Construction National 1CHJ (Summer 2016)

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COVER STORY

Top roofers recognised at awards A patient at a North West children’s hospital inspired the design for the award-winning roof that features on this issue’s front cover. Prater Ltd – with Radmat Building Products Ltd – were named the winners in the Green Roofs category of this year’s Roofing Awards for their project at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. The awards were presented on the far-from-unlucky Friday 13 May by TV’s Steph McGovern.

read the full story of the event on page 18

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NEWS 9 9 11 11 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 17

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Brexit: where does this leave the construction industry?

Scotland takes pride of place in contract stakes Expo reflects the powerhouse of the North Build event travels from capital to capital Thompsons invest in latest and safest New national architecture centre to open in Liverpool Landmark reached for women construction workers Partnership gives Avantgarde new dimension Minister visits Glasgow railway tunnel site Speedy launches new catalogue Anchor expands its retirement and care facilities New lighting control system makes configuration easier than ever Sports star joins construction industry Use the technology to check cards, CSCS urges J D Neuhaus at your service

ROOFING 18 Top roofers recognised at awards ceremony 20 Slating training gets boost from industry 21 How to repair cast iron guttering 22 Prestigious new Edinburgh development gets the Sundolitt XPS treatment 22 Integrated Alumasc system protects council office roofs 23 New IKO Polymeric website for everything on single ply 23 Roof-Pro delivers roof access systems for Royal Derby Hospital

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SUSTAINABILITY 24 Builders and installers urged to recycle PVC windows 24 Exeter leads the way in specifying sustainability 24 Make a BIG difference TRAINING & APPRENTICESHIPS 25 Construction sector’s growing demand met by specialist college 26 Apprenticeships: new levy aims to turn £3m into three million 26 Sites open their doors to future workers 27 FMB issues plea to Scottish Government over levy

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For all other enquiries: Tel: 0161 710 3880 Fax: 0161 710 3879 Email: editorial@dmmonline.co.uk Suite 2, 61 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 3AW Editor: Chris Stokes Copyright Construction National.

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1CHJ

CONTENTS CONCRETE 28 Sprayed Concrete Association releases new guide

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HEALTH & SAFETY 30 Conference delegates urged to use their T-cup 31 Safety barriers should not compromise facility hygiene 32 Industry unites to improve health among workforce 32 Campaign looks to increase cancer awareness 32 Construction fails the ‘stress test’ 33 Stay compliant with fire safety legislation WORKING AT HEIGHT 34 CISRS announces CPD courses 35 NASC launches TG20:13 consultation process 36 SG4:You pocket guide now available 37 New award will recognise innovation in scaffolding 37 Access association elects its first woman deputy 37 IPAF report shortlisted for trade association award 38 Scaffolding supplier ups the ante – however you want to order 38 Qualifying the Workforce programme to fund scaffolder training 39 Business is booming for powered access specialists 39 Work at height cases continue to come to court – years after the event

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BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING 40 BIM Toolkit is free to all 40 BIM’s influence spreads beyond public sector 41 BIM Case Study: The 3rd Bosphorous Bridge – a truly awe-inspiring project 43 The evolution of BIM SUDS 44 46 47 48

AND DRAINAGE Green infrastructure – the perfect prevention for flooding?

Three rules of water management for green roofs Not all D400s are created equal Heathrow adopts WinCan web

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FINANCE 49 The effect of Brexit on the construction industry? Some of us have been here before 50 Supporting growth through asset finance 51 BMF adds voice to Javid’s late payment campaign 51 Is your accountant saving you money?

DEMOLITION 54 The language of demolition HOUSING 55 Award winners look forward to the next stages 55 FMB: apprenticeships key to solving housing crisis 56 Twin jewels set in an enchanted forest 57 Bard lends his name to award-winning development 57 Local housing provision gets a boost in Keswick 58 Online programme will explore housebuilding industry 58 Starter homes target too ambitious, say lenders 58 Insulating the UK’s hard-to-treat or ‘problem’ domestic dwellings

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WELL, WE’VE BEEN and gone and done it now. The construction industry is still mulling over the practical implications of the referendum vote following what many view as a shock result.

As many commentators indicated before the vote, no-one could be absolutely sure of what would happen following a decision to leave, and that applies to the construction industry as well. What is certain, however, is that there will be consequences. The industry is too bound up to a collective approach to everything it does for that not to be the case.

The following weeks and months will reveal more.

• Whatever the future holds, it is business as usual for the industry meanwhile. The summer means awards time and some of the most exciting roof designs featured among the finalists of the annual Roofing Awards. Among the iconic buildings to be singled out were Westminster Cathedral and the 1970s Byker Wall estate. Perhaps the most eye-catching new design was the green roof atop the new building at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool – based on drawings by a young patient – which won the award in that category.

• Also revealed were the first-round winners in the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards. The process of selecting the country’s top site manager will culminate in January at the finals in London. Before then, in July, the NHBC will announce the overall winners of its Health and Safety Awards. The highly-commended list was published in May. • Health and safety is a major issue in the construction industry. It is traditionally one of the most hazardous sectors, with working at height a particular risk. That is why the major trade bodies in the sector place the issue at the top of their agendas. Membership of all those associations requires strict adherence to safety measures. When things do go wrong HSE pursues offenders with persistence, sometimes taking years to bring cases to court.

• Workplace health is the side of the H & S coin that receives less attention – a fact recognised this year in many campaigns. One such is the No Time to Lose campaign to highlight workplace cancer, being mounted by HSE and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The current focus is on silica dust inhalation, a real risk for building site and highway workers. It was one of the issues debated at the IOSH national conference in London in June. The conference ran alongside the Safety and Health Expo, a three-day event showcasing the whole spectrum of safety equipment and resources.

• Farther north, in Manchester, the Northern Powerhouse played host to another major conference and exhibition in the series mounted by Oliver Kinross. The exhibition specialist is currently engaged in a series of events in major cities in the UK and around the world. North England Build followed on from successful events in London and Glasgow. Those two cities will be hosting further events in October and November respectively. Construction National is pleased to be a media partner for those events, as it was for the Manchester show and the previous events in the UK. • Parts of the country were affected last December by some of the worst flooding seen in recent times. In the last few years flooding has been seen in York, Hereford and other historic cities and it is surely only a matter of time before a major conurbation suffers the same deluge. Those consequences of our changing weather cannot be avoided, but the effects can be guarded against with proper planning and efficient sustainable drainage systems. q

Chris Stokes Editor, Construction National

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Brexit: where does this leave the construction industry?

[THE REACTION OF the construction index

to the Brexit vote in the referendum has been varied according to the sector of the industry it has come from. In general, however, there is a great deal of unease about what is going to replace the certainty of European co-operation.

A number of issues have been identified as of particular concern to the industry, notably the free movement of people and materials and the EU-wide benchmarking of materials and processes.

RIBA president Jane Duncan said in a report carried on the NBS website: “Clearly there is uncertainty about the timescales and impacts on a range of issues important to our industry, including free movement in the EU for architects as well as students, trading and material sourcing, inward investment relationships, EU procurement rules and the effect on the construction sector if restrictions are placed on EU migration.”

The reliance of the building industry on the free movement of people and the consequences of a curtailment of that movement was emphasised by FMB chief executive Brian Berry.

Mr Berry said: “At present 12% of British construction workers are of non-UK origin.

The majority of these workers are from EU countries such as Poland, Romania and Lithuania and they have helped the construction industry bounce back from the economic downturn, when 400,000 skilled workers left our industry – most of which did not return. It is now the government’s responsibility to ensure that the free-flowing tap of migrant workers from Europe is not turned off.

“If Ministers want to meet their housebuilding and infrastructure objectives, they have to

ensure that the new system of immigration is responsive to the needs of industry.”

Possible consequences for major infrastructure projects was a concern echoed in an opinion piece on the knowledge base Designing Buildings Wiki.

Its commentator said: “As a member of the EU, the UK had access to the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund. Together these institutions had invested €7.8bn in major infrastructure projects and lent €665.8mn to SMEs respectively in 2015.

Losing both these revenue streams could have a significant impact on the delivery of big infrastructure projects such as HS2, as well as start-ups across the UK. “While this may be replaced by some of the money saved from EU membership, it seems unlikely in the face of ongoing cuts to government spending that this would be invested in infrastructure.”

Overall, although the industry can only wait to find out what the ramifications of Brexit will be, there is a general sense of disappointment at the result of the poll. q

Scotland takes pride of place in contract stakes [DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY caused by the impending

referendum, contracts awarded in the construction industry in May showed continuing strength, at £6.1bn worth. That represented no change from a month ago and an 8% increase compared to the same time last year.

According to the latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, published on 23 June, the top region for construction contract value in May was Scotland for the second month in a row, with 24%. That, said analysts, was greatly helped by the commissioning of the Beatrice offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth, valued at £1.3bn.

Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, said: “With May figures hovering around the £6bn mark, similar to the previous two months, this indicates a stable construction market that is looking towards the long term, with little sign of worry from today’s EU referendum vote.

“What is telling is the increase of contract values in May from the infrastructure and commercial retail sectors, both traditional construction benchmarks that when performing well, give a solid indication that the industry as a whole is moving positively.”

However, in a possibly telling forecast of events later in the day, he added: “However, if Brexit does take place this is likely to cause a significant change in outlook, at least in the short term, with the likelihood of a reduction in activity.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Expo reflects the powerhouse of the North

[IN THE SPRING Manchester Central was

the venue for the inaugural North England Build Expo – the latest in a suite of regional construction industry events from promoter Oliver Kinross. This manifestation of the event sought to tap into the Northern Powerhouse and build on its growing momentum.

In a parallel to Manchester’s famed ‘four seasons in a day’ weather, the show, which ran from 27-28 April, delivered something for everyone. The two days witnessed an exhibition featuring in excess of 100 booths, a high-level conference, CPD-accredited training workshops, live demonstrations, VIP networking sessions, a Skills Hub careers zone, lively entertainment and many fantastic prize giveaways.

The conference and workshops offered a range of high-calibre speakers from such organisations as the Cabinet Office, ARUP, CIOB, the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, Design Council Cabe, National Federation of Builders, House Builders Association, Homes and Communities Agency, Skanska, MACE, Futureworks (Yorkshire) and many more key industry professionals.

Mark Scott of Futureworks (Yorkshire) commented: “As a small business focusing on encouraging young people into the construction industry, what a fantastic opportunity being involved in the North England Build Expo has been. More companies need to support next year’s event.

For the industry to grow, let’s focus on young people being the heart of your future.”

The expo also featured four exclusive Meet the Buyer sessions for exhibitors and VIP guests. They were: Meet the Architects; Meet the Contractors and Engineers; Meet the Developers and Meet the Home Builders.

The show received outstanding support

from industry with over 40 official event and media partners, including lead supporters the CIOB and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. As a locally-based construction industry publication, Construction National was particularly proud to be counted among the media partners.

Representatives from the publication were on hand to greet old and new friends and introduce new readers to the magazine.

Rico Wojtulewicz of the House Builders Association summed up the value of attending: “An interesting and open event that brings together the industry to challenge stereotypes and find solutions.”

Next year’s show will run from 26-27 April at the same venue. In the meantime, London and Glasgow will once more be hosting London Build and Scotland Build, in October and November of this year respectively. q

Build event travels from capital to capital [

THE NEXT EVENT in Oliver Kinross’s suite of expos is London Build. Heralded as the first major construction industry event to take place since the London Mayoral elections, London Build 2016 is returning to London’s Olympia on 26-27 October.

Featuring over 300 exhibitors and 150 conference and CPDaccredited workshop sessions, it will offer an ideal opportunity for organisations to gain access to all the latest construction projects in the capital.

In addition to the well-established Skills Hub and Meet the Buyer sessions, there will be an Architects Zone and a Market Intelligence Zone, as well as cutting edge Sustainability Zone and a Health and Safety Zone.

A highlight of the event will be the London Construction Awards – the leading and most prestigious awards ceremony for the booming London construction industry. The awards include categories for solution providers, contractors, developers, architects and local authorities.

The awards ceremony takes place on the evening of 26 October 26th at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, featuring world-famous comedian Jimmy Carr.

Following the London bonanza the events move on to Glasgow, for Scotland Build on 16-17 November at the SECC. As with previous events in the series, Construction National will be acting as a media partner for both London Build and Scotland Build. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Thompsons invest in latest and safest

[ THOMPSONS OF PRUDHOE have just

bought two ‘walking-floor’ trailers from Titan Trailers to add to their articulated haulage fleet.

These trailers replace two of the 16 tipping trailers that have been the mainstay of the Thompsons long-distance bulk haulage fleet for decades, and mark a major moment in the Thompson fleet’s 68 year history.

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The trailers will be used to haul the company’s own lime and aggregates, as well as other bulk materials, across the whole of the UK. The 27½ tonne payload trailers represent a significant financial commitment to fleet safety as they come at a premium of almost 75% against the cost of a new traditional tipping trailer.

However, the Thompsons board felt that the safety benefits far outweighed the financial drivers for the fleet capital renewal programme.

