, these are lightweight, corrosion-free and safe to remove manually. They also have a skid-resistant surface equivalent to a modern high-grade road, making them ideal for pedestrian areas.

Results Thanks to Fibrelite’s rapid design to delivery process and responsive local distribution network, the project was completed within two months of the customer securing the official purchase order.

ABOVE & BELOW IMAGES: Fibrelite provided a custom system of lightweight modular GRP composite trench covers

For more case studies, visit the Fibrelite website

Like all Fibrelite’s GRP composite access covers, these are lightweight, corrosion-free and safe to remove manually

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 07

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Company News

ACTIS CONTINUES TO OFFER EXPERT TECHNICAL ADVICE DURING COVID-19 CRISIS While much of the physical construction industry has, understandably, all but ground to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic, there is much work going on at the planning and technical stages.

And pan European insulation specialist Actis is among the growing band of organisations stressing that now is a good time for architects and specifiers to get ahead with the technical side of projects, to ensure they are ready to go once we reach the other side of the crisis.

The Actis technical team is working from home (of course), with meetings and support advice available through various platforms.

Access to much of the technical advice Actis offers has not changed at all, as many of its tools have been available online for years, including its U-value simulator and suite of how to videos.

UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper explained: “Obviously we’ve adapted our working practices, as our top priority is the safety of our staff, customers and wider network. We will continue to adapt as required to ensure we combine safety with offering a helpful technical service.”

UK and Ireland technical director, architect Thomas Wiedmer, will be able to answer specific queries so that specifiers and

builders planning projects will be ready to deliver them once it’s safe and appropriate to start building again.

Additionally, many of its systems are available from the NBS National BIM Library.

The wall and roof systems come in HH, HB and HY variants - shorthand for all three Hybrid products or just Hybris and BoostR Hybrid, or Hybris and HControl Hybrid.

They offer a complete, ready to use build up for easy inclusion into the Revit software platform. In addition they can be downloaded in IFC format.

The library also features individual product files covering every thickness of CE marked insulation Hybris, vapour control layer HControl Hybrid and breather membrane BoostR Hybrid.

Obviously we’ve adapted our working practices, as our top priority is the safety of our staff, customers and wider network. We will continue to adapt as required to ensure we combine safety with offering a helpful technical service.

A recently created set of Registered Construction Details created in partnership with LABC is another powerful, online tool.

These should be invaluable to specifiers wanting to create highly insulated, airtight buildings which will meet the most onerous energy performance requirements.

The RCD provides construction details and checklists of points to look out for during design and on site and offers instant access to online tutorials to help specifiers reduce heat leakage through weak junctions and thus design out thermal bridging.

In addition to enabling 3D ‘real life’ representations of the finished project and its intervening stages, the integrated BIM system enables specifiers to anticipate errors, design issues and clashes long before they would have occurred using older Computer Aided Design technology.

The RCD drawings and documents can be fed into specifications for new projects and are also accessible on the go. Builders can link to installation videos while out on site for example, ensuring the tool is useful at all stages of the process from specification to installation.

10 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

Company News

ASITE’S ANNOUNCES NEW ZOOM INTEGRATION TO SUPPORT REMOTE WORKING DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS

AGILITY ALLIANCE SECURES FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION AS PART OF THAMES WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ALLIANCE

The new integration is part of a wave of new tools Asite is integrating with its platform in order to help their clients stay connected.

Agility Alliance, an equal share joint venture between Morrison Utility Services and J Murphy & Sons, has secured a five-year extension to its AMP6 water network and developer services agreement with Thames Water.

Asite is excited to announce that Zoom, the cloud-based video conferencing tool being used by millions around the world, has been integrated with the Asite platform.

Under the terms of the extended contract, Agility Alliance will continue to deliver planned and reactive operational water networks support as part of Thames Water’s AMP7 (2020-2025) investment programme. The scope of works will include repair and maintenance, developer service work and programmed works, including minor capital works, across the Thames Water delivery region.

Together, Asite and Zoom enable real-time collaboration on shared content, helping teams when working remotely or away from their projects.

I’m pleased to say we’re not stopping there.

We’re continuing to push our platform to the highest levels. In the near future, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet will also be integrated with the Asite platform and additional enhancements to the new Zoom connector are in the works. Stay tuned.

The initial Zoom integration will allow users to start instant realtime audio or video meetings with a single click of a button. The ability to schedule and join meetings, amongst other features, will be supported as well in near future.

Devendra Gera, Chief Technology Officer at Asite said: “Like everyone, Asite has been adjusting to this unprecedent situation.

We’ve been working behind the scenes to analyze what different functions would help make our user’s lives that little bit easier during this difficult time.

“With the integration of Zoom, Asite users now have seamless access through the Asite platform and our partner ecosystem to the collaboration tools they need to keep building, and ultimately, build better.

“I’m pleased to say we’re not stopping there. We’re continuing to push our platform to the highest levels. In the near future, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet will also be integrated with the Asite platform and additional enhancements to the new Zoom connector are in the works. Stay tuned.”

Agility Alliance was formed in April 2015 to deliver approximately £500m of water network and developer services works as part of Thames Water’s ground breaking Infrastructure Alliance. As an Infrastructure Alliance partner, Agility’s AMP6 targets included reducing leakage and enhancing the service Thames Water offers to its nine million water customers across London and the Thames Valley.

Steve Spencer, Thames Water Operations Director, said: “This is a really difficult but exciting time for us and our suppliers as we mark the start of the delivery phase of AMP7. We know we have some tough challenges to get through now and lying further ahead, but we’re all set to work together in providing resilient and reliable water services to our customers across London and the Thames Valley.

“We have ambitious plans for the next five years including a further reduction of leakage and reducing interruptions to water supplies and our suppliers will be key to helping us achieve those goals.”

Agility Alliance JV Director Steve Gibbs commented: “We are delighted to have secured this extension to our long-term, strategic relationship with Thames Water. Over the past five years, we have worked collaboratively with Thames Water and other Infrastructure Alliance partners to support the significant step changes in efficiency and performance that it was targeting for the AMP6 regulatory period. We look forward to continuing our work as a member of the Infrastructure Alliance, using innovation, sustainability and best practice to drive safety, reduce leakage, further improve customer service and deliver new efficiencies in support of Thames Water’s AMP7 investment programme.”

