7 minute read
Supply Trailblazers
A new business in Belfast that uses a technology to impregnate wood with a unique fire retardant is making waves in the construction world here. Emma Deighan talks to HALT General Manager Noel McKernan about how it will make the difference.
Launched last month, HALT in West Belfast’s Springbank Industrial Estate is a sister company of firm Pure Fitout. The HALT treatment facility impregnates wood species of many varieties with a unique fire retardant solution from Danish company Burnblock®.
HALT has the exclusive rights to this non-toxic and biodegradable fire retardant treatment, which could support a move towards more timber-framed houses here, subsequently supporting the island-wide housing crisis and helping the building sector in its drive to net zero carbon emissions.
Noel McKernan, general manager at the business, says HALT was born from a perceived increase in the requirement for wooden interior linings and exterior timber cladding with the highest fire safety standards achievable.
A £2.5m investment and a partnership with Burnblock saw the launch of the factory last month, with a team of five and growth on the agenda.
“Fire safety is paramount, and impregnation of wood is the best method of achieving this,” Noel begins.
“With no other treatment facilities available on the island of Ireland, investment was made which resulted in HALT. Timber treated at HALT achieves the highest European fire safety rating for a combustible material, B,s1-d0.”
In industry terms that rating translates as having a very limited contribution to fire, absent or very little smoke emissions and no burning droplets.
HALT is Ronan Higham, managing director of Pure Fitout’s business. That firm has established a name in building circles and is the company behind many key names in their respective industries.
This includes The Dean Hotel in Galway, the Five Guys fast food empire here, Boojum, Spoon Street and a host of other retail, office and hospitality sites in the UK and Ireland.
Noel adds that while HALT may appear as a diversion from that fit-out business, it is actually complementary to what it does, “as more and more interior and exterior fit-out projects are being designed with wood in mind, which is, after all, the more sustainable choice”.
HALT is a specialist in the field, thanks to that timber impregnation technology.
It provides its service to any client treating a range of timber with each species “fully backed up with test documentation, provided by a notified body”.
“Our current classification table includes a range of softwood, hardwood, plywood and modified wood, including thermowood and accoya,” Noel explains.
“We are constantly looking at increasing the range of timber species we can treat at HALT, based on market demand and specific client requests.”
HALT boasts the aptitude to see construction projects through from theory to inception; assisting with bespoke configurations and providing testing and documentation from a notified body to support these.
Noel says: “In addition to the impregnation service, we also have the latest technology in kiln drying, ensuring we return our treated products back to the moisture content at which they arrived with us.”
Beyond the core service at HALT is a bigger story: a role in our drive to zero carbon emissions. It could also play a part in supporting the housing crisis here, Noel explains.
“We all have a role to play in tackling climate change and driving towards net zero. Trees are known to sequester the carbon absorbed during their growth, even after felling. A move towards more use of timber in the construction trade would mean a greater contribution towards achieving the targets set.
“An increase in timber products used during the construction phase would speed up the overall build while using fire-safe timber treated at HALT would provide a huge increase in the levels of fire safety both during the construction phase and throughout the life of the finished project, and an increase in the construction of timber-framed houses in Ireland would go a long way helping to deal with the current housing crisis.”
He says: “We are currently heavily focused on building our business within the Irish sector. As a newly established company with state-of-the-art technology and environmentally friendly credentials, we firmly believe we can now offer designers, architects and builders a more sustainable option for the Irish building sector.”
Plans for the firm are to provide a complete solution for clients, with a continuation to expand the range of timber it is certified to treat.
“We will also continue to invest in the latest technology to help us provide an excellent service,” Noel adds.
“We are excited about the potential for saving lives with wood treated at HALT. Tests have proven that wood treated with the revolutionary Burnblock treatment will char, as water vapour is released limiting combustion. Just as important is the fact any wood treated at HALT carries the highest rating achievable for preventing smoke production. Statistics have shown that smoke and toxic fumes contribute up to 34% of fire related deaths.”
RIGHTING THE SME SHIP IN TIMES OF (DIS)STRESS
Gareth McGonigle.
As cracks start to show across the economy, never has independent professional advice been so important in turning things around.
SME businesses are susceptible to the same mistakes as larger entities – high levels of debt, poor senior and mid management, or a diffi cult external environment. The latter is particularly relevant at present given the number of macro-economic headwinds at play. For turnaround and restructuring advisors, working with SMEs has some unique challenges too, whether it is a longer turnaround or restructuring period, the need to employ different forms of support, or the complex and varying challenges of family businesses.
The longer road to recovery
By contrast to larger businesses, SMEs can often require a longer turnaround period, of anywhere between two to three years. The fi rst 12 months focuses on stopping the bleeding, understanding what has gone wrong and why, and resetting the direction of the business. Cutting costs, improving governance and controls, changing organisational structures, and improving leadership are all key components in the early days. The second and third twelve-month periods should see stabilisation and a return to profi t.
Advisors with many hats
SME businesses are unlikely to have a large team of experienced advisers to help them through diffi cult times, so the role of the turnaround or restructuring advisor can be widespread. They need to bring all their skills to the table, from negotiator to manager, from strategic adviser to fi nancial adviser. Most importantly, being able to bring an objective and rational view to the table is key. It is impossible to add value if individuals within the business aren’t on board with the idea and cannot see the end value in the process.
Family matters
Turnaround or restructuring in SME businesses can often be complicated by the fact that many are family businesses. When personal and professional matters are comingled, both in terms of management and fi nances, the stakes are very high for all concerned. Emotions are elevated. The subtleties of managing a family turnaround are complex, with the complexity increasing in relation to the number of generations the business has been in the family. First generation turnarounds may be quite straightforward, and second and third generation or beyond can be much more problematic. However, in certain instances, blood is indeed thicker than water, and the family connection can work in the business’s favour.
For any business experiencing stress or distress, the knowledge and independence of a professional advisor might well be the difference between turning the corner and shutting the doors.
Gareth McGonigle is Restructuring and Insolvency Director at ASM Chartered Accountants and is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. If you or your clients would benefi t from a free, confi dential discussion, please do not hesitate to contact Gareth on 028 9024 9222 or at gareth.mcgonigle@asmbelfast.com.
ASM
4th Floor Glendinning House 6 Murray Street, Belfast BT1 6DN www.asmaccountants.com gareth.mcgonigle@asmbelfast.com