Transport manager Ronnie McGrouther said: “The reasons for the choice were stability, durability, the ability to tip indoors without risk of overhead damage, a less obtrusive size overall and, above all, the elimination of the risk of overturning when discharging a load.” q

New national architecture centre to open in Liverpool [

THE Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is to open a new national architecture centre in Liverpool in August. The new centre, RIBA North, will be located on the city’s Waterfront and will offer architecture exhibitions, talks and tours as well as a new café and shop.

The new cultural destination will offer perspectives on the built environment to architecture and design enthusiasts, families, students and professionals. At its heart is a new gallery, which will host a bold programme of exhibitions and offer the opportunity to view the historic RIBA Collections, the nation’s richest resource of architecture drawings, photographs and prints, dating from the late 15th century to the present day.

RIBA North’s opening exhibition Liverpool(e): Mover, Shaker, Architecture Risk Taker will show designs for Liverpool that were never built.

As well as offering a vision of an alternative Liverpool that could have been, they reveal much about the process of the city’s development, and celebrate Liverpool’s long, often maverick, history of architectural ambition and its willingness to take risks and be open to transformation.

The show will feature drawings, models and watercolours from the RIBA Collections, many of which have never been on display before. They include extraordinary unbuilt proposals for the city’s Anglican Cathedral by Sir Charles Nicholson and Philip Webb, a radical 1959 scheme by Sir Denys Lasdun for the Catholic Cathedral site and a bold vision for a new skyline by Graeme Shankland from the 1960s, after two thirds of the city’s buildings

The new national architecture centre on Liverpool’s Waterfront – ©webbaviation.co.uk were declared to be obsolete. Visitors can watch a newly commissioned film reflecting on Liverpool’s architectural audacity, its willingness to consider unconventional schemes and how that has resulted in the dramatic and celebrated skyline we see today.

RIBA president Jane Duncan said: “We’re thrilled to announce that RIBA North will open in Liverpool this summer. By opening a new national architecture centre in the north, RIBA is affirming our commitment to strengthening our cultural and creative offering across the UK, giving opportunities for many more people to explore the enormous impact that architecture and design has on our lives. The new exhibition gallery, with museum

conditions, will offer a magnificent opportunity to display RIBA’s historic collections, telling hundreds of years of the UK’s extraordinary architectural history.

“The prominent high-footfall location of our new gallery on the Waterfront, next to the Three Graces, the new Museum of Liverpool, Liverpool One and the attractions of the Albert Dock, will help us to reach a wide audience. The new facilities, alongside conference and event space, will mean we can offer even greater support to all our members in the region.”

RIBA North is at Mann Island, which was designed by Broadway Malyan and won a RIBA North West Award for architecture in 2015. q

Landmark reached for women construction workers [WOMEN INTO CONSTRUCTION – the organisation that supports

women to pursue careers in all areas of construction – has celebrated securing paid employment for its 600th candidate. The landmark came as industry leaders and government came together to call for greater diversity in construction at an event at the House of Lords on 13 June.

Its managing director Kath Moore said: “There is a growing interest in addressing gender diversity in construction and infrastructure and a real appetite for change. I hope that the next few years will bring positive changes in female representation in these areas. We need to work together to share good practice and make sure that these changes happen.”

According to the ONS, only 1.3% of employees in manual trades are women. In areas such as roofing, glazing and bricklaying the number of female operatives is statistically too small to measure. When architects, surveyors, engineers and other professionals are counted the percentage only climbs to 11% – far smaller than in other European countries such as Sweden (25%) and Germany (15%).

Priti Patel, Minister of State for Employment, commented: “Women currently represent only 11% of the construction workforce and, despite that, Women into Construction has supported hundreds of women into employment with some of the biggest construction contractors in the country. It is therefore important that we not only pause to celebrate the success of Women into Construction, but that we also look to see how both government and employers can continue supporting this work in the future through on-going engagement with the construction sector.”

One of the industry leaders attending the event was Julie Thornton, head of human resources at Tideway. She said: “Construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel will create more than 4,000 direct jobs and in an industry already suffering huge skills shortages it’s imperative we continue to encourage women into engineering and construction. At Tideway, we are working towards achieving gender parity in our project team and have also set our main works contractors some challenging employment targets.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Partnership gives Avantgarde new dimension

[AVANTGARDE, A NATIONALLY OPERATING provider of site services

across public and private sectors, have been busy the last 12 months supplying its services into some very notable projects around the UK. In Scotland there has been the completion of the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and the V&A Museum in Dundee, both for BAM Construction. Later on in the year the company was asked to play its part in the Northern Powerhouse concept and was deployed on the Milton to Whitby joint bay/roadworks for Interserve as they looked to service the east coast power grid.

As its reputation steadily grew, Avantgarde was recruited to place services and support into a nationwide upgrade of Shell Petroleum service station forecourts, carried out by Fox Construction. It has been a year of healthy growth which has cemented their reputation as one of the UK’s most innovative and trusted service providers.

This continued prominence lead to a need for innovation, partnership and national logistics. With this in mind the company, who had already reshaped and overhauled its security and facilities management divisions, decided there was an opportunity to broaden its appeal and add technology to its list of established products.

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From this came the signing of a framework agreement with V360 Systems, a market leader in onsite technologies. The mandate was simple – find a technology partner who could add another dimension to Avantgarde and help them offer a uniquely holistic set of services. Many companies were trialled, however in V360 there was a sense of innovation as well as a tangible infrastructure already in place. V360 has worked on some high profile construction sites, including the Heads of the Valleys motorway extension for Carillion, the Athletes Village for Glasgow 2014 and the AWPR oil pipeline and motorway extension in Aberdeen.

Trial deployments of V360 CCTV towers, VStile Biometric turnstile pods and wireless VFire fire evacuation systems were rolled out and it was clear that in V360 Systems, Avantgarde had a likeminded progressive supplier.

With its track record and new partnership, the team from Avantgarde feel that they can now deliver the broadest range of services that can be found in one place – from manned guarding, CCTV towers, access control pods, building fabric maintenance, cleaning and much more.

According to the company: “With Avantgarde, clients can take the hassle out of dealing with multiple providers by using one customer focussed supplier. We offer one company, one contact and one monthly invoice.” q

Minister visits Glasgow railway tunnel site [ON 3 JUNE the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister

Humza Yousaf visited Glasgow’s Queen Street tunnel, where engineers working to renew the railway had recently completed the first line of track. The £60m project is the biggest scheme of engineering work on the Edinburgh-Glasgow railway since it was built in the 1840s.

Since the high-level station closed to trains on 20 March, over 2,100 engineers have invested more than 150,000 work hours to renew track through the tunnel and to lengthen and rebuild platforms and track layouts in the station.

With the 20-week scheme progressing to plan, the project team has now completed the first line of new slab-track and remains on course to reopen the station on 8 August. Work has now begun on laying the second line of new slab-track through the tunnel.

Over the first 10 weeks of the project Network Rail engineers, who are renewing the tunnel for the ScotRail Alliance, removed over 5,000 tonnes of concrete and rock, created a new 945-metre concrete base and installed 820 metres of new slab-track units and 2,000 metres of new rail.

The Minister (pictured) remarked: “Delivering any major infrastructure programme in a live rail environment is a challenging undertaking and the Queen Street tunnel is certainly no exception.

“This is a massive logistical operation by Network Rail that has seen over 150,000 hours worked to date and I am pleased to see it reach the halfway point on schedule.”

The Minister praised the efforts of ScotRail staff in keeping the public informed and on the move, and thanked the public for their patience,

adding: “This work is literally paving the way for Scotland’s new fleet of electric trains, which will begin to be introduced into service next year.”

David Dickson, ScotRail Alliance infrastructure director, declared: “The renewal of the tunnel track and the installation of overhead power equipment will allow the introduction of faster, longer and greener trains on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line – delivering thousands of extra seats, shorter journey times and improved accessibility for customers.”

The tunnel renewal is being delivered by engineers working on the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) to electrify the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line. q

Speedy launches new catalogue – available in print, online and through an all-new app [IN MAY Speedy launched their all new catalogue for 2016. With over

2,800 products and services available, across over 25 different categories.

The all new catalogue isn’t just helping people find the products they need. It is helping people access these items from wherever they are, in whatever way suits them best. This is thanks to the online version, which contains all 2,800 plus products and services just as the printed catalogue, and the all new app, available on iPhone, Android and Windows Phone.

The app enables customers to access products within the catalogue no matter where they are, with ease and speed, so they can put their phone away quickly and carry on with the job in hand.

Features of the new app include: • Full product listings – with over 2,800 • products and services • Product search by keyword or code • Complete product detail, including pricing • and images • Shortlist feature, to select and compare • products • Local depot locator • Ease of use through modern user• interface The Speedy catalogue app is available for iPhone, Android and Windows at speedyservices.com/app.

Commenting on this launch, Russell Down, chief executive, said: “We’ve created an innovative approach for customers to access over 2,800 of our products, so they can get whatever they need through the platform which suits them best. As well as our printed catalogue and refreshed website, the new app enables customers to simply access our leading range of products faster, so they can focus on the work in hand.”

As well as offering multiple digital methods for accessing the catalogue, the physical copy also delivered an environmental benefit. By reducing the catalogue in scale by 96 pages compared to the 2015 edition, and changing to a more sustainable paper stock, 12.5 tonnes of paper were saved during manufacturing, and 11.1 tonnes of paper saved in the finished copies for distribution. In addition to this, approximately 6 hours less press manufacturing time was required, which reduced gas and electricity consumption by 18%. The lighter weight catalogue has also reduced the Co2 emissions from the delivery to Speedy’s depots. q • The catalogue is available now and can be picked up at any local Speedy depot. The online version can be found at speedyservices.com. To find your local depot, visit speedyservices.com/depotlocator or download the app and use the ‘depot locator’ feature. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Anchor expands its retirement and care facilities [

ON 14 JUNE a new retirement village in Hampshire was officially opened by TV presenter John Craven. The flagship development by Anchor – Hampshire Lakes in Yateley – offers more than 100 independent and assisted living apartments for over-65s, with a wealth of on-site facilities and a 24-hour support team.

Facilities include a bistro, gym, spa, swimming pool, salon, library, café, shop and landscaped gardens. There is also a 36-bed care home on the site, offering both residential care and specialist dementia support. The main contractor on the project was Midas Construction, who began work on the site in February 2014.

The Countryfile presenter joined over 150 guests from the village and the local community in raising a glass to Hampshire Lakes and

unveiling a plaque. He is pictured (second from right) with the Mayor and Mayoress of Yately and senior Anchor management.

Jane Ashcroft CBE, chief executive of Anchor – England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care to older people – said: “We are delighted to be opening this luxurious retirement development in Hampshire and we look forward to becoming part of the local community. This is the second village of this calibre that we have officially opened this year, showing our commitment to providing older people with a choice of great places to live in some of the UK’s most sought after locations.”

Just a month previously, on 12 May, GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips officially opened the new Bishopstoke Park retirement village, also in Hampshire. q

New lighting control system makes configuration easier than ever [

CP ELECTRONICS, the industry-leading designer and manufacturer of energy-saving lighting controls, has unveilled its next generation of Vitesse Plus, a seven-channel lighting control system specially designed for educational and commercial applications, as well as retail spaces.

Created in response to the recent implementation of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) mandate and Education Funding Agency guidelines, as well as a growing need to find a cost-effective solution which is easy to set up, Vitesse Plus meets the diverse needs of customers across a range of sectors.

Comprised of seven channels spaced over 12 outputs, Vitesse Plus offers superior flexibility and control. It is a stand-alone system with a built-in pre-set configuration menu which enables users to set up and reconfigure spaces quickly and intuitively.

The system is designed with the installer in mind – it offers multiple mounting options and simple plug-in connection of luminaires and peripheral devices such as occupancy detectors and scene plates. With 18 SELV inputs, up to five centre-biased retractive switches and a separate keyswitch for emergency lighting testing can be connected.

This affords the installer and end user total control, as these can be configured individually or in groups, making Vitesse Plus one of the most adaptable and intuitive stand-alone lighting control systems on the market.

Features such as graduated dimming and corridor hold are simple to set up and control, with photocell detectors making adjustments that take advantage of natural light levels.

The inclusion of dimming control switches, which interact with photocell detectors to alter

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CP Electronics’ Vitesse Plus in situ the brightness of DALI or DSI luminaires in line with natural light levels, ensures greater energy efficiency.

The core feature of the system is its simplicity to set to work. Stored within the lighting control module is a list of pre-set configurations.

Each pre-set configuration or ‘config’ is a pre-programmed set of parameters allowing switches, detectors and scene plates to work together based on a particular application. After the application is matched to CP Electronics’ online library of configs or the handy pre-set configs booklet, the system can be programmed using the UNLCDHS handset. In a few simple button pushes, the system is set up using the friendly and intuitive menu.

Rob Crookes of CP Electronics explained:

“Our aim is to continually deliver improved and more efficient lighting control systems in response to market requirements. By understanding the needs of our customers and the challenges they face, we deliver convenient solutions which satisfy demand within the market for cost and energy savings.

“Vitesse Plus will enable our customers to achieve their exact control requirements in minimum time, making it perfect for short timescale and retrofit projects.” q • For further information or to view the Vitesse Plus video visit www.cpelectronics.co.uk/ vitesse-plus. Further information about the broader CP Electronics range can be found at www.cpelectronics.uk.com.