With the changes in working habits and practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic the majority of people are still adjusting to a new way of working. When the safety measures are eased, it is expected that many of these new working practices will remain, highlighting the need for comprehensive collaboration tools.

Asite platform users will be able to start Zoom meetings facilitating instant collaboration - and schedule meetings with other team members or stakeholders, regardless of their location.

Meeting recipients can join Zoom meetings or calls on their Zoom App without logging into the Asite platform, allowing for seamless information sharing throughout the entire supply chain.

The integration of Zoom with the Asite platform will allow project teams to easily share and look at documents, and virtually be present with the field team onsite from within their Common Data Environment.

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 11

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.

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

MAGPLY BOARDS OFFER SAFE SUPPORT FOR SLATE HANGING ON SOUTH COAST TOWNHOUSES A development of five stylish townhouses in East Sussex features the traditional finish of slate hanging, fixed across Magply boards with horizontal battens, providing a substrate offering excellent weathering and fire resistance, as well as a secure fix.

The three-bedroom, three-storey properties are being built for BAOBAB Developments by Brighton based Magnificent Works Company, while John Pardey Architects (JPA) was responsible for their design. Sub-contractor Oval Carpentry from Worthing is installing the 9mm Magply boards across timber studwork, infilling a steel frame, ready for the battens and an underlay. Marley Eternit cement slates then complete the upper elevations.

Despite offering good adhesion for render systems where required, Magply boards are very moisture stable thanks to their modified MgO formulation that also represents an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plywood or OSB sheets. The production process keeps the chlorine content to just 0.01%, enhancing long-term durability.

MARMOX MULTIBOARD MEASURES UP IN 17TH CENTURY CONVERSION Bringing an old building up to modern standards of performance and comfort can be extremely challenging, but when the owners of a fourhundred year old property in North Wales wanted to create a total of nine en-suite bathrooms, Marmox Multiboards provided the ideal starting point for the various room conversions.

The rambling three-storey structure - which features several traditional building methods, including masonry and oak framing with lath and plaster – is the subject of far-reaching renovation and alteration work by Crewe based Pioneer Design & Build. This includes basic repairs and energy upgrades, as well as the introduction of the high specification bathrooms and shower-rooms, involving extensive use of 12mm Multiboards supplied by the Congleton branch of Jewson.

Nearly 60 of the 1250 x 600mm boards, including special acoustic grade Soundboard versions, were purchased along with quantities of the special Marmox fixing washers and Marmox Multibond Sealant as well as the manufacturer’s waterproof jointing tape.

Magply boards carry a variety of internationally recognized accreditations including for fire resistance and the recent award of a BDA Agrement certificate, confirming their fitness for new build homes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: GORDON PIRRET, MD or JOHN MALONE, UK NATIONAL SALES MANAGER - IPP LTD. BRADWELL HALL, BRADWELL ON SEA, ESSEX, CM0 7HX. T.01621 776252 F.01621776688 EMAIL: gmp@intpetro.com or john@magply.co.uk www.intpetro.com www.alumaflex.co.uk www.blackmountaininsulation.com www.magply.co.uk

The finishes being installed across the Multiboards include large as well as small format tiles and even natural stone pebbles.

MARMOX (UK) LTD. CAXTON HOUSE, 101-103 HOPEWELL DRIVE, CHATHAM, KENT, ME5 7NP. TEL: 01634 835290 FAX: 01634 835299 EMAIL: sales@marmox.co.uk WEB: www.marmox.co.uk

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Feature

FUTUREPROOFING THE WORKFORCE WITH NEW BLOOD The challenge of meeting the UK’s construction needs post-Brexit will only be met if we address the ongoing skills shortage and train the next generation of workers to satisfy this unprecedented demand. It’s why providing quality training across all construction sectors, particularly roofing, has never been more important to ensure candidates can thrive in their chosen sector. Proteus Waterproofing outlines the apprenticeship and training opportunities available which can provide a pathway to an industry-recognised qualification and a fulfilling and financially rewarding career.

Whilst traditional approaches to installation methods are being pushed aside to allow for easier, more modernised methods, someone who understands the fundamentals of roofing and the installation of roofing systems is a prerequisite on any project. Roofing guidelines and standards must be met, whether it is upstand requirements or correct terminations, a good level of skill and workmanship is essential in providing a high-quality result and a long-term waterproofing solution.

Sadly, the ever-widening skills shortage is a huge constraint faced by the construction industry and is massively impacting the quality of what is being built.

Research by City and Guilds found that one in 20 construction companies believe their workforce doesn’t have the correct skills for now or the future. How then can the industry, particularly the roofing sector, close the skills gap?

Fit for the future With roofing being one of the hardest hit trades in terms of a skills shortage, it is imperative that we have an industry that is fit-for-the-future with a growing workforce that remains dedicated to quality. Whilst manufacturers have inevitably created innovative, easy to install products and systems, traditional skills are still equally essential. Working out how to attract, educate, and retain skilled roofers is something the industry must focus on to ensure high quality installations are achieved, as well as the sustainability of roofing as a recognised trade.

Apprenticeships, for example, are a wise investment for any business and will give millions of aspiring construction workers a ‘leg-up’ on the ladder of opportunity.

According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), three quarters of employers say that hiring an apprentice is an incredibly worthwhile investment as it not only saves on recruitment costs, it creates assets which are often very loyal to the business that gave them the opportunity in the first place.

Proteus Training Hub An appreciation of both the importance of attracting younger recruits into the

roofing industry and providing a pathway to recognised qualifications has resulted in Proteus developing an accredited education programme to be delivered from the Proteus Training Hub. Proteus is a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO), one of only two UK flat roofing manufacturers to achieve such status. Proteus will be delivering CITB accredited short duration courses in: ‘Liquid Applied Membranes Introduction’; ‘Single Pack Polyurethanes’; ‘Balconies, Podiums and Inverted Roof Systems’, and ‘Two Pack Polyurethanes and Flexible Polyesters’. Candidates who complete its courses will have their training information uploaded to the CITB national training register, ensuring their skills are acknowledged by current and future employers.