Use the technology Sports star joins construction industry to check cards, [PORT TALBOT-BASED contractor Andrew Scott Ltd has appointed

rugby legend Jonathan Davies OBE as its new director of stadia and leisure.

The company has been building sports stadia for over 100 years, including the Partick Thistle stadium in the first decade of the 20th century.

High-profile projects include Cardiff Arms Park in the 1960s and 1970s, Hampshire Cricket’s Rose Bowl (Ageas Bowl) and the Ryder Cup 2010 clubhouse and infrastructure at the Celtic Manor Resort.

Jonathan Davies said: “After representing Wales and Great Britain in rugby union and rugby league and working as a rugby commentator, television host and media personality since my retirement, I’m keen to put my sporting experience – plus make use of my relationships in the sporting world – to good use in a completely different context. I look forward to working for Andrew Scott and promoting their expertise throughout the stadia and leisure sector.”

Managing director Mark Bowen added: “It is a great pleasure to have Jonathan on board with us. He will be capitalising on our pedigree in sports projects whilst also targeting national developers in other niche sectors and securing particularly high value projects across the UK as part of his role.” q

CSCS urges

[CSCS HAS URGED employers to carry out electronic card checks

before allowing workers on site, following a number of reports earlier this year of construction card fraud. Checking the card electronically, says CSCS, ensures employers can be confident that those working on site have the correct training and qualifications for the job they do.

The organisation’s communications and public affairs manager Alan O’Neile said: “CSCS believes that for construction sites to remain safe and productive all workers should have the correct qualifications and training for the type of work they carry out. This was one of CSCS’s primary objectives when introducing the electronic SmartCard in 2010. The CSCS SmartCard provides a simple and cost effective way to tackle fraud and verify that workers hold the correct qualifications and training before allowing them on site.”

A survey conducted last year confirmed many contractors and employers are still failing to take advantage of the technology, with many sites still using inefficient paper-based systems or ineffective visual card inspections.

Alan O’Neile continued: “The technology embedded in a CSCS card is free to use and allows a site manager access to a wealth of information about each worker, including their qualifications. By simply placing the card in a reader, or onto a compatible device such as a tablet or smartphone, you can instantly check the card’s validity and the qualifications held by the card holder.” q

J D Neuhaus at your service [THE SPECIALISED high-performance handling products manufactured by J D

Neuhaus (JDN) are engineered for extremes. They are suitable for operation within chemical, oil and gas and general industries involving hazardous working areas and including those subject to potential explosion risks.

Their hoist and overhead crane mechanisms are strong, fast and silent, providing high levels of safety with ease of operation. They combine lube-free, low maintenance operation with 100% duty ratings and unlimited duty cycles. The products are insensitive to dust, humidity and temperatures ranging from minus 20°C to 70°C. It is essential that the correct installation, operating and regular inspection servicing procedures are undertaken and maintained for these products in order to ensure longterm, trouble-free operation of all mechanical and power-operated components.

To ensure that users obtain the best value for money from their investment in handling products, the JDN company can provide offsite/onsite services including supervision, installation, training, inspection, maintenance and repair, together with the supply of spares, service kits and full refurbishment facilities.

All work is undertaken under full JDN personnel supervision and is carried out in cooperation with external certification authorities where required.

This is then followed-up with regular maintenance and annual inspections by JDN trained engineers and technicians. It is supported with full maintenance, repair and modification facilities.

A full spare parts provision incorporates support for the choice of spare parts, compilation of spare parts and service kits for retention in the client’s warehouse as well as the shipping of the spare parts worldwide.

In addition, specific customer personnel training, all tailored to meet client needs, is available either on-site, at customer facilities or at one of the widely located JDN sales companies. q • For further information call 01224 722751, e-mail info@jdneuhaus.co.uk or visit www.jdngroup.com.

J D Neuhaus undertake regular maintenance and inspection of client hoists www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Top roofers recognised at [FRIDAY THE 13TH proved to be far

from unlucky for the winners in the annual UK Roofing Awards, presented at the Hilton London Metropole on 13 May. The awards have established themselves as the industrywide event, recognising and rewarding outstanding standards of workmanship and safety throughout the roofing industry.

The competition covers the full spectrum of roofing disciplines and a range of criteria are taken into consideration by the judging panel.

They include degree of difficulty, aesthetics, problem-solving, health and safety, workmanship and environmental qualities.

This year’s awards ceremony was hosted by the BBC’s Steph McGovern. Steph has reported on business and finance around the world for over 12 years. During the financial crash of 2008 she worked with then-business editor Robert Peston on the award-winning coverage of the credit crunch and banking crisis. At the ceremony Steph presented the awards to the whole cast of award winners.

First up was the winner of the award in the Fully Supported Metal Roofing category. That was cu.tech.zn.ornamental ltd for The Pod in Cockfield, Suffolk. The project was part of a

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The Green Roofs award went to Prater Ltd – with Radmat Building Products Ltd – for Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. It features on this issue’s front cover windmill conversion for The Pod self-catering outlets, described as ‘camping for the 21st century’.

According to the judges, the curvature of the standing seam panels changed not only from panel to panel, but on each side of the panels, due to the continual increasing and decreasing radius of the roof.

The award in the Vertical Cladding/ Rainscreen category went to Met-Clad Contracts

Ltd for the Friars Walk Development in Newport, Gwent.

The regeneration of an existing office block and car park into new town development involved installation of a secondary steel frame, fire barriers, carrier panels and air seals, horizontal top hats and vertical carrier rails with multiple sized rain-screen panels in three colours and three finishes – an extremely challenging job because of its town centre location.

awards ceremony Next was the Roof Sheeting award, which went to KGM Roofing for Marshgate Drive in Hertford.

That involved the installation of standingseam roofing on three blocks of flats. The judges highlighted the high levels of skill in design and installation, as well as the complex tapered, curved and vertical system and the very challenging recessed window and balcony surrounds.

In the Shingles and Shakes category, John Brash & Co. Ltd – with Endeavour Roofing Contractors Ltd – took the gong for the Alexandra Gardens Care Home in Middlesex.

It took a team of eight roofers just three weeks to install the 400m2 of shingles on the steep pitched roof on the annex of a new residential care home for young adults.

They lined up entire rows one at a time, including negotiating six gables and two hips, nailing everything into position then repeating the process for the next row.

Winner in the Fully Supported Metal Roofing category was cu.tech.zn.ornamental ltd for The Pod in Cockfield, Suffolk Two awards in the increasingly-important environmental sector came next.

The Solar on Roofs award went to Bauder Ltd – with Hodgson Sayers – for the iconic 1970s Byker Wall estate in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The curving block of medium-rise apartments is a Grade Two listed building and the photo-voltaic system was installed without any penetration of the waterproofing or roof deck, ensuring the integrity of the roof. The judges praised the innovative ways the contractor came up with to deal with a tricky heating pipe, including supporting and dealing with penetrations.

The Green Roofs award went to Prater Ltd – with Radmat Building Products Ltd – for Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool.

Featured on this issue’s front cover, the £288m project to relocate the renowned hospital evolved around a design inspired by the drawings of a 15 year old patient. The roof includes extreme pitches, rising from a park to the 5th floor, and needed an

innovative slip control system to maintain green roof elements. The use of pre-grown meadow flower blankets aids its biodiversity potential.

The award in the Mastic Asphalt and Hot-Melt Roofing category was won by IKO PLC, with Knight Asphalt, for the Grade One listed Westminster Cathedral in London.

The re-roofing of John Francis Bentley’s neoByzantine masterpiece, completed in 1903, could only be carried out by contractors who had experience in roofing projects on historical buildings or churches.

A major challenge of the project was the number of slopes and curves on the roof, together with the steps leading up to it.

In the Reinforced Bitumen Membranes category, the award was presented to Bauder Ltd, with Mitie Tilley Roofing Ltd, for the ROM Ltd depot in Sheffield.

The project involved the removal of asphalt and installation of a new RBM system on an original roof that was structurally unstable and fragile.

The discovery of asbestos required the removal and subsequent relocation of staff from one bay to another as the work progressed.

Centaur Technologies Ltd, together with Western Flat Roofing Company, took the award for Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing for the South Cloisters kitchen roof of Exeter University.

The project to replace the existing asphalt roof involved the removal of the rooflights to substantially increase daylight. The presence of plant installations on the roof provided many complicated detailing problems to overcome and walkways were added to give safe access for maintenance.

The Single Ply Roofing category was won by Sika Sarnafil, with Contour Roofing, for Ewart Grove in Wood Green, London. The innovative housing project involved a complex design with triangulated tower and barrel vaulted main roofs.

The original specification for the roof was for metal standing seam, however an alternative solution involved the use of zinc replica profiles and PVC membrane adhered to radiused plywood.

The tiling and slating side of the industry is reflected by three awards. The Single-lap Tiling and Slating prize went to Wienerberger, with Timby Traditional Roofing, for Burgess – a private residence in Lincoln.

The watchword for the project was to minimise disruption to the owner. A detailed plan was laid out for the placement of skips, site toilets and material delivery – even a route through the gardens to the access points on the scaffold.

Timby Traditional Roofing gained further recognition for the Tait Gazebo in nearby Gainsborough in the Double-lap Slating category.

The bespoke detailing for an oak-framed garden structure provided an excellent training opportunity for two apprentices from Leeds College of Building, who were briefed on what was needed

Sika Sarnafil, with Contour Roofing, won the Single Ply Roofing award for Ewart Grove in Wood Green, London to be achieved and how to go about it. All the flashings were fabricated on site and fitted by the apprentices.

When it came to the Double-lap Tiling category, Karl Terry Roofing Contractors Ltd took the spoils for Shipley Farm in North Elham, Norfolk. The newbuild reproduction of a medieval timber-framed hall required antique Kent peg tiles to be used and all detailing undertaken as if the building were historic.

The contractor had to plane the backside of all the battens on the tile hanging to ensure that the leading edge of the tiles sat millimetre-perfect with the oak corner posts.

Karl Terry Roofing Contractors Ltd also took the gong in the coveted Heritage Roofing category for the Cloth Hall in Smarden, Kent. The roof of the 15th century, Grade Two* listed building had to be reinstated with the original Kent peg tiles and with reclaimed peg tiles which matched them. Careful planning, in conjunction with English Heritage and local planning/conservation officers, resulted in high-quality workmanship with challenging details.

The UK Roofing Awards also reward the individuals and organisations that go above and beyond the call of duty. The NFRC Health and Safety Champion of 2015 went to Ben Orton of Weatherproofing Advisors, while the award for Exceptional Contribution to Training – in partnership with CITB – went to Geoffrey Parkinson, regional manager for NFRC Northern Ireland.

The Lead Contractors’ Association officially present their Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award for best leadwork at the event. The Murdoch Award was won by Lead-Tech Roofing for Rygar House in London, while the Sponsors Award went to Leadwise Contracts for Stormont Castle in Belfast.

The Lead Sheet Association’s Young Lead Worker of the Year award went to Tim Fuge, a selfemployed leadworker from Cornwall. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Slating training gets boost from industry [

AS A LEADING member of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ Slate Focus Group, SIG Roofing is working to improve the standard of slate training in colleges across the UK, thus helping to reduce the shortage of slating skills.

Via the SIG Roofing Academy the industry is supporting education through development of the curriculum for NVQ Level 1 & 2 Slating & Tiling courses. SIGA Slate, whose commercial manager is chair of the Slate Focus Group, is also supplying colleges with slate tiles for the courses.

The initiative, which also involves CITB and local colleges, aims to strengthen the education and training offered to students, so they will have more specialist and specific slating skills when they begin work as roofers. It has been hailed as an example of the industry coming together to reduce the skills shortage now and in the future.

According to a statement by SIG Roofing: “Slate is a particular roofing discipline in itself and requires a more advanced knowledge and skill set than some other areas.

By supplying free slate to colleges offering NVQ Level 1 & 2 Slating & Tiling courses, practical training can be increased and the amount of time students will spend working with the material itself dramatically improved. It also means colleges won’t have to fund costly student mistakes themselves.

“Such practical learning provides techniques, tangible experience in real life situations, knowledge and access on an entirely new level, and allows colleges to dedicate more time to increasing the skills of their students and helping reduce the skills gap.”

SIG Roofing is also working with the CITB to improve the classroom learning for students. By mapping the SIGA Natural Roofing Slate Effective Specification CPD into the curriculum, colleges can offer students a much deeper understanding of slate in general and an increased awareness of the industry, market trends and the selection process.

Colleges currently involved in the SIG Roofing Academy are Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Bolton, Birmingham, Erith (London) and St Austell. q

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How to repair cast iron guttering [

RAINCLEAR SYSTEMS has been in the business of providing customers with high quality cast iron rainwater products, along with a high quality of advice and service, for over 10 years and are often asked how to cut or drill cast iron guttering.

Traditionally, cast iron guttering was chosen for its durability as well as its beauty. But this toughness, that makes it last 100 plus years, does not make it hard to work with. The system is made of components and so, although it is still often a two man job to install, the components can be replaced as needed, while others can often be renovated, restored and reinstated.

If you do find you need to cut cast iron guttering or downpipe components, you will need a diamond blade for your angle grinder – but these can be purchased at any DIY store or supplier from between £5 and £50, depending on the brand and quality.

If you find you need to drill an additional fixing hole in the guttering, hopper or other component, you will require a reasonable quality steel drill bit. You may find that the initial outer surface is hard, this is normal as cast iron does form a hard layer during the casting process, but once you are through this layer, you will find it much easier to drill. The important thing to remember when drilling cast iron is to use a slow revolution on the drill and maintain a steady downward pressure.

Cast iron guttering on a Wiltshire manor house. The half round cast iron components that needed replacing were supplied primed for painting on site to match the original components that could be restored

A diamond cutting blade for an angle grinder (right) and...

...a quality steel drill bit, both available from any DIY store, from as little as £5

Rainclear can help create a complete list of all the components you need with a take-off from an architect’s drawings and supply a free same-day quotation. You can open a trade account and, if you already know what you want, you can shop online at www.rainclear.co.uk.

Anthony Hitchman, general manager at Rainclear Systems, said: “We’ve been dealing with all types of clients, including professional installers, for more than 10 years. Sharing that experience and knowledge is part of the customer service we offer. No question a customer asks is a silly question if it helps them to find the right items for their project. If we don’t have the answer we’ll know who to ask and get right back to them.” q • You can give the team at Rainclear a call on 0800 644 44 26 or email sales@rainclear.co.uk. They try to beat any like-for-like quote while delivering the best quality system for your project. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Prestigious new Edinburgh development gets the Sundolitt XPS treatment [

SUNDOLITT XPS 300 extruded polystyrene forms the core of a waterproof, load-bearing, high insulation roof system at South St Andrew Square – a prestigious £75m, 190,000 sq ft mixed office, retail and residential scheme in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic ‘New Town’ area.

Following the demolition of the former B-listed building on the site, the new development – expected to be completed by the end of this year – features a bold collaborative design from CDA and Gareth Hoskins Architects which won the backing of the City of Edinburgh planners for its ‘highquality contemporary architectural expression’.

According to Bryan Mawer, sales manager for Sundolitt XPS, the cost-effective material is designed for inverted roofing applications alongside its established use in flooring where its load-bearing and high thermal performance are critical. He said: “We are proud to play a part in this exceptional architectural statement in a prestigious location in Edinburgh. XPS ticks all the boxes for this kind of roofing installation – it’s a lightweight product, yet provides a high strength solution which is very easily transported to site where it can be used as a site-ready, weather resistant insulant.”

South St Andrew Square is a joint venture between Standard Life Investments Pooled Pension

It is available ex stock from Sundolitt in the UK in square or shiplap edge. Sundolitt’s UK expert team can help and advise architects, specifiers and contractors on the most appropriate XPS specification for their needs. q • Specifiers can call the Sundolitt UK Head Office on 01786 471 586 or for further information visit www.sundolitt.co.uk.

Artist’s impression of the new development Property Fund and partner Peveril Securities. The main contractor is Bowmer and Kirkland.

Sundolitt XPS is manufactured in a wide range of thicknesses and sheet sizes, the primary range having a thermal conductivity of 0.033 – 0.037 W/mK (EN 13164). According to the type of use, it achieves outstanding compression resistance from 200 – 700 kPa (EN826) and offers exceptionally low moisture absorption through its closed-pore system – making it an ideal thermal insulator for a wide range of commercial and domestic construction applications.

Easy roof installation of Sundolitt XPS at the Edinburgh development

Integrated Alumasc system protects council office roofs [BRIDGEND COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL’S 40 year-old Celtic

Court building got a valuable new lease of life when a fully integrated Alumasc waterproofing system was installed – along with multiple products from Alumasc Exterior Building Products (www.alumascroofing. co.uk), external wall insulation and render from Alumasc Facades (www. alumascfacades.co.uk and rainwater goods from Alumasc Rainwater (www. alumascrainwater.co.uk).

The local authority renovated the building, for use in partnership with other public bodies, after the old waterproofing system had deteriorated significantly over the years and received multiple ad hoc repairs to extend its serviceable life. Bridgend Council selected Alumasc and their Carmarthenbased registered contractor, Central Roofing, to provide an effective, long term refurbishment solution by waterproofing the roof areas of the building.

Central Roofing completely removed the existing waterproofing system back to the deck where repairs were carried out to the concrete and screed. They installed a new Euroroof vapour barrier to provide some immediate protection against the elements and fitted Alumasc PIR insulation, incorporating tapered gutters, to help the roof drain better. A fully engineered insulated felt render system was then laid, onto which they applied a non-penetrative aluminium capping system.

New aluminium rainwater downpipes were also installed and the waterproofing project was completed when Central Roofing applied the Euroroof waterproofing system – this comprised a felt underlay and Euroroof MG3/4 capping sheet, which came with a 25-year system warranty.

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Paul Avo said: “Alumasc and their installer, Central Roofing, have been excellent throughout. The thoroughness

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Celtic Court – protected by a fully integrated Alumasc waterproofing system of their initial site survey and the design solution they proposed were impressive, and the quality of the work undertaken was first-rate.”

Alumasc’s market leading Swisslab external wall Insulation was used to provide the exterior walls with a highly efficient insulated system and final finish. The combination of these various Alumasc products gave Alumasc the opportunity to provide the full envelope, single source package for this project. q • Further details about Alumasc’s full range of waterproofing systems can be found at www.alumascroofing.co.uk or by calling them on 0333 5771 500.

New IKO Polymeric website for everything on single ply [

IKO POLYMERIC, the UK’s market leading single ply manufacturer, has launched a new website at www.ikopolymeric.com. It’s the site to visit for everything about single ply roofing systems, from details of the latest projects to information about products and technical advice.

“Our new website is designed to give architects, specifiers, contractors and end-clients all the support they need for projects using single ply – whether that’s choosing between TPE or PVC membranes or exploring our unique pre-fabrication service,” explains IKO Polymeric’s marketing manager Buket Aydinlik.

“The site has a clean, modern layout and is easy to navigate. Product details are accessible in just one click from the home page, while case studies show what can be achieved with single ply. Our new technical section includes product data sheets and design guides available to download. Meanwhile, regular blogs will cover hot topics in the roofing industry such as SuDs as well as technical advice on the common issues affecting contractors.”

Based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, IKO Polymeric celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2015. The company is the only UK-based PVC single ply manufacturer and the only TPE single ply manufacturer in the world. The new website is the latest is a series of initiatives to cement its market leading position in the UK. q • Find out more about single ply at www.ikopolymeric.com or follow @ikopolymeric.com.

KO Polymeric’s new website at www.ikopolymeric.com

Roof-Pro delivers roof access systems for Royal Derby Hospital [

ROOF-PRO HAS SUCCESSFULLY completed a bespoke roof access system project at the Royal Derby Hospital for an extension which houses an MRI scanner and associated equipment.

As well as being asked to provide easy and safe rooftop access to the MRI scanner’s rooftop-mounted chiller unit, which generally requires a service check at least once a quarter, Roof-Pro were also asked to design and build roof access systems for the whole new building.

The main elements of this multi-component project were: • Providing stable, non-penetrating support for the chiller and air handling units • Providing a waterproof method of bringing cables and pipes from the service units down into the building • Providing step-over access to the chiller support platform, enabling the units to be serviced and inspected by maintenance personnel.

The project involved a combination of standard and bespoke components designed and built by Roof-Pro, including: Chiller Support Platform – a bespoke component which took into account the weight of the unit and the load-bearing qualities of the roof. It required specially-designed large steel girders.

Roof Penetration Box – this solution was based upon the Roof-Pro PP-3 access riser,

which ensures a watertight seal for the point at which the chiller unit's power and water cabling pass through the surface of the roof.

Step-Overs – specially designed to fit the chiller platform and surrounding roof structure.

These were tailored components from the RoofPro step-over system.

To successfully deliver this unique project required high attention to detail. Roof-Pro worked closely with two key contractors: Mellor Bromley Mechanical Services who delivered the chiller and air handling units; and Derwent Valley Construction who were responsible for the fabric of the rooftop.

All the components were delivered and installed on time and within budget, enabling the primary contractors to complete their projects on time. q • To find out more about Roof-Pro roof access products call 01536 383865 or visit www.roof-pro.co.uk. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Builders and installers urged to recycle PVC windows [RECOVINYL, the operational arm of European

PVC industry sustainable development programme VinylPlus, is urging construction and window installation companies and waste management firms to ‘Save money and send us your waste windows for recycling’.

Window frames can be readily recycled through the PVC industry’s recycling scheme, enabling firms to save on landfill disposal costs. It’s also the environmentally-friendly option, as the material can be recycled into new products – including new windows.

Recycling capacity has increased throughout the UK network of 16 Recovinyl-certified window recyclers and they are seeking more frames. Most offer a nationwide collection service.

“We are doing well, but we can handle even more windows,” said Jane Gardner of Axion Consulting, who are the UK agents for Recovinyl.

“So whether you’re an installer, waste transfer station or building company, send your waste PVC windows to one of our registered Recovinyl recyclers and it will save you money on landfill costs.”

In 2015, 107,593 tonnes of waste PVC was collected and recycled in the UK through Recovinyl

Kent-based VEKA Recycling are registered Recovinyl recyclers – the highest figure recorded to date, with uPVC frames making up more than half this total at 61,866 tonnes.

Said Jane: “More than 600,000 tonnes of PVC has been recycled in the UK via Recovinyl since its launch in the UK 11 years ago, thanks to the commitment of the glazing, construction and waste management sectors to greater environmental practices and their recognition of the need to reduce the carbon impact of their operations.

“PVC can be recycled up to seven times without

any loss of performance and can be reused in a variety of different products, including new window frames – thereby ‘closing the loop’. As a nation, we’re doing brilliantly on recycling our waste PVC, yet we can still do much more and we need your support.” q • Window installers and waste transfer stations who are looking for outlets for post-use PVC frames can contact Axion Consulting on 0161 426 7731 or visit www.recovinyl.com.

Exeter leads the way in specifying sustainability [A NUMBER OF members of the UK Green Building Council

Construction have been selected to deliver all projects over £10m, with Willmott Dixon Construction, Bouygues and Interserve (UK-GBC) have been selected by Exeter City Council among its list Construction among those selected to deliver smaller projects. q of contractors to deliver a £60m development pipeline of sustainable energy schemes over the next four years.

A Contractors’ Framework has been established by the council, with the assistance of Arcadis, which is aimed at delivering energy-efficient developments.

The Exeter Sustainable Energy Efficient Developments Framework – the EXEseed Framework – will provide a delivery platform CIRIA’S BIG BIODIVERSITY CHALLENGE 2016 is open for entries. Now in its third year, for all public sector bodies who are looking the challenge invites leaders from across construction, infrastructure, transport, retail and to deliver cost-effective sustainable energy government to ‘do one thing’ for biodiversity. efficient developments to connect with the Led by CIRIA’s Biodiversity Interest Group, the BIG Biodiversity Challenge invites the industry right contractor. to add one new biodiversity enhancement to a construction site, development or existing building The framework will also promote – however big or small, permanent or temporary – and be creative about enhancing biodiversity. sustainable development opportunities for Last year’s challenge concluded with an awards ceremony at the Royal Botanic Gardens in a range of potential contractors – small Kew, recognising more than 100 organisations who submitted more than 200 entries from and large, experienced and those new to sites all over the country. Enhancements included installing bug hotels and bat boxes, restoring sustainable building. riverbanks and wildflower meadows and delivering detailed biodiversity action plans. Doing just Exeter City Council has delivered one thing can make a BIG difference in helping to reverse the decline of biodiversity in the UK, sustainable, energy-efficient developments says CIRIA. over the past seven years with new council Project manager Michael Small said: “The response to last year’s awards was overwhelmingly housing to the certified Passivhaus standard, positive, with more than double the number of organisations signing up to take the challenge including the successful delivery of the from the 2014 awards. These organisations demonstrated that they are more than happy to UK’s first multi-residential Passivhaus share their knowledge and ideas and submit interesting and innovative entries. The 2016 awards development. promise to bigger and better and we have increased the number of categories to make the awards UK-GBC members BAM Construction, more inclusive. CIRIA’s Biodiversity Interest Group is really looking forward to learning about the Sir Robert McAlpine, Willmott Dixon new projects out there and recognising them at the 2016 Awards later in the year.” q Construction, Bouygues and Interserve

Make a [

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BIG difference

Construction sector’s growing demand met by specialist college [LEEDS COLLEGE OF BUILDING is the only specialist further

education construction college in the UK with a fast growing Faculty of Higher Education. Brian Duffy, faculty director, explained how the college is meeting the growing demand from the sector. He said: “The education arena in construction, and the routes into the trades and professions, has evolved dramatically and we have responded accordingly across our range of courses. We now have a complete progression route from Craft Level 1 via a Level 3 BTEC National up to Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND), with potential to progress even further through to NVQ Levels 6 and 7.”

In 2015, to help cater for this changing demand, the college opened a brand new 8,000 square metre purpose-built education and training facility in Leeds city centre. It has recently announced a further £14 million 5,000 square metre development.

Brian continued: “We offer a range of higher education courses as an alternative to university, including civil engineering and surveying. We also have two Higher Level Apprenticeships, one in Construction Management (Sustainability) and one in Facilities Management, which deliver university equivalent, work based education at an affordable price with a range of pathways including design, building services, planning and civil engineering.”