For small companies, losing an employee to a day’s training costs time and money.

Financial recompense is available to offset staff absence but it inevitably involves negotiating a myriad of red tape, which can make building firms reluctant to engage with education programmes in the first instance. As an ATO, it is Proteus’ responsibility to retrieve course fees from the CITB on a contractor’s behalf. This funding is paid directly to the contractor, thus circumnavigating a lengthy claims process.

The Proteus Training Hub and other such programmes are essential in the drive to develop a better-skilled workforce. They not only benefit the wider community in terms of build quality and quantity, they also offer a wealth of personal gains. Knowledge is power and instilling individuals with greater confidence creates a path that leads to a fulfilling and financially rewarding career.

As an industry, we must act as one to ensure the next generation of roofers is fully-trained and working to the same high standard when it comes to the construction of our future built environment.

The construction industry will always need competent and knowledgeable roofers.

Whilst some installations and systems can be easier to use than others, all roofers must have a strong understanding of the construction of roofs and how to deliver a watertight system. People who opt for a career in roofing will always be in demand and can play their part in closing the skills gap. It will just take the industry as a whole to champion roofing as the brilliant, vital, rewarding profession it truly is.

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 13

Project News

MAJOR AFFORDABLE HOMES SCHEME UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN NORTH LEEDS Leeds Jewish Housing Association (LJHA) has announced that building work on the largest affordable homes project in its history is underway in the north of the city.

The scheme – at Queenshill Avenue in Moortown – comprises 85 new properties, including 51 sheltered housing apartments for those aged 55 and over, and 34 general needs apartments. It is being delivered in partnership with government housing agency Homes England.

IWJS SECURES 5-YEAR PEAK LOPPING FRAMEWORK CONTRACT WITH ANGLIAN WATER IWJS, one of the UK’s leading providers of services to wastewater networks, and part of M Group Services, has been appointed by Anglian Water as the primary supplier for its peak lopping sewer unblocking framework. The fiveyear contract will commence in June 2020 and includes an option to extend by a further three years.

Under the terms of the framework, first established in 2011, IWJS will provide

Initial meetings were held early last year with LJHA tenants who would be affected by the necessary demolition work. A wider community consultation exercise was also launched.

Several changes were made to the original designs before an application for planning permission was submitted in September.

This was formally granted in January and the appointed contractor, ENGIE, is now onsite.

reactive, planned and maintenance services across the entire Anglian Water operational region. The services delivered will include sewer blockage clearance, investigation works, CCTV inspection and general support work including river walks and checking outfalls.

IWJS Contract Director David Eade commented: “Being named as the primary supplier on this framework shows we are working collaboratively with Anglian Water and strengthens the relationship we have developed with this key client.

“The contract will begin in June and will require at least 12 van packs across the region to support Anglian Water’s in-house teams. The commitment of our people in delivering a fantastic 24-hour service in existing frameworks went a long way to our success in winning this contract.”

Construction is expected to take 18 months with workers following the latest government guidance on safe working which was published last week.

Upon completion, LJHA will have four sheltered schemes on the Stonegate Road site. All 181 sheltered apartments will be connected to form a sheltered village with easy access to the Ziff Community Centre.

Mark Grandfield, LJHA Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled that the project is being delivered. It is the culmination of many months of hard work to create a scheme that we feel the community desperately needs. Queenshill will increase our overall stock by 13% and represents our biggest single development since LJHA was founded almost 67 years ago It is a proud moment for everyone involved.”

Craig Simons, LJHA Director of Operations, paid warm tribute to the 22 tenants whose properties had to be demolished to make way for the new buildings and other amenities on the site, including car parking space and gardens.

He said: “I would like to thank everyone who had to move out of their home as part of this development.

We do appreciate how hard this has been for them personally.

They worked closely with us during extremely stressful times and their understanding is greatly appreciated.

Jayne Wynick, LJHA Chair said: “These are exciting times for LJHA. This project will allow us to provide more homes in the heart of the community. They will be low rent homes that look fantastic, are modern, energy efficient, warm and secure. Whilst this is an ambitious project, we are not sitting on our laurels and our Board are now looking at what our next development opportunity might be as we aim to be the number one landlord for the Leeds Jewish community. Feedback we have received so far is that people want more family housing too and we would love to look at building for families next.”

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Project News

ASITE IS HELPING TO IMPROVE BELGIUM’S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE Asite’s multi-year contract will see them work on a number of exciting projects across Belgium with a value of over €3 billion .

Asite is the Common Data Environment (CDE) for Lantis across a portfolio of different projects in Antwerp, Belgium.

Following a competitive bid process, Asite’s CDE platform was chosen to work on the €3 billion project, which includes the Oosterweel Link in Antwerp that consists of five sub-projects in the city.

Rob Clifton, Asite SVP for the UK and Europe, said: “Lantis and Asite share a common vision; to connect people. Our work with Lantis has already seen major infrastructure developments take place in Belgium. The wider benefits of these crucial projects are not only vital for the environment, but are helping to improve the quality of life for the communities they serve through improving connections between different areas and surrounding cities. We’ve enjoyed working with Lantis on the projects so far and look forward to our continued journey of enhancing their collaboration and helping them build better.”

The Asite platform was chosen as it met all the project requirements for the delivery, maintenance and support of a CDE for Lantis. It enabled them to efficiently manage, communicate, collaborate, share information and organize their tasks on one secure platform throughout the project lifecycle.

Over a year after implementation, the platform provides a document management system for both the project and Lantis as a whole, allowing the company to securely store and manage all information relating to their company and their various projects.

KIER APPOINTED TO DELIVER PHASE ONE OF QUAYSIDE REGENERATION Kier, a leading provider of construction and infrastructure services, has been appointed by Gloucestershire County Council to deliver phase one of its Quayside regeneration masterplan.

The project, worth in excess of £15m and procured through SCF will see Kier develop a design for a multi-purpose 3-storey building including two GP surgeries serving around 17,500 patients, a pharmacy, office space and parking.

The project which is due to complete in early 2021, will see Kier deliver a number of training and development opportunities, including nine apprenticeships,17 work placements and 11 new job creations.