“We have apprentices from Highways England (formerly the Highways Agency) studying on a Level 3 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship; we have over 40 students from across the UK joining us on a new trailblazer Level 3 Technical Apprenticeship in Transport Planning; and we are working with Balfour Beatty to deliver the Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship in Sustainable Built Environment with a bespoke quantity surveying route.”

Leeds College of Building is also a recognised centre for the delivery of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) qualifications. The college offers a suite of BIFM courses that includes qualifications ranging from Facilities Services at Level 2, to the highest award which is the Level 6 BIFM Diploma in Facilities Management.

Brian Duffy is sure of the college’s place in the future of higher education and training for the sector. He said: “We were one of the first college’s in the UK to offer university level higher apprenticeships, which were immediately embraced by the construction industry and have become a huge success.

We are delighted to now be working with Balfour Beatty, and other regional, national and international companies, to develop bespoke programmes that understand and meet the needs of the construction industry’s leading employers.” q • For further information visit www.lcb.ac.uk/higher-education.

www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Apprenticeships: new levy £3m into three million [ IN APRIL NEXT YEAR the new, much-vaunted

UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy will come into effect. All employers operating in the UK with a pay bill over £3m per year are to pay 0.5% of that into the levy. The levy is meant to drive the government’s ambition of funding three million apprenticeships by 2020.

According to the CBI, that represents a ‘significant shift in skills policy and funding’.

In the construction industry, the picture is further complicated because of the additional levy paid by some firms to CITB to fund grant aid for training.

Steve Radley, director of policy at CITB (pictured), said: “The Apprenticeship Levy means a big change for our industry and CITB needs to adapt accordingly.

Industry has asked us to allow the time for a proper consensus, so we can listen to employers and together come up with a solution that will work for the whole of construction.”

An additional measure in England, introduced by Chancellor George Osborne in the Budget in March, will introduce a ‘top-up’ to the amount spent on training by companies via the levy.

According to the guidance issued by the Department for Business,

Innovation and Skills: “We will apply a 10% top-up to the funds you have for spending on apprenticeship training in England.

“That means for every £1 that enters your digital account to spend in England on apprenticeship training, you get £1.10.”

Apprenticeships have been gaining in popularity in recent years. Since May 2010 some 2.7 million apprenticeships of all levels have been started up and down the country.

In the construction industry, apprenticeships across Great Britain are up 12% in the past year, reaching levels not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis.

In total 22,496 young people started construction apprenticeships in 2014/2015, up from 19,973 in 2013/14. The numbers hit a low of 17,500 in 2012 as firms felt the effects of the recession, but opportunities for young people are increasing in the current period of steady growth.

Gillian Econopouly, head of policy and research at CITB, said: “Construction apprenticeships are growing, which demonstrates industry’s commitment to train the next generation. But with CITB

Sites open their doors to future workers [ FUTURE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS were given unrivalled

insights into day-to-day life in the industry as part of a week of events in June run jointly by CITB and Build UK. Open Doors, which ran from 13-18 June, offered the next generation of building professionals the chance to visit 130 top construction sites up and down the country.

The scheme was launched by TV star and former builder Jon Clark (pictured) who has starred in the likes of The Only Way Is Essex and Love Island. He launched the scheme during an event held at Summit House – a low-carbon office block in the heart of the City of London being refitted by Willmott Dixon.

Jon made his mark in the construction industry while working on site with his dad’s firm.

He said: “I used to love working with my dad, and it’s great to be back on site today. Construction is a brilliant industry to be in.”

Jon’s comments were echoed by Gavin Orson, star of the Welsh TV series Ffasiwn Bildar (Model Builder).

Gavin won the crown in the recent S4C series which aimed to transform the image of Welsh construction workers.

He commented: “Site visits are a very good route into the industry. I used to visit sites when I was 13, during the summer holidays. It gave me a taste of what construction work is like.”

Gavin, who recently started his own plumbing business, added: “Construction is an excellent career choice because if you have a trade behind you you’re sorted for life. It’s a safe career bet as there’ll always be a need for building work. I’ve been busy throughout my career and the opportunities in Wales are picking up.”

The sites participating in Open Doors included London’s new Design Museum and a proton beam therapy centre in Manchester. Visitors

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were also welcomed to a children’s hospital in Edinburgh and Y Pant, a state-of-the-art school and sports facility in south Wales.

Research from the CITB has shown that as many as 230,000 new jobs will be created in UK construction over the next five years.

And according to data in the Construction Skills Network report, job creation in the building sector will be driven by projects such as the £200m X1 Media City in Salford Quays and the £500m redevelopment of Birmingham City Centre. q

aims to turn

Construction training courses and/or apprenticeships are available at the following colleges: Activate Learning

T: 0800 612 6008 E: enquiries@activatelearning.ac.uk W: www.activatelearning.ac.uk Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1SA

Barking & Dagenham College research predicting 230,000 new construction jobs by 2020, we need even more young people to start apprenticeships, and to help more firms take them on.”

There has never been a greater awareness among government, employers and the population at large of the need for a skilled workforce.

In its statement of ‘issues’ in the industry, supply chain umbrella organisation Build UK said: “With an increasing demand for construction projects, it is essential that the industry knows what skills are required and when and where they will be needed. A comprehensive training and qualifications structure capable of delivering the necessary skills, together with an integrated relationship between the education system and employers, is critical.

“Build UK will ensure that the outcome of construction training and qualifications delivered by or on behalf of the industry meets the needs of employers and that sufficient employment and apprenticeship opportunities are available to maintain a skilled and professional workforce.” q

T: 020 3667 0294 E: admissions@bdc.ac.uk W: www.bdc.ac.uk

Rush Green Campus, Dagenham Road, Romford RM7 0XU

Bath College

T: 01225 328729 E: apprenticeships@bathcollege.ac.uk W: www.bathcollege.ac.uk City Centre Campus, Avon Street, Bath BA1 1UP

Bolton College

T: 01204 482000 E: info@boltoncc.ac.uk W: www.boltoncollege.ac.uk Deane Road Campus, Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5BG

Boston College

FMB issues plea to Scottish Government over levy [ GROWTH IN APPRENTICESHIP numbers in Scotland could be

scuppered unless the Scottish Government commits to ring-fencing the new UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy for training, according to the Federation of Master Builders.

Figures published by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) showed that the number of Modern Apprentices (MA) in training in 2015/16 has increased to 25,818, exceeding the Scottish Government’s annual target for the fifth year in a row. The data also showed that construction was the biggest contributor to the MA programme with 4,894 (19%) starts.

However, FMB Scotland’s director Gordon Nelson sounded a note of caution. He said: “Although the increase in apprenticeship numbers is welcome, the quality and employment outcomes of apprenticeships should take precedence.

“Equally there is now a fear that this good work could soon be undone if the Scottish Government doesn’t commit to re-investing funds raised by the new UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy. There is a leadership vacuum in terms of demonstrating how the Apprenticeship Levy will be implemented in Scotland. However, in the Scottish Government’s defence, the Apprenticeship Levy has been foisted upon them with no or very little consultation.”

Mr Nelson concluded: “It’s crucial that we get this right as the Scottish construction industry is already in the midst of a skills crisis – the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey showed that nearly half of SME employers are struggling to recruit carpenters, and that more than one in three are finding it difficult to source plumbers. These kinds of shortages could have a potentially disastrous effect on the nation’s key housing and infrastructure objectives.” q

T: 01205 313218 E: info@boston.ac.uk W: www.boston.ac.uk Skirbeck Road, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 6JF

Business Solutions Bury College

T: 0161 280 8650 E: business.solutions@burycollege.ac.uk W: www.burycollege.ac.uk Enterprise Centre, Market Street, Bury BL9 0DS

Derby College Apprenticeships

T: 01332 387424 E: apprenticeships@derby-college.ac.uk W: www.derby-college.ac.uk The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, Pride Park, Derby, Derbyshire DE24 8JE

Eastleigh College

T: 023 8091 1000 E: goplaces@eastleigh.ac.uk W: www.eastleigh.ac.uk Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 5FS

Leeds College of Building

T: 0113 222 6061 E: info@lcb.ac.uk W: www.lcb.ac.uk/higher-education North Street, Leeds LS2 7QT

City of Wolverhampton College T: 01902 836000 E: mail@wolvcoll.ac.uk W: www.wolvcoll.ac.uk

Paget Road, Wolverhampton WV6 0DU

www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Sprayed Concrete Association releases new guide The Sprayed Concrete Association (SCA), one of the associations that comprises the Structural Concrete Alliance, is soon to release a new edition of its popular document, An Introduction to Sprayed Concrete. Sprayed Concrete Association chair BILL JONES reports

[THE DOCUMENT, which aims to demonstrate the wide uses and

versatility of sprayed concrete, describes the broad range of commonly used processes and materials available in the marketplace. It also offers best practice advice, explaining to the user the best ways of carrying out these processes safely to produce a high quality end product.

Arranged in 16 chapters, An Introduction to Sprayed Concrete is designed to be used by industry professionals who require basic practical knowledge of sprayed concrete techniques and is not intended to be a comprehensive Specification or Standard.

It provides an introduction to material and process considerations including the properties and advantages of sprayed concrete, wet and dry processes, robotic equipment, surface finishes and constituent materials. It discusses control issues such as health and safety, quality control and testing, training and certification, as well as design and specification. It also includes a useful glossary of terms.

Explaining the key differences between the wet and dry processes, the guide describes typical applications for each method and the surface finishes that can be achieved.

Since the success of any sprayed concrete project relies very heavily on the skills of the nozzleman and his team, the guide explains that it is vitally important that specifiers and designers insist upon and verify the background and training methods adopted by their prospective contractors.

It encourages users to always specify an SCA member for advice, design, supply and application of sprayed concrete, explaining that SCA members

have the training, experience and skills to ensure a professional approach and quality finish.

The SCA has for many years implemented a formal recordkeeping, training and certification scheme. Nozzlemen certified by the Typical applications for sprayed SCA are issued with a skills card concrete include freeform which has to be renewed each year, structures with records of all card holders kept on file by the SCA. The nozzleman’s actions on site are crucial in maintaining the quality and consistency of the final product. The nozzleman is supported by a trained team that is responsible for providing a constant supply of controlled quality materials at the nozzle, without risk of inconsistency, contamination or blockage.

Many of these skills will be learnt on site through experience, with onsite apprenticeships and training providing a firm grounding to trainees. While experienced operators have in the past been able to record their skills by the issue of ‘Grandfather Rights’, this route to certification is gradually being phased out with more formal approvals now available.

The Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) provides a simple method of extending certification to a common standard across the industry by accreditation, and a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is also available. Both schemes are linked and supported by the Sprayed Concrete Association, with formal training schemes offered by Construction Skills at their Stratford training centre.

An Introduction to Sprayed Concrete will be available for free download from the SCA website at www.sca.org.uk or a hard copy can be purchased for £20.

The Structural Concrete Alliance brings together the Corrosion Prevention Association (CPA), Concrete Repair Association (CRA) and Sprayed Concrete Association (SCA) to provide authoritative guidance on the repair, refurbishment and renovation of concrete; cathodic protection of steel and concrete structures; and sprayed concrete technology and application techniques. q • For further information on guidance documents and training available from the Structural Concrete Alliance and for details of its free regional CPD seminar programme visit www.structuralconcretealliance.org.uk.

There have been new developments in robotic technology

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If you are one of our many online readers simply click on any of the logos listed below and you will be automatically directed to that company’s website.

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construction national website

Welcome to our A to Z guide of the websites of some of the industry’s leading players.

www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Conference delegates urged to use their T-cup [

BEING ABLE TO ‘think correctly under pressure’ is vitally important in both business and sport, Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward told delegates at a major safety and health conference.

Sir Clive (pictured) was keynote speaker at the annual gathering of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

Sir Clive uses a formula termed ‘T-cup’ (thinking correctly under pressure) to handle difficult situations. “If you have a pressure situation that you haven’t experienced before or thought about before, there’s a high chance you will not think correctly under pressure,” he said.

Sir Clive was coach of the England rugby team when it won the World Cup in 2003 and was director of sport for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics in London. He is also a highlysuccessful businessman and mentor.

IOSH 2016 was held at ExCeL in London from 21-22 June. About 800 delegates attended over the two-day conference, which featured high-level plenary sessions.

Earlier, in the opening address of the conference, IOSH president Dr Karen McDonnell told delegates: “Our members are leading the way in changing attitudes and cultures in workplaces. It is through their hard work that safety and health is now being spoken about at boardroom level.”

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She used examples of how IOSH is working in partnership with many organisations, including its No Time to Lose occupational cancer campaign.

The conference also saw the unveiling of a new competency framework for the profession.

IOSH Blueprint – a new global model for defining competency in occupational safety and health – was presented by IOSH's executive director of policy, Shelley Frost.

She said: “With the framework more focused on engagement, influence and strategic planning,

Blueprint will ensure the safety and health professional is better equipped to deliver their role with a greater understanding of the business context.”

Another first for this year’s conference was the use of ‘roundtables’ to discuss hot topics in the safety and health world.

About 100 people attended the eight concurrent sessions which debated issues such as updates on the progress of ISO 45001, the impact of the new sentencing guidelines and crisis management.

The conference took place concurrently with the national Safety and Health Expo. IOSH’s stand at the conference was hailed ‘a huge success’, with more than 1,000 visitors. The stand included a small theatre, where there were presentations on a variety of topics across the three days.

IOSH events manager Colette Norman said: “Visitors were able to find out a host of information about what is happening in the wider safety and health world, as well as IOSH’s latest developments. They were also able to get guidance on their career development.”

Away from the IOSH stand, the institution also gave other presentations at the expo. Immediate past president Tim Briggs was joined by the HSE’s Julian Delic in a presentation on the effects of worker exposure to silica dust, the current focus of its No Time to Lose campaign. q

Safety barriers should not compromise facility hygiene Every product in the hygiene logistics trail must contribute to overall health and safety – and a new range of polymer-based safety barriers could prove revolutionary for sensitive workplaces

[IN FOOD AND DRINK FACTORIES, cosmetics manufacturing,

health-focused facilities or pharmaceutical environments, the constant drive for improved hygiene goes right alongside ever-better product purity and quality. Which means every product application within that working environment must adhere, and contribute, to the strictest demands of hygiene.

The Society of Food Hygiene and Technology notes: “Poor equipment design may lead to an unacceptable build-up of debris or allow untreated ingredients to accumulate to a level at which they may cross contaminate the processed food.”

Fear of contamination is a constant threat – one that could potentially cause a full-scale shutdown of an entire facility and heavy loss of reputation – so products that are fit-for-purpose, but also contribute to the hygienic demands of a facility, are essential. And in turn, those deadly 3Ds – dust, debris and dirt – which need constant monitoring, can be kept in check.

Add, then, to those perilous 3Ds, the Food Standard Agency’s (FSA) number one hygiene problem in food manufacturing – moisture.

Wetted zones encourage bacteria, including the Contamination Alert’s most frequent unwelcome visitor, listeria. Good food and drink manufacturing practice will involve the cleaning of lines and areas for about one-third of every 24-hour cycle. Therefore, products with a waterresistant tolerance to the necessities of the wipe-down and the jet-wash are also essential.

In the past, the barriers used in sensitive environments had the potential to cause more problems than they solved. Take a steel barrier: when brand new it is strong, shiny and aesthetically pleasing. But over time it will corrode, flake and become abrasive and untidy-looking. Add a watery wash-down to the steel mix and, of course, you have a fast track to rust and a hazardous new contamination threat to a sensitive environment.

Polymer-based barriers solved the rust problem over a decade ago. They were wipe-clean, non-toxic and chemically-resistant, so boosted industries where steel barriers were almost too problematic to deal with.

The polymer barriers had instant appeal and real success. The senior maintenance manager of Haribo said in 2011: “We like the hygiene aspects of the barriers as well as its strength and good looks. The metal barriers currently in use in the dispatch areas have nooks and crannies which could harbour dirt.”

But the new polymer-based barriers weren’t yet a perfect solution from a hygiene point of view. There were still some ingress points where the 3Ds could collect. There was still a possibility of water infiltrating an unsealed system. And wherever water collects inside a system it soon becomes stagnant – and a breeding ground for dangerous micro organisms.

So the secret code for barriers that could truly be called hygienic was a difficult one to crack. Hygienic facilities required an absence of ingress points, sealed joints, water resistance, a tolerance to washdown chemicals and the wipe-down, and non-toxic surfaces that did not corrode, flake or require repainting. All these factors had never before been combined into a single barrier system.

Design engineer at A-SAFE, the inventors of the world’s first polymerbased barrier system in 2001, Tom Costello takes up the story: “Old polymer-based barriers definitely performed better than standard steel for sensitive environments, but the old-style products weren’t the ideal solution in these areas.

• A-SAFE has designed a check-list for safety barrier purchasers in hygiene-sensitive environments.

To download a free copy please visit http://www.asafe.com/ resources/pdfs/256/hygiene-check-list-for-safety-barriers “From our point of view, we knew we had to somehow solve the issue of dirt and debris collecting in ingress points and water infiltrating the product.

So over a two-year period we developed complex hygiene seals and reduced water ingress points through the use of strategically placed rubber seals.”

The new hygienic barrier system, released in 2015, was called iFlex.

Existing A-SAFE customers, such as Thomas Roh, the occupational safety specialist at confectionery experts Ritter Sport, weren’t resting on their safety laurels and were highly expectant of the new system. Thomas said: “We highly appreciate the quality of A-SAFE products. They are easy to install and very durable. Barriers that were installed eight years ago in our transit area show no signs of erosion.

“This is an area with lively forklift traffic where the barriers are often hit.

Since the installation of A-SAFE barriers damages are decreased in the building and at our facilities. Now we are looking forward to the new iFlex barrier range, of which we have heard a lot recently. Especially for us as food manufacturers, the hygiene sealing of the new barriers is particularly important.”

Since the launch of iFlex, a host of blue chip companies have benefited from the specific hygiene advantages of the system, including United Biscuits, The Body Shop, Sainsbury’s, Nestlé, McCain Foods, Mars, L’Oreal, KP, Dr Oetker, Coca-Cola and more.

The hygienic supply chain is an ever-improving, ever more sophisticated part of food, drink and pharmaceutical logistics. Intelligent companies are constantly focusing on tweaking best practice and asking for more from their suppliers. And where hygiene is concerned, iFlex proved that any barriers can – and must – be overcome. q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Industry unites to improve health among workforce [

OVER 150 LEADERS responsible reduction in workplace fatalities over for Health and Safety in the UK the last 40 years. construction industry met in April to Andy Mitchell, CEO of Tideway said: agree plans to address the shocking “Britain has a proud record on safety statistic that UK construction workers – it’s one of the best in the world. Our are 100 times more likely to die from challenge is how we bring health on a work-related ill health than accidents. par with safety. We now need to make In the construction sector there were transformational changes to eradicate 35 fatal accidents during 2014/15. the ill health effects caused by the work In the same period it is estimated that we do, and treat health like safety. around 4,000 construction workers died “It’s through industry events like from cancer caused by their exposure to that of the Health in Construction hazardous substances while at work. The Leadership Group that we can share The theme of the second Health in Construction event was majority of these cases are lung diseases good practice and reach a collective ‘Committing Construction to a Healthier Future – from caused by exposure to asbestos (2,600 agreement on the best ways to help commitment into action’. deaths) and silica (600 deaths). ensure our workers are working in not In the same period around 3,000 workers in the construction sector just a safe environment, but a healthy one too.” were suffering with breathing and lung problems they believed were The second Health in Construction event, titled Committing caused or made worse by their work, a rate significantly higher than the Construction to a Healthier Future – from commitment into action, average across all industries. 20% of workers identified ‘dusts from stone, follows on from the inaugural event held in January, when over 150 chief cement, bricks or concrete’ as a contributing factor. executives signed a charter committing to improving occupational health.

As Health and Safety Executive research shows most occupational The events are organised by the Health in Construction Leadership Group ill health is preventable, the construction industry is uniting in a which comprises contractors, clients, the Health and Safety Executive, bid to replicate the huge cultural shift in safety that led to an 80% professional bodies, trade associations and trade unions. q

Campaign looks to increase cancer awareness [A CAMPAIGN HAS been launched to

raise awareness of cancer among male construction workers. Don’t Let Cancer Ruin Your Foundations has been set up by Macmillan

Cancer Support in partnership with some of the UK’s biggest building firms.

It follows a poll of 600 men working in the sector carried out for the charity, which

Construction fails the ‘stress test’ [CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS HAVE awarded the sector a score of only 4.5 out of 10 for

its overall performance in managing workplace stress, according to a recent survey. Released to coincide with Mental Health Awareness week in May, the telephone survey of over 100 construction employers, carried out by CITB, found that more than a third (36%) described their workplace as a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ stress environment. One in five, however, were unsure how they would support an employee suffering from work-related stress.

While most respondents (71%) were able to suggest a personal response that they would make to help a workmate, less than half (47%) were inclined to suggest formal solutions to tackle the problem.

The three most likely reactions from employers were to offer informal support or friendship (34%), suggest counselling or where to find it (23%) and offer paid time off work (20%).

When asked how they would know an employee was suffering from stress, 53% said that they would probably detect a problem by just chatting to an employee. However, a third thought they would only hear about it when a problem on the job occurred.

The HSE Stress Management Standards describe stress as an adverse reaction to excessive pressure. While pressure can create a ‘buzz’ and be a motivating factor, stress can lead to depression, anxiety and an increased risk of suicide. q

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revealed that 43% would not want to talk about symptoms such as a lump or a suspicious mole in case it was thought they were ‘making a fuss’. In addition, the results show that 23% of those who took part in the survey admitted they would feel discouraged from seeking help because they were too embarrassed.

The new campaign is being run in conjunction with a number of firms, including Travis Perkins, Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery, Kier Group, Costain, Selco Builders Warehouse and Wolseley UK. It will see the companies work together to raise awareness of cancer and the work of Macmillan, as well as encouraging men to seek medical advice where it is needed.

In a separate survey carried out for Macmillan, 14% of the 985 men polled said they would avoid going to the doctor with symptoms such as lumps or moles. That is despite the fact that the findings also showed that 38% of men have been kept awake at night because of concerns over their health.

Senior Macmillan information nurse, John Newlands, said: “It’s really important that both men and women are aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and that they report any changes to their health as early as possible. We often find that men don’t know what they should look out for or that they feel embarrassed or unsure when talking about these changes.” q

Stay compliant with fire safety legislation

By CHRIS IVEY, Health and Safety Consultant Director at THSP Risk Management

[

THE REGULATORY REFORM (FIRE SAFETY) ORDER 2005 has been in force since October 2006. It requires the ‘responsible person’ of any nondomestic premises to carry out a fire risk assessment, including measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire, and identify persons at risk.

Under current fire safety legislation the responsible person must carry out, or appoint a competent person to carry out, a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the risks of fire to your employees and others who may be affected by your work or business.

You could be fined or go to prison if you don’t follow fire safety regulations.

The RRFSO makes it a requirement that a fire risk assessment be carried out by the person responsible for each non-domestic premises.

You are responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you are: • An employer • The owner • The landlord • An occupier • Anyone else with control of the • premises, such as a facilities • manager, building manager, • managing agent or risk assessor You can do the fire risk assessment yourself with the help of standard fire safety risk assessment guides.

If you don’t have the expertise or time to do the fire risk assessment yourself you need to appoint a ‘competent person’ to help – ie a professional risk assessor.

Your local fire and rescue authority might be able to give you advice if you’re not sure your risk assessment has been carried out properly. However, they can’t carry out risk assessments for you.

THSP Risk Management have been carrying out fire risk assessments that meet the requirements of the RRFSO since 2006, however over the past

few years local fire prevention officers have expected to see all of the considerations that have been made when carrying out the assessment documented.

THSP have launched their new fire risk assessment tool that not only addresses these concerns and all of the questions from the Publicly Available Standard for fire risk assessments (PAS 79) but includes the ability for customers to record the results of their own checks, inspections and drills – in effect becoming a live record of their arrangements and better illustrating their compliance with the rest of the RRFSO. q • To find out more about this fire risk assessment and how it can help your business stay compliant with managing your fire risks call THSP on 03456 122144 or visit www.thsp.co.uk.

www.constructionnational.co.uk

33

CISRS announces CPD courses [CISRS HAS ANNOUNCED that from June

2017 it will introduce a two-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course which will become a mandatory requirement prior to Scaffolder or Advanced Scaffolder card renewal.

CPD is an issue which has been discussed at length within the sector for over 10 years.

Following correspondence with the HSE in 2015, urging CISRS to introduce CPD as the scheme had been in existence for over 40 years without a formal route, it was agreed that its introduction would ensure that cardholders were kept up to date with the latest legislation and industry guidance.

Dave Mosley, CISRS scheme manager, said: “We are aware that good employers strive to keep their workforce up to speed with changes within the industry – but this is not always the case. With a transient workforce and no formal programme for achieving this we cannot be sure exactly what information has been passed on and to whom.

“The basic principle of CPD and/or refresher training is a good one. However, we are all too aware that this comes at a cost not only for the training itself, but also through loss of production. As such we are looking to ensure that the course provides the most gain for the least pain and offers the scaffolder and their employer some real value added training.”

CPD has been a regular agenda item at Access and Scaffolding Industry Training Organisation (ASITO) meetings and a working party of CISRS representatives, scaffolding contractors and training providers was formed to take this forward.

Mike Burr, managing director of LTC Group 87 and a member of the CPD working party, said: “The introduction of CPD for CISRS card

holders will be another much needed step forward within our ever progressing industry and will receive my full support in my role as ASITO chairman. As both an employer and training provider to the scaffold industry we welcome the introduction of CPD to further underpin what is already an excellent nationally recognised scheme.”

The working group has begun to put together a ‘wish list’ of topics which they feel should be included within a CPD course aiming to focus on essential areas. Full details will be confirmed later in the year, but it is proposed that CISRS CPD course content will cover: • SG4:15 – inclusive of SG19 and harness • training • TG20:13 – inclusive of masonry anchors • General scaffolding knowledge testing • RAMS • SG6 – manual handling, inclusive of ropes • and wheels and knots • MATS

• Scaffold inspection • Trends in accidents and reporting accidents • Part Two re-cap • Impact wrenches • Vehicles • Communication – inclusive of scaffolder • responsibilities and behaviour • Edge protection and roof works • Drugs and alcohol • PPE – responsibilities of employer • Incomplete scaffolds – inclusive of signage • and access • System scaffold awareness • Protection of the public CISRS are also looking to include a Health & Safety test within the two-day course which would then be accepted as a recognised exemption to the current Health and Safety and Environment (H&S&E) test. As such the scaffolder would not have to lose additional time undertaking the H&S&E test on another working day.