As part of the project, Lantis is working on the Oosterweel link which has a number of road, viaduct, bridge, and tunnel sub-projects in Antwerp. This significant project will improve the accessibility to the city and the port, reduce congestion, increase traffic safety and improve the quality of life in the Antwerp region. It will also improve the city’s links to other major cities in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Andy Bolas, Gloucester office operations director at Kier Regional Building Central, commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver Quayside House.

“This achievement builds on our existing relationship working on the Gloucestershire County Council Framework where we have successfully completely over 50 projects in the past 15 years.”

This latest award win for Kier follows on from its appointment by Gloucester County Council to reclad Shire Hall, its Gloucester City Centre offices. This project, which sits adjacent to the new Quayside house development, marks the first step in the wider regeneration of the Blackfriars area.

For this project Asite is providing a stable, efficient and future-proof solution to help Lantis meet their project needs.

The robust Common Data Environment meets Lantis’ future ambitions as they continue to expand their complex and large project portfolio.

Lantis has also utilized Asite’s AppBuilder capability which has empowered the project team with the ability to build their own custom apps to streamline project development. Lantis can now replicate manual, paper-based processes within an online environment by creating forms which are tailored to their collaborative process.

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 15

Company News

BIOSITE LAUNCHES PORTABLE SITE HYGIENE SOLUTION New Hand Sanitiser Station supports the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity

AMEY SECURES 90,000 ITEMS OF PPE FOR UK CARE HOMES Hundreds of care homes across the UK have this week benefitted from a major donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) by leading public services provider Amey and its parent company Ferrovial.

Earlier this month employees were invited to put forward a care home of their choice to receive a combined 90,000 items of equipment, including face masks and aprons, to help protect fellow keyworkers and vulnerable residents from Covid-19.

Chief Executive Amanda Fisher, said: “Many of us have loved ones either living or working in care homes, which is why I am extremely pleased to launch this initiative.

Coronavirus has hit the most vulnerable members of our communities hardest, and so it feels only right that we play our part as responsible business in helping those in need at this difficult time.”

Matthew Kershaw, a business manager at Amey who nominated a care home in his community, also commented:

I was delighted to hear that my nomination was successful and that my Grandma’s dementia care home, Branch Court Care Home in Blackburn, received a pack of 250 face masks.

As a small home having to struggle to buy PPE for themselves, this has made a huge difference to the staff, and therefore the work they can do with those they care for.

Of the hundreds of nominations that followed, over 200 locations were chosen and this week Amey has been working alongside social enterprise Ethical Stationery to deliver the parcels.

The donation has been made possible

by Ferrovial’s Covid-19 Juntos (Together) Fund – a €10m global initiative aimed at supporting charities and organisations at the front line of the fight against coronavirus.

Several care homes have been quick to respond with photos and messages of thanks, including Overley Hall in Telford, Shropshire, who responded: “It made us feel very humble to be nominated and then to be successful and receive the masks.

Kind gestures like this mean so much to us, and we have been so touched by peoples’ thoughtfulness. It sounds like Amey are going above beyond in these difficult times.”

The PPE for care homes campaign is the latest in a series of recent donations by Amey under the Ferrovial Juntos Fund, including £135,000 to the Trussell Trust who supports the largest network of food banks in the UK with over 1200 food bank centres providing emergency food and practical, compassionate support to people in crisis and £44,000 to SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

16 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

Biosite Systems Ltd has introduced a portable Hand Sanitiser Station for deployment on site in areas where hand washing facilities are not available or practical to install. Developed in response to the latest construction industry guidance* recommending enhanced hygiene procedures on site in the fight against COVID-19, the station provides a solution for operatives to access hand sanitiser gel quickly and easily.

In recognition of the increased pressure on construction workers and particularly the mental health challenges currently facing those in the industry, Biosite has also pledged to donate 10% of the proceeds of Hand Sanitiser Stations and refills sold throughout 2020 to the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity’s crisis appeal, as well helping to raise awareness of the charity’s mobile app.

Billed as the ‘ultimate self-help tool’, the ‘Construction industry Helpline’ mobile

YOURKEYS OFFERS FREE SOFTWARE TO HOME BUILDERS TO ASSIST WITH MARKET RECOVERY Proptech innovator Yourkeys is offering housebuilders use of its digital sales progression platform free of any licence fees until the end of October.

The software facilitates faster progression of sales through a contact-free process.

It is directly integrated into over 2,000 conveyancers and mortgage brokers, meaning real-time sales progression updates are fed back into the Yourkeys platform.

Its newest function enables contactfree sales by allowing buyer checks,

Company News app provides a selection of free resources covering mental health and wellbeing and financial advice. There is also access to professional support services for those in need.

Details of the app will be shared on each Hand Sanitiser Station.

Michael Bryant, Commercial Director at Biosite Systems Ltd, comments: “Ensuring robust hygiene practices is a cornerstone of both government and industry guidance but we realised that it is not always possible or practical to have wash stations in certain areas on site. For these scenarios, hand sanitiser gel is the next best alternative to soap and water, and our portable Hand Sanitiser Station can be quickly and easily deployed in areas that require hygiene facilities. We had also become aware of the alarming increase in calls to the Lighthouse Club – an increase that signalled a lot of our peers in construction needed urgent support. The Construction Industry Helpline app is an incredibly helpful resource that operatives can use to access often vital information. We wanted to help raise awareness of the app on site by signposting it on the Hand Sanitiser Station and to support the Lighthouse Club by making a financial contribution from the proceeds of both the station and any refills sold this year to help the team continue to do their essential work.”

Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, added: “There is no doubt that this is an extremely challenging time for the industry and we have seen calls to our 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline spike by 55% in a matter of weeks. At the same time, our fundraising calendar has been decimated, which means we need urgent financial support

ID verification, automated document generation and reservation fees to be processed online.

Yourkeys has offered to waive its licence fee to assist housebuilders as the need for online transactions accelerated due to the coronavirus crisis.

so we can keep helping operatives on the ground in their time of utmost need.

“We are thrilled that Biosite reached out to us to support our Construction Industry Helpline mobile app, as we hope that the resources available on mental health and emergency financial advice will go some way to support and reassure workers – especially those who might not feel comfortable calling the helpline.