The courses will be delivered by CISRS accredited training providers.

The majority of the course content will be the same for both Scaffolders and Advanced Scaffolders – with the main difference being the scaffold structures used for the practical inspection sessions.

Dave Mosley added: “Now the basic principle has been agreed we will be working to fine tune the content. We really feel that the introduction of CPD is right for the scheme and the industry. We realise that this is a big change for the sector and as such we are giving everyone plenty of notice before this goes live – we want all scaffolders and employers to be aware that CPD is coming.” q • For a full a list of approved CISRS training providers and further details about CISRS card courses visit www.cisrs.org.uk or email enquiries@cisrs.org.uk.

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NASC launches TG20:13 consultation process [

THE NASC HAS launched a consultation process for users of its industry recognised TG20:13 Good Practice Guidance for Tube and Fitting Scaffolding.

TG20:13, with its innovative and user friendly e-Guide, was released in early 2014 to wide media, scaffolding sector and construction industry praise. An updated Version 1.1 of the e-Guide was released in September 2014, introducing new features and further enhancing the user experience.

Now the confederation has decided to start an industry-wide consultation process in order to identify how the e-Guide software can be further improved and refined.

The first step in this process is to ask users what changes and amendments they would like to see. As suggestions, these changes could include: • Extra functions to be added to the software – such as varying the number of boarded • lifts, fully loaded inside boards, producing drawings and basic calculations and • increased leg load information.

• More information on the compliance sheet – such as postcode, unique scaffold • number and seasonal factors.

• Editorial changes to any of the publications – including the Operational Guide, Design • Guide or User Guide.

NASC managing director, Robin James, said: “It’s clear TG20:13 has had a positive impact on the scaffolding industry and has been widely adopted. But it’s our aim to keep the product at the forefront of industry innovation – and that means reacting to the experience and feedback of users and doing anything we can to encourage wider acceptance of TG20 in construction.

“Ultimately, it’s our aim to make the scaffolding industry safer and more efficient through TG20 with tube and fitting scaffolding. And we will do our best to incorporate as many new features as can be accommodated without over complicating the software.” q

www.constructionnational.co.uk

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SG4:You pocket guide now available [

THE NASC HAS launched the eagerly awaited, user friendly SG4:You (2015) pocket guide further to publication of its core scaffolding fall prevention guidance note SG4:15 Preventing Falls in Scaffolding Operations – with support from BuildUK. This convenient, but detailed 86-page A6 pocket guide is designed for scaffolding operatives and managers to use as a handy reference document whilst out on site and to support the main, detailed SG4:15 A4 management guide – which is available as a free download via the NASC website at www.nasc.org.uk.

Copies of the SG4:You pocket guide will retail via the NASC website’s online shop, priced as follows: • NASC member 1-99 units – £3.00 • NASC member 100+ units – £2.10 • NASC information members – £3.00 • Non members 1-99 units – £6.00 • Non members 100+ units – £4.20 The widely-recognised industry standard for safe scaffolding, SG4:15 was launched in its 2015 revised and updated format to the NASC’s membership at the 2015 AGM in November and has been widely praised by industry experts. The SG4:You guide completes the SG4:15 suite and offers both detail and convenience to scaffolding operatives, contractors, managers and those involved in scaffolding on construction sites.

Whilst many of the principles of SG4 remain unchanged, the fine-tuning

‘evolution not revolution’ updates to the 2015 guidance – part of the NASC’s commitment to review guidance every five years – reflects the broader scope introduced by TG20 compliant scaffolds, changes to good practice and industry innovation in the scaffolding sector. These include: • Erecting floor height lifts • Bridging with beams • Loading bay gate installation • Cantilever scaffolding • Chimney stack scaffolding • Personal fall protection equipment NASC past president and member of the SG4:15 working party, Kevin Ward, said: “SG4 works! The NASC accident statistics speak for themselves and, in light of these, this revision has been more of a fine-tuning exercise rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.”

NASC managing director, Robin James, added: “The updated SG4:15 safety guidance has been very well received as a free download and we’re very happy to be launching the SG4:You pocket guidance note as a condensed hard copy version. Since its inception 20 years ago, SG4 has stood the test of time and developed to become the established performance standard for the protection of scaffolders working at height. The A6 pocket guide only serves to strengthen its use and reference out on site.

“SG4 is a core NASC publication. It is supported by the the construction industry’s overarching trade association, BuildUK, and used by principal contractors across the UK and internationally. It continues to focus on prevention and protection philosophy, like the ‘Scaffolders’ Safe Zone’, but it now also includes a range of updates to reflect changes within the industry, such as the introduction of TG20:13 Good Practice Guidance for Tube and Fitting Scaffolding.

“Work at height is by far the biggest risk faced by scaffolders and adhering to the principles in SG4:15 will not only serve to offer continual improvement in accident prevention, but will assist users to meet work at height legal obligations. The affordable SG4:You pocket guide will only serve to assist in this process.” q • To order copies of the SG4:You pocket guide visit the website at www.nasc.org.uk or email enquiries@nasc.org.uk.

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New award will recognise innovation in scaffolding [A NEW AWARD scheme celebrating

innovation in the scaffolding industry has been launched by the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC).

The biennial Scaffolding Product Innovation Award will recognise the best developments in new scaffolding materials and products from leading industry suppliers. The inaugural award will be presented at the confederation’s AGM in Amsterdam on 25 November and thereafter every two years. The award-winner will be decided following an independent judging process by a panel of leading access and scaffolding experts in the UK. Entries will be accepted for any widely used scaffolding material or access and scaffolding product from NASC member companies.

Chair of the NASC hire, sale and manufacturing committee, TRAD Group managing director Des Moore, said: “The scaffolding industry is constantly evolving and product-based hire, sale and manufacturing member companies are at the forefront of driving these changes. As such, we felt it was time to recognise this and champion those companies

and individuals who are creating products that make the industry a safer place to work in.”

NASC managing director Robin James added: “This is a new and worthy award to complement the existing biennial NASC Health and Safety award and to encourage best practice in the access and scaffolding industry. We look forward to getting this new award off the ground at the AGM this year and receiving innovative entries from across the membership for independent judgement and recognition.” q • The process for award submissions is available on the NASC website at www.nasc.org.uk.

IPAF report shortlisted for trade association award [ RECOGNITION BY YOUR peers is the

best way of knowing that you’re getting things right – and that is exactly what the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) can claim following the shortlisting of its annual report in the Publication of the Year category of the Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards 2016.

Now in their 14th year, the TAF awards – presented across 11 categories – recognise, reward and promote best practice among trade associations in the UK. They are a chance for TAF members to showcase their hard work and achievements during the past 12 to 18 months.

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in London on 6 July 2016.

The annual report gives an overview of IPAF’s activities and achievements in a simple, direct and colourful way. It sums up everything that IPAF has achieved during the year in promoting the safe and effective use of powered access equipment.

Produced in seven languages, it is a unique combination of marketing tool, corporate reporting, company brochure and news outlet.

“I am proud that our annual report has been shortlisted for this prestigious award and encourage everyone to read it,” said IPAF CEO Tim Whiteman.

Readers can see what all the fuss is about at the Publications section of www.ipaf.org. q

Access association elects its first woman deputy

[ FOR THE FIRST time in its 42-

year history, the Prefabricated Access Suppliers' and Manufacturers’ Association Ltd (PASMA) has elected a female deputy chair. Gillian Rutter (pictured) takes over from John Bungay who recently retired from the association’s council.

A member of PASMA’s governing body since 1988 and its hire assembly committee since 2013, Gillian has been a lifelong member of the association. She was one of the first women to successfully complete the PASMA Towers for Users course, aged just 17.

She now runs Essex-based Skyward Access Training Limited and is also one of the directors of Hire Access Limited, a hirer/dealer and hire assembly member of PASMA that operates throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Skyward delivers the complete range of PASMA training courses, including the advanced course Towers on Stairs and the recently-released Towers with Cantilevers.

On the announcement of her election in April, Gillian commented: “As a fullyqualified PASMA training instructor myself I know and understand towers and speak the language. My entire career has been devoted to towers, safety and best practice and I plan to put this knowledge and expertise to good use in the weeks and months ahead.

“PASMA is instantly recognisable as a training provider, but it does much more than training. It’s a major contributor to the development of standards and guidance, both nationally and internationally, and I want to reinforce this message in my new role.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Scaffolding supplier ups the ante – however you want to order [

PURCHASING SCAFFOLDING PLANT and materials from leading supplier George Roberts (NW) Ltd has just become easier and safer – whether it’s online or from the warehouse.

Major redevelopment work at the company’s main depot in Liverpool has resulted in even more yard space to add to their substantial head office site. The expansion has enhanced and improved storage and, more importantly, loading facilities.

George Roberts supply a full range of equipment to scaffolding contractors, multi-discipline contractors, construction companies and housebuilders, as well as to national and local tool hire shops.

Speaking shortly before the opening of the expanded facility, a spokesman for the company said: “We realised that we could better serve our customers by having a specific area within our yard extension stocked with a range of products and set out in a manner to allow easy access with fast, safe loading and, more importantly to the customer, a ‘drive-in’ type of service which will see reduced waiting and loading times.”

At the same time the comapny extended and updated its online shop to increase considerably the number of products available and improve ease of use – both when making purchases and for enquiring what is available.

All the items are available from stock and for immediate dispatch through a dedicated courier service – with guaranteed next day delivery on most items if ordered before 2pm.

The materials available for purchase online include a full range of scaffold tools, frogs and belts, including tool restraint systems, height safety equipment – from a superb two-point safety harness to a range

of fall arrest and restraint lanyards – and a range of plastic products, including the unique and innovative Cubby Cap. It also includes Scafftag scaffold tagging systems, a comprehensive range of scaffold fixings and drill bits as well as scaffolding accessories, sheeting, debris net and brickguards. q • For further information visit www.scaffoldingsales.co.uk.

Qualifying the Workforce programme to fund scaffolder training [

THE NASC HAS launched a ‘Qualifying the Workforce’ in-house programme offering member companies funding from a £30,000 central pot for up to 240 training placement payments.

The scheme rewards members for their commitment to CISRS training and they can apply for a payment of £125 for any employee who has qualified to CISRS Scaffolder, Advanced Scaffolder or Scaffolding Supervisor since January this year.

In addition to the scaffolder training funds, there will also be a chance to claim for CISRS Operative Training Courses (COTS) training. Included within the 240 total placements, NASC will make up to a maximum of 50 payments of £125 to employers who have put their operative through the COTS course and have obtained a CISRS Labourer or CISRS New Entrant Trainee card via this process.

NASC training manager Dave Mosley said: “This new Qualifying the Workforce programme is all about supporting NASC members who are investing in their staff through CISRS training. We have run similar initiatives in previous years with the aid of additional CITB funding which have proved very successful and popular with the membership.

With this type of CITB funding no longer available, the NASC Council has agreed to set aside £30K to fund a programme for 2016.

NASC managing director Robin James said: “We are thrilled to be able to offer this substantial training incentive and we would encourage members to act fast if they want to benefit from it.” q • To claim visit the members’ area of www.nasc.org.uk.

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Business is booming for powered access specialists [

THE UK’S BIGGEST powered access specialist has extended its range with the addition of 35 new tracked boom lifts from Hinowa – with working heights from 14 to 26 metres. Nationwide Platforms has acquired the plant from Hinowa’s UK distributor, Access Platform Sales (APS).

The fleet comprises a mix of lithium-ion battery and bi-fuel powered units from the manufacturer’s Performance IIIS series. It includes a number of 14-metre Goldlift 14.70s, 17-metre Lightlift 17.75s, 20-metre Lightlift 20.10s and 26-metre Lightlift 26.14s. The units are available for hire with either an operator or on a self-operated basis, and feature wireless remote control, automatic levelling and extendable tracks – which offer low ground bearing pressures as well as improved stability when travelling. Nonmarking tracks also make the machines ideal for indoor use and on sensitive floors.

As soon as Nationwide Platforms took delivery of the first units from APS, a Goldlift 14.70 was sent out straight on hire, where it was lifted by crane onto the 11th storey of the Dollar Bay residential development project in Canary Wharf, London.

Weighing just 1,750kg, the unit was chosen due to its weight, compact size and lower point loadings.

The company’s operations director

Peter Douglas said: “This is an important investment from Nationwide Platforms in a specialist area of the market that has seen significant growth over recent years. We fully expect this growth to continue with this investment helping to cement our position as the UK's leading access specialist.”

The Lightlift models also feature a new basket design, a single key starting system and the manufacturer’s RAHM monitoring system, which can remotely monitor a machine’s location and operation as well as allowing technicians to diagnose faults.

The lithium-ion powered models also provide clean, quiet and emissions-free operation and offer an extended lifetime compared to traditional lead batteries. They also require significantly less time to recharge – for example, a complete charge cycle takes approximately five hours, while two hours will provide a massive 80% battery life.