The financial contribution Biosite has pledged to our new crisis fund will also be a significant help as we continue to navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19 ourselves.”

The Hand Sanitiser Station forms part of a portfolio of COVID-19 response solutions that Biosite has developed to support customers and help keep sites running when it is safe to do so. This includes thermal

CEO Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson said: “Our technology enables sellers to onboard buyers in minutes and entirely digitally. Our immediate objective is to get our product into the hands of as many housebuilders and estate agents as possible to help them digitise their processes and continue operating during these tough times.

temperature management solutions, contact tracing technology to monitor operative interactions across site zones and manned guarding – such as welfare attendants to support social distancing on site.

For more information, contact sales@ biositesystems.com or call 0121 374 2939.

For more details on the Construction Industry Helpline mobile app or to find out more about the range of support services offered by the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, including how to donate to the crisis fund, visit www.lighthouseclub.org

“We realise this is a critical time for the sector.

We started this business for the love of the industry, and we’ll fight tooth and nail to help our clients through it.”

Yourkeys usually charges a £250 licence fee per development per month but this has been waived and there will be no obligation to subscribe to the service when the offer ends.

The only charge to developers during the period to the end of October is a £50 transaction fee, charged per unit at the point of exchange.

Yourkeys was conceived due to Riccardo’s own frustrations with slow and complex transactions when he was working in the residential property industry. The software spent two years in development before launching and a recent funding round raised £2.9m for expansion and further enhancement.

Yourkeys launched at the beginning of this year and the platform already counts Vistry Group, London Square and Hill among its housebuilder clients.

To request a demo or to take up the free trial offer, email info@yourkeys.com or sign up online at Yourkeys.com

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 17

RINNAI INNOVATION MOBILE HAND WASH & HOT WATER HYGIENE STATION Latest product development from Rinnai is a complete mobile hand wash and hygiene station geared up to supply unlimited amounts of continuous flow hot water for any and every site needing instant access to this facility - anywhere that needs instant handwashing - any queue outside a supermarket, shopping area, car park, building sites, temporary accommodation blocks or toilet blocks for essential services.

The station consists of a Rinnai 17e hot water delivery unit, mounted on a mobile hand wash pod, complete with water connections and secured cage. The unit is easily connected to the water supply and gas is via LPG. The hand wash station delivers temperature accurate hot water at a pre-set temperature to facilitate, with soap, the quick breakdown of any COVID-19 bacteria. This pre-set temperature of 37 degrees C is not too hot but hot enough for breaking down lipid fat layers that surround the protein-based bacteria nucleus. According to trusted information sources on Covid-19, the ideal temperature for water used in hand washing, together with soap, is over 25 degrees C. Heat melts fat therefore use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands. Hot water helps makes more foam and that makes it even more effective.

Hands should be frequently washed - for a minimum of 20 seconds – after touching any surface or food, locks, knobs, switches, remote controllers, mobile phones, computers, keyboards, desks, TV, etc. And, of course, when using the toilet.

The proprietary Rinnai technology will deliver temperature accurate hot water without any fluctuations to ensure constant supplies of hot water.

As the hand station is purpose designed to be outside so any possible contact with the virus can be minimised as users do not have to go into toilets or wash rooms, where there is potential to come in contact with surfaces or poor ventilation.

Rinnai manufactures over 2million water heaters every year and as such is at the forefront of creating real advantages for users. Rinnai’s multipoint ErP A-rated 17e needs no flue as the unit is placed outside and so waste gas gases safely escape. The unit can be pre-set with a fixed temperature which is tamper-proof.

The Rinnai 17e external internal model measures just 675 x 370 x 139mm and weighs in at 14.5kg - a one-man lift. The unit has a temperature range of 37°C to 65°C with direct electronic ignition. Gas input ranges between 4.53kW – 36kW. A single unit is readily capable of flow rates of up to 510 litres per hour at a 50°C rise and has full frost protection.

Hot water delivery flow is an impressive 17ltr per minute max flow. Nominal operation pressure is 2-3 bar however it can operate at pressures lower than 1 bar and it uses a 230V AC 50Hz 1ph power supply with an electrical consumption of 80W. Rinnai is also offering full services for essential works support to NHS facilities, care homes, schools, and supermarkets during the lockdown.

• Out of hours and weekend technical

support – installers, site manager and end-users simply call 01928 531870 select technical and if the call isn’t answered immediately leave a voicemail.

Response will be within one hour between 0800 – 22:30 / 7 days a week.

• Rinnai’s Runcorn UK HQ emergency

weekend opening and sales support open for emergency / essential equipment provision of new units and for spares.

• Collection of new units/spares from

Runcorn HQ for Saturday and Sunday. All will adopt ‘safe distancing’ in any contact for this or deliveries.

• Weekend operational support help line

- simply call 01928 531870 and select ‘sales’ and if the call isn’t answered immediately leave a voicemail and we will be back within the hour.

• Emergency delivery weekends / out

of hours - under “essential works” circumstances and, where possible, Rinnai will readily offer a delivery service to site.

Available within 24hrs from Rinnai is a range of units giving instant and constant flows of hot water for hygiene and cleaning use in all healthcare, care homes and mobile hygiene units, including any new or planned sites.

If there is a constant supply of gas and water the units are guaranteed to supply

18 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

temperature accurate hot water in unlimited quantities for all hygiene regimes in all types of healthcare sites or temporary accommodation.

Rinnai’s complete range of hot water heating units are available for next day delivery on orders placed before the previous mid-day.

Rinnai UK is continuing to be open for business throughout the current situation

with staff able to take any orders or enquiries via telephone or online and the company has excellent stock levels of all units in the range plus spares and accessories.

Installers can contact the company direct in gaining access to the supply of units.

Call 01928 531 870 or email sales@rinnaiuk.com – ‘alternatively use the smart online contact points “Help Me Choose” or “Ask Us a Question”, all held on the website homepage at www.rinnaiuk.com.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 19

Feature

HOW THE CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING INDUSTRY HAS ADAPTED TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS It has now been over eight weeks since restrictions on movement in the UK were put in place. Here we explore what effect these restrictions have had on the Construction and Engineering industry, and how it might influence how we work in the future.

On 30th March, The Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, issued a letter to everyone in the UK construction sector. It detailed that, while those who could work from home should, construction workers were ‘advised’ to continue to travel to their place of work where safe to do so.

If only it had been that easy... With supply chains up and down the country unable to source materials from overseas, building sites were forced to shut down, with some evidence suggesting that over 85% of construction businesses have been impacted.

For those sites that have remained open, significant modifications have had to be implemented to ensure safe working practices on site. More recently, industry leaders and the government have formed a taskforce to develop sensible Site Operating procedures to provide guidance.

On a number of schemes, both those under construction and those still at the planning stage, architects, civil and structural engineers are having to go back to the drawing board and redesign plans to reflect the current shortage of materials and blockages in the supply chain.

With social distancing becoming the new normal, consideration now has to be given to the redesigning concepts, to minimise site construction, with more emphasis on off-site construction.

Gemma Cattell from East Northamptonshire Council has spoken about how the council has adapted to the new conditions

Building Control at ENC is still open for business, although we have had to modify some practices to ensure that everyone adheres to social distancing rules during inspections and all inspections are risk assessed before a visit is made to ensure that no one is placed at risk.

The Structural Auditing Survey team at JMS, supports some of the largest companies in the world, such as aggregate supplier Hanson. Business continuity for these sites is a priority and, whilst non-urgent surveys have been rescheduled, ‘absolutely essential’ surveys still need to be undertaken on active sites. In these cases, JMS has liaised with the client to identify the best course of action.

As the UK starts looking ahead to opening businesses, many in the industry believe that social distancing will remain a daily practice, at least for the remainder of the year. The industry needs to be prepared and

20 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

employee ‘monitoring’ may have to become compulsory within this sector.

Meanwhile, in the US, trials are underway with construction workers wearing a device on their hard hats that sounds an alarm if anyone comes within 2 metres of another worker. It will also track ‘roadmap’ data, so should a construction worker be found to be infected with Covid-19, the data will trace who the worker has come into contact with while on site.

Daniel Staines, Managing Director of JMS Civil and Structural Engineers commented “Although we did see a slowdown in appointments on new work at the beginning of the crisis, there has already been a noticeable bounce back and the cloud based systems that JMS has invested in over the past years has meant that we have been able to quickly adapt our working practices to match the work flow whilst maintaining the necessary social distancing and home-working requirements.

This investment has allowed us to deliver a continuous, top quality service to our clients.

Our number one priority will always be the safety of our staff and we have implemented robust measures, including site specific assessments for every site.”

It remains to be seen how severe the long-term impact of COVID-19 will have on the industry, it certainly brings with it a lot of risk, however, there will also be opportunities and, unlike the recession of 2008, bankers are now financially robust, and the hope is that banks and lenders across the UK, with opportunities to invest, will become part of the solution.

CREATIVITY FROM SCHÖCK AT NEW GREENWICH DESIGN DISTRICT The O2 Arena on the Greenwich Peninsula has a new neighbour – Greenwich Design District – providing 14,000sqm of affordable studios and workshops for creatives working across areas as diverse as design, fashion, art, music and digital technology. This pedestrianised, vibrant neighbourhood, comprises sixteen freestanding buildings, situated around five courtyards and a central public square. With the exception of the single level Food Hall, the buildings range in height from three-to-five levels and are a mix of reinforced concrete, structural steel and cross-laminated timber.

Minimising thermal bridging is crucial Improved thermal performance is becoming increasingly important in large new build developments and the prevention of thermal bridging has a huge role to play. Ineffectual insulation at cantilever connectivity points results in local heat loss, requiring more energy to maintain the building’s internal temperature. Low internal surface temperatures around the thermal bridge can also cause condensation, leading to structural integrity problems with absorbent insulation products and the potentially serious occurrence of mould growth Design freedom from Schöck As the leading international supplier of structural thermal breaks, Schöck has hundreds of variants in its Isokorb range, offering a solution to practically any design detail. The predominating Isokorb at the Design District is for concrete-to-concrete, but not all of the requirements were so relatively straightforward.

The baseball court on building C1 (Image courtesy of Whitby Wood) Building C1 is a prime example. Set on the east side of the main entrance, this three-level workshop and studio building has a basketball court on the roof. It has unusually deep floor zones, several large cantilevered elements and a steel mesh enclosure supported on a braced-steel frame around the court, which utilises Isokorb elements for concrete-to-steel detailing. There is also an external staircase and concrete cantilevered walkway. Where the walkway encloses the staircase, there are particularly large cantilevers and here the walkway slabs, supported by a main beam, enclose cast-in steel beams and three cross-beams. These are bolted back to the structural slabs using Isokorb units for steel-tosteel construction and steel construction-to-concrete slabs.

Large capacity thermal breaks required Building D1 is a community of studios, workshops and office spaces, which structurally consists of robust concrete slabs – with trees located on the external decks. Some extremely large capacity structural thermal break elements were developed to take the loads.

Other buildings that incorporate Schöck Isokorb solutions are A1; which marks the main access to the Design District. D4, with its tall slim facade; and A4 on the western edge of the site, which welcomes visitors with a large roof-mounted illuminated sign.

Totally verifiable performance The comprehensive Schöck Isokorb range enables concrete-toconcrete, steel–to-steel and concrete-to-steel detailing. And there are solutions too that provide a maintenance-free alternative to wrapped parapets; along with a product which thermally insulates connections for reinforced concrete walls and columns. Products meet full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations, have NHBC approval and offer LABC Registration. There is also the security of independent BBA Certification.

For a free copy of the Schöck Thermal Bridging Guide; the Schöck Specifiers Guide or to view the range of downloadable software, contact Schöck on 01865 290 890 or visit the website at www.schoeck.co.uk LEFT AND BELOW: Two general views of the new Design District (Images courtesy of Whitby Wood)

Construction UK Magazine - June 2020 21

Fire Safety NATIONAL CAMPAIGN SHOULDN’T JUST FOCUS ON SPRINKLERS To overcome new fire safety challenges, greater awareness on innovative fire safety technologies is needed Fire suppression specialist and BAFSA member Plumis is supporting the National Fire Chief Council’s (NFCC) sprinkler week campaign (18-24 May) but is highlighting the need for a broader discussion to tackle new fire safety challenges.

As the name suggests, the national campaign intends to raise the profile of sprinklers to keep more people and buildings safe from fire. However, in order to truly reduce the number of fire-related deaths and injuries, Plumis is calling for those championing the awareness week to take a more forward-looking approach to ensure opportunities to improve fire safety don’t go unmissed.

William Makant co-founder and CEO at Plumis, said: “Sprinklers are without doubt an amazing invention. Despite refinements, their basic design has remained fundamentally unchanged, which is testament to the brilliance of Grinnell’s original design. But the challenges presented to us today around fire safety, are changing as a result of changes in how we live and increased life expectancy.

“For example, whilst fires caused by smoking have declined, fires as a result of electrical items and white goods have increased. In addition to this, the people most at risk of death in domestic fires are those individuals considered to be vulnerable; the elderly, disabled and those who are unable to escape from a fire easily.”

The fire challenges presented by an ageing population calls for the next generation of fire safety technology and the integration of more sophisticated and flexible fire protection solutions. In light of this, Plumis is asking for the fire industry to rethink what is fit for purpose and encourage an open discussion about the various fire safety systems available to protect individuals depending on their unique needs and requirements.

Typically, sprinklers control the spread of a fire and in some cases, extinguish it completely, preventing fire damage and spread to adjacent areas. However, sprinklers can be slow to activate when tackling a fire with a slow growth rate and provide limited benefit for smoke control.

Unfortunately, many events planned for national sprinkler week have had to be cancelled because of coronavirus concerns, but Plumis is continuing to raise awareness for the initiative by advocating the need to embrace alternative AWSS, to truly reduce the number of fire related-injuries and deaths.

xxx

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22 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

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Q&A Interview Q&AS RELATING TO COVID-19 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY With the construction industry starting to return to some normality, we as Construction ADR Specialists are getting asked several questions relating to the impact of Covid-19 on employers, contractors and subcontractors within the industry. With social distancing in place on construction sites, productivity has been hugely affected and many contractors are struggling to obtain the materials and supplies required for their construction works, causing delays and disruption to construction projects.

Below we answer a number of questions to help those in the construction industry understand their rights and what could make a successful claim: 1. Can I get an Extension of Time after suspending construction works on site due to Covid-19?

Under most contracts, yes you should be able to. You will need to check the contract that is being used, but generally under a JCT contract you can apply to the Employer for additional time if Covid-19 has caused delays on site that will affect your Completion Date. It is likely that the Extension of Time will be granted as a result of a neutral event, which means that although a Contractor can be awarded additional time, they will not be entitled to recover any additional costs incurred, unless by agreement.

The situation is different under an NEC contract where generally any additional time granted under a Compensation Event would give rise to both additional time and money.

Under both forms of contract it is important that the parties are made aware of the potential delays or disruption as soon as possible, ensuring the correct notices are issued under the contract, to give the Contractor the best chance possible of compensation.

The Contractor also has a responsibility of using his “best endeavours” to prevent further delay, therefore a good record of events and actions taken is crucial as they may be relied upon as proof further down the line.

2. Can I get an Extension of Time because my productivity is reduced on site from implementing social distancing measures?

You can apply for extra time due to disruption if working under the safety guidelines has reduced productivity on site. It is important to issue a second notice for this even if an Extension of Time has already been awarded for works being suspended for Covid-19.

Adequate site records showing the difference between the planned and actual tasks undertaken on site will be required, showing how activities and labour levels were affected by the social distancing measures. Once again, the specifics of whether there is time and/ or money entitlement depends on the type of contract in place.

3. Can I get an Extension of Time because my material deliveries were delayed due to Covid-19?

You can apply for additional time if you have documentary evidence that the delay was outside of your control and not due to your lack of action. The Contractor still has an obligation to prevent further delay, which means trying to source alternative products for quicker delivery.

4. Can I get additional costs from my Client because I had to use a more expensive Subcontractor as the company I had planned to use were isolating?

In most cases, a Contractor would take on the risk of the employment of Subcontractors, unless the Contract specifically stated otherwise. In which case, it is unlikely that you would be entitled to recover the additional cost, unless an agreement has been reached

with the Client. You may be entitled to an Extension of Time however, to protect you from having liquidated and ascertained damages (LADs) levied if the supply disruption caused a delay to the contract Completion Date.

5. Can I get additional costs from my Client because the materials I had intended to use were not available, so I had to use a more expensive alternative?

In most cases, a Contractor would take on the risk of the supply of the materials, unless the Contract specifically stated otherwise. In which case, it is unlikely that you would be entitled to recover the additional cost, unless an agreement has been reached with the Client.

You may be entitled to an Extension of Time however, to protect you from having LAD’s levied if the supply disruption caused a delay to the contract Completion Date.

6. How can I protect myself from incurring additional costs if there is a second wave of the virus and we have another lockdown?

You may want to open up discussions with your Client to include some kind of risk sharing agreement amending the Contract in the event of another lockdown scenario.

This may include an understanding that any additional costs would be shared by both parties.

7. I am a Client and my Contractor refuses to continue working on site even using suggested guidelines stating that it is because of Covid-19. What can I do and what are my rights?

The Contractor has an obligation to use their “best endeavours” to prevent further delay, therefore would have to have a very strong argument to show that no work was safe on site. The Construction Leadership Council’s Site Operation Procedures lay out guidance for how safe working can be achieved, it would be a very specific site that could not utilise these procedures in some way. If a Client issued an instruction for the Contractor to return to site to continue works and the Contractor refused without a detailed and specific reason, the Contractor would be in repudiatory breach of the contract and action could be taken against them, including the employment of other Contractors to carry out the works, when the correct contractual procedures had been carried out.

If your construction project has been affected by Covid-19 and you require further advice on avoiding or resolving a dispute, please contact Arbicon on advice@arbicon.co.uk or call 01733 233737.

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AIR VENT TECHNOLOGY LTD Air Vent Technology Ltd has been doing its bit to help out the NHS in these difficult times. The Company designed and manufactured a heat recovery unit of sufficient power to ventilate a new isolation unit at the Royal United Hospital in Bristol, all within a four week turnaround period –enquiry/design/quotation/approval/production/delivery.

The custom built STR630/HR was manufactured to comply with HMO3-01 requirements for ventilation of healthcare premises. This fully weatherproof unit for external installation features EC motors for energy efficiency. It is complete with fitted door guards and a metal heat exchanger with up to 75% thermal efficiency. It has metal framed filters, and treated coils to comply with HTM requirements. There are easy access sections for cleaning and maintenance, with lights and viewports to all major components.

Air Vent Technology can design and build air handling and heat recovery units for a wide variety of applications from oil platforms to the hospitality industry, but in this instance are particularly proud of the job they have done for a Bristol Hospital.

KNEE AND BODY PROTECTION FROM REDBACKS CUSHIONING

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05/06/2020 13:11:41

Redbacks Cushioning Limited, developers of the award winning, ‘Leaf-Spring’ cushioning technology offers a range of products to help protect the knees and body from damage caused by kneeling.

The Redbacks Pocket Kneepad, specifically designed to fit work trousers, features a flexible leaf-spring held within a thermoplastic honeycomb matrix which unlike foam or gel ensures a high compression rate and 100% recovery to its original shape.

This combination and the inherent ‘memory’ aspect gives unique controlled weight distribution; the deceleration of pressure protects both the knees and body from potentially damaging impact forces and gives long lasting, anti-fatigue support; traditional foam or gel solutions create point-pressure

24 Construction UK Magazine - June 2020

which focus the force or energy to a point which is then transmitted back into the knee joint and beyond.

Easy to slide in and curved to fit comfortably around the knee, the water-resistant pads which conform to CE EN14404 Type 2 Level 1 help to protect against possible injury from sharp objects, wick away sweat and provide thermal protection from warm or cold surfaces; they are machine washable at 30°c and 100% recyclable.

For more information or to become a supplier visit www.redbackscushioning.com, email: sales@redbackscushioning.com or telephone: 01327 702104

Technology CAN TECHNOLOGY MAKE THE “NEW NORMAL” A LITTLE LESS ABNORMAL? There’s a lot of talk about the “new normal” when it comes to re-opening workplaces and schools; but what’s becoming clear is that it looks nothing like the normal we once knew. The sight of four-year-olds sitting two metres apart in bare classrooms is heartbreaking, but what about construction sites? Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots, asks whether technology can make the new normal a little less abnormal.

The Covid-19 epidemic had caught the construction industry at quite a unique point in time. It is a time many define as the tipping point in terms of adoption of digital technologies in construction; a time where industry leaders have finally witnessed the positive outcomes of their recent years’ digital strategy.

Digital technologies have taken their time with disrupting the construction sector, for many years the most advanced tool available for construction companies to buy for production management was Microsoft Excel. This had caused the industry to build its workflows around overcoming the lack of data, rather than making use of it.

In recent years we have seen a big change; established companies (such as Oracle, Autodesk and others) together with a new wave of construction tech startups, have added many software solutions into the construction sector’s available toolbox.

Companies such as PlanGrid Procore grew from nothing to Unicorns in a few years, defining new categories in the construction software market.

However, this is only the beginning. An unbelievable amount of software solutions developed by startups and corporates are making their first steps on construction sites all over the world, gradually solving more and more pain points in the industry using the world’s most advanced technologies.

And now comes Covid-19, requiring the industry to adopt a new “normal” of social distancing, work from home, uncertainty, and other challenges keeping the construction industry’s leaders up at night in the past couple of months.

With so many solutions “on the bench” and an urgent need to change and support the new normal, it is the industry’s time to shine. Software providers are quickly adapting their software to strengthen their solutions around the immediate challenges, and construction companies are, for the first time in history, ready to believe that technology is the answer for most, if not all, their problems.

Construction companies have quickly realized that enforcing social distancing on site is going to be a challenge – and an area where technology can step in. For example, a Canadian company which makes wristwatch-style wearable voltage sensors to protect site workers from electrocution has just introduced a wristband that vibrates when it comes within two metres of another band – instantly alerting workers to the fact that they are getting too close to each other on site.

One US company is taking a more authoritative approach by using artificial intelligence to monitor images and videos of site workers to check for health and safety breaches. Like an AI safety inspector who’s never looking the wrong way, the system can spot if a worker isn’t wearing safety gloves or has taken off their hard hat, and it can also now be configured to monitor social distancing.

Once enforcing social distancing, companies quickly realise that there’s a bigger underlying challenge – how can we maintain control of our construction projects? By limiting the staff on site and sending some of the managers to work from home, construction companies are having even less data than before.

During these times of uncertainty, data is becoming essential for tracking and managing construction projects.

At Buildots, we use a hardhat-mounted 360°-degree camera to create process visibility in construction sites. Our system makes use of deep learning (artificial

Roy Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Buildots intelligence) technology to seamlessly turn every visit to the construction site into a gold mine of data available for everyone involved in the project. Since Covid-19, we have seen a great increase in the use of the system, from commercial teams using the data to approve payment requests for subcontractors in minutes (extremely important in times of financial uncertainty) to planners solely relying on the data from our system to update project plans.

Before the pandemic, the information on our system was being used to cut down on wasted time and enable more efficient working; part of an overall, if slow, move towards the concept of a connected jobsite, using the Internet of Things, geolocation and big data to drag the industry slowly into the 21st century. What happened when Covid-19 hit, was that our customers suddenly realised that an AI-powered system could enable remote working in a way that sometimes is even more efficient than working in the field.

Another major technology that’s thriving due to the new normal is BIM. Companies looking to minimise physical interactions during the design process, and reduce design collisions in the construction process, are seeing BIM as the potential answer. Collaborative BIM design has been around for quite some time now, with many cloud-based software solutions on the market ready to support the process.

I am a big believer in BIM, and it’s not only because it produces better designs, it’s because for the first time we have a digital co-ordinated model of the end-product of our construction process. This is the basis for many other technologies (Buildots included) that would change the way we build and manage construction for good.

Website: www.buildots.com

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