Steve Couling is managing director of IAPS Group, which owns APS. He commented: “Nationwide Platforms is a longstanding customer of ours, particularly for replacement parts.

We are delighted to now also be working with them as they expand into the rapidly growing tracked boom sector.” q

Work at height cases continue to come to court – years after the event [

DESPITE THE BEST efforts of trade associations such as the NASC, CISRS, IPAF and PASMA, accidents while working at height continue to occur. In many cases it is a number of years before cases come to court following HSE investigations.

Latest enforcement stories from HSE include a court case concerning an accident that occurred in 2012. In August of that year an apprentice stonemason was seriously injured from contact with an overhead power line while working on scaffolding at a cottage in Perth.

In June this year Perth Sheriff Court heard that, while on the scaffold, he came into contact with overhead 240-volt electricity power lines that were supplying the cottage. The wind caused the power line to brush against his back causing him to turn around instinctively and grab the live wire.

The flow of the current meant he was unable to let go for a few seconds until he jumped down from the board on the tower scaffold.

His weight broke the wire and interrupted the flow of current. He received an electric shock and suffered burns to both hands requiring graft surgery and a possible future amputation of a little finger.

An investigation by HSE found that the stone masonry company should have developed a safe system of work. T&M Stonemasonry pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £16,000.

Even major companies are not immune from falls from height, with the penalties often being even more severe. Also in June, British Telecom was fined £500,000 after an engineer fell 7m from a loft in London, breaking his back and his ankles. That event occurred as long ago as May 2011.

The Old Bailey heard how the engineer was fixing a telephone fault in the roof void of a residential block of flats in Tower Hamlets, East London. He was working alone when he lost his balance and fell through the ceiling, landing on a concrete stairwell.

A HSE investigation found there were a number of management failures by BT, including inadequate planning of work taking place near fragile surfaces and checking that it was carried out safely.

British Telecom was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Safety and Health at Work etc Act 1974. In his sentencing remarks the judge criticised BT for attempting to blame its own engineers for the incident. He described their approach as being ‘not necessary, misplaced, and unfortunate’.

HSE inspector Kevin Smith said: “There were a number of failures of health and safety management by BT which related to planning the work, supervision, and checking it was being carried out safely. Work at height needs to be properly planned, and this incident could have been prevented.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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BIM Toolkit is free to all [

THE UK Government Construction Strategy, published in 2011, announced the government’s intention to require a minimum of Level-2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) on all its projects by this year. The deadline is now upon us.

The objectives behind the government’s strategy were simple: build and operate assets more efficiently in terms of cost, reduce environmental impact and improve UK exports of professional services and construction projects.

The RICS summed up the commonly-held view of the construction industry back in 2014 in its introduction to BIM. “The construction industry,” it said, “is known for delivering projects late and over budget, with the resulting assets often not quite working as they should. BIM can bring predictability to a project – not just around capital delivery but operation too. BIM can also help us to save both money and carbon by cutting out wasteful processes and activities and making more informed decisions at the right time.”

Dr Stephen Hamil, director of design and innovation at NBS, gives a comprehensive explanation of the new BIM Toolkit in the online video ‘NBS BIM Toolkit Explained’ The government’s BIM Task Group developed the idea of a BIM Toolkit that could be provided for contractors, suppliers and clients to help implement the strategy. That toolkit was developed by National Building Specification (NBS), part of RIBA Enterprises.

According to NBS: “Equally applicable to public or private sector projects, the toolkit offers a straightforward and intuitive way of defining, managing and validating responsibility for information development and delivery through a project’s lifecycle.”

“I think it brings us something we’ve never had before,” said John Eynon, chair of the Construction Industry Council’s South East Regional BIM Hub. “Up until now we’ve been so fragmented in the way we use information, that it’s been hopeless trying to get anything together, but now we’re getting a benchmark of consistency and practice.”

BIM’s influence spreads beyond public sector [ THE NATIONAL BIM REPORT 2016 was published by NBS and is the sixth study into

UK adoption and awareness of BIM. According to the report, a small majority (54%) of construction companies are now aware of and using BIM on at least some of their projects, while a further 42% said they were aware of BIM and 4% were neither aware nor using.

Regardless of where they are now, in a year’s time 86% expect to be using BIM on at least some of their projects and that number increases to 97% in five years’ time, making BIM universal and routine assuming good intentions are realised.

Almost half of respondents describe themselves as being ‘very’ or ‘quite’ confident of their BIM knowledge and skills, leaving a majority who are not. Just under a quarter (23%) describe themselves as being ‘in between’, while 28% describe themselves as ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ confident in BIM. The government BIM mandate does seem to be influencing work in the private sector, not just the public. Although people are generally more likely to use BIM in public-sector projects, there is evidence of significant BIM adoption in private housing, private offices and private leisure. q

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According to an Introduction to the NBS BIM Toolkit, a project begins at the strategy stage by considering ‘Assessment and Need’. As part of the exercise the client will consider what questions they will have that need answers as the project develops.

Within the Level-2 BIM process a set of Employer’s Information Requirements will be generated that considers the procurement of digital information in addition to the procurement of the physical asset. The specific information required to provide answers to the client’s ‘plain language questions’ is determined and this is aligned to the relevant stage of the project.

All of this information may be exported out of the toolkit for easy inclusion the Employer’s Information Requirements, as well as other documents. It can also be exported to a standard data structure and subsequently be imported into private areas of the toolkit set up by other organisations.

Dr Stephen Hamil, NBS director of design and innovation and BIM Toolkit project lead, explained: “The BIM Toolkit will help put together Employer’s Information Requirements, aligning digital information requirements to the specific stages. Design and construction teams will be able to clearly define who is doing what and when at each stage from the outset, whilst the industry will benefit from a ‘construction language’ defining information exchanges.”

The NBS BIM Toolkit is free-to-use and forms an important part of Level-2 BIM. It provides benefits to clients in allowing them to define consistent digital information requirements and refine these as lessons are learned from previous projects. It also minimises risk and uncertainty within the supply-chain. q • To find out more about the NBS BIM Toolkit, visit www.toolkit.thenbs.com/articles/anintroduction-to-the-toolkit or www.theb1m. com/video/nbs-bim-toolkit-explained.

BIM Case Study: The 3rd Bosphorous Bridge – a truly awe-inspiring project [

HAILED AS a ‘symbol of modern Turkey’, the 3rd Bosphorus bridge is the widest suspension bridge in the world. Featuring the highest suspension bridge tower ever seen globally, this massive engineering undertaking is set to propel Turkey towards its ambition to become one of the world’s ten largest economies by the year 2023. It is no exaggeration to say that the pioneering scale of its construction, alongside its aesthetic and technical features, makes this one of the most important bridges in the world.

Cem Erer, planning and controlling director of the 3rd Bosporus Bridge and North Marmara Highway Project, IC Içtas – Astaldi Consortium, gives the lowdown on this most complex of endeavours and explains how Asta Powerproject was used on the project.

A megaproject of this size is enormously demanding to manage, with many key challenges needing to be overcome in delivering the project to a very ambitious technical specification. It required having the right people and resources and a quality planning software. After reviewing options available, the company chose Asta Powerproject as the software to underpin the project.

Erer says: “We chose Asta Powerproject, because it is not only powerful, but also very easy to use.

We needed to find a way to track planning amongst a large number of stakeholders. It enables us to understand the project’s status in real time, and it is also user-friendly for ease of adoption. We have found Asta Powerproject to be a solution that contributed towards the smooth execution of the project.”

Background to the project The 3rd Bosphorus bridge forms part of the Northern Marmara motorway project executed

by IC Içtas – Astaldi Consortium. It is a project that is widely considered to be the future of transportation and commerce for Turkey. Built on Istanbul’s Bosphorus – after the Bogazici Bridge, which began operating in 1972, and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which was completed in 1988 – this 3rd bridge is without doubt a ground breaking project. The concept design is the result of a collaboration between structural engineer Michel Virlogeux, known as the ‘French bridge master’, and Swiss company, T-Engineering. q • For further information visit www.astapowerproject.com.

The 3rd Bosphorus Bridge: At a Glance

Key stats • Cost: Over £1 billion • Model: Build-Operate-Transfer • Execution Company: IC Içtas – Astaldi • Consortium • Time period: 10 years, 2 months and • 20 days • Manpower: 7,000 construction and 500 • operational staff • Concept Design: Michel Virlogeux and • T-Engineering • Project Management software: Asta • Powerproject Scale • The longest suspension bridge • incorporating a rail system at 1,408 • metres main span • The widest suspension bridge in the • world at 59 metres • The highest tower of any suspension • bridge in the world at 322 metres • 8 lanes of motorway and 2 railway lines • all on the same level www.constructionnational.co.uk

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The evolution of BIM

By JOHN KLAHN, Certifications Development Manager at RICS

[THE RICS BIM strategy was developed in 2011 as a direct response

to the UK government mandate for BIM Level 2 adoption. The strategy spans the organisation, involving the development of standards, training, conferences and qualifications, as well as information and data products.

However, as the latest NBS National BIM Survey revealed that nearly 70% of the industry is unclear on what BIM is, is now the time to take a different approach? Is there still a role for BIM managers?

RICS BIM Manager Certification was developed to recognise managers of information who are championing and supporting BIM implementation within the industry, whether as construction consultants, property managers, contractors or clients. It is widely accepted that 80% of the success of BIM delivery relies on culture changes and 20% on technology developments, and this is reflected in the skills required to achieve certification (see competencies box below). Two years on from the announcement of the first Certified BIM Managers, and with the UK government mandate deadline now passed, RICS is witnessing both the growth of BIM outside the UK and its contribution to wider sector developments.

Global adoption Our BIM products and services were primarily developed for the UK market but interest from outside the UK was present immediately. RICS

BIM Manager Certification competencies Applicants must demonstrate the three core competencies and one optional competency.

Initiation (core) Demonstrate what BIM is, why it’s needed and how you justify this to others.

Process (core) Demonstrate how BIM is used, why a defined process is needed and what you need to do to follow this.

Collaboration and integration (core) Demonstrate what environment is needed to use BIM, why collaboration is essential and how you create this environment.

Technology (optional) Demonstrate how software is selected and used to create an effective BIM environment.

Commercial and contract (optional) Demonstrate how the model and datasets are used to allow all parties to meet their responsibilities and provide an effective asset handover.

Certified BIM Managers are now spread across the key markets in the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, with interest dotted across Europe as well (see full list below). Talking to individuals at the RICS BIM Conference, the demand for expertise in modelling and implementing BIM is creating job opportunities in the Middle East and South East Asian countries and in the UK and Continental Europe tender documents are starting to reference RICS and BIM qualifications. This is driving enquiries from all elements of the built environment industry: architects, engineers, contractors and academics.

Technology led Technology continues to change the way we plan, build, maintain and use our social and economic infrastructure, and it continues to advance quickly.

Property technology refers to all aspects of innovation and how it impacts the built environment. This includes software, hardware, materials or manufacturing. 'PropTech' is a general all-encompassing term, but also refers to the small start-ups that are using technology to address market problems – much the same way BIM grew from the niche software developers.

BIM is now recognised as allowing for more cost effective and efficient processes throughout the duration of a construction project but it also promises to transform many sectors across the market. This promise is beginning to be delivered but we recognise that BIM is just one technology that is set to revolutionise the market and maximise efficiency.

RICS approach To find out more about RICS and property technology visit the website at rics.org/propertytechnology. All RICS BIM content is now featured here too. As the industry continues to evolve through technology, we will be embracing the property technology approach in our RICS BIM products and services. For BIM Manager Certification this will be reflected in updated guidance for applicants in addition to applicant support workshops. For those requiring comprehensive training in BIM, there is the six-month BIM project management course (see advert facing).

There will always be a role for BIM managers because for the industry to realise BIM’s (or any property technology’s) potential, information needs to be controlled. The role of the information manager therefore supports industry to embrace technology, supports clients to adopt it, and supports projects to utilise it. q • The next deadline for BIM Manager Certification applications is 31 October. To gain access to the applicant workshops please complete the eligibility survey at rics.org/bimmanager.

Listed below are some of our Certified BIM Managers. Find a full list at rics.org/bimmanager Ian Aldous MRICS – Arcadis, UK

Allister Lewis – Hampshire County Council, UK

Qamar Raja – KEO International Consultants, Qatar

Tomo Cerovsek – University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Adrian Malone – Atkins, UK

Fathima Rajabdeen MRICS – Faithful + Gould, UK

Qiu Chuang MRICS – JCM Institute of International Construction Management, China

Jean Marais – b.i.g. bechtold Ing. Ges. mbH, Germany

Daniel Rossiter – BRE, UK Peter Sell MRICS – Gardiner & Theobald, UK

Sarah Davidson FRICS – Gleeds, UK

Rob Moore – Grangegorman Development Agency, Ireland

Rebecca DeCicco – Digital Node, Australia

Macdonald Muzvimwe MRICS – Faithful + Gould, UK

Nicky Dobreanu – Gleeds Gulf Engineering Consultants, Qatar

Hayath Noordeen – Atkins, UAE

Dr Muhammad Tariq Shafiq – Imarati Enginnering & Consultants (IEC), UAE Choi Shing Lam MRICS – Hong Kong Housing Authority, Hong Kong

Jane Foulkes – Faithful + Gould,UK

Liu Pan – JCM Institute of Engineering Management, China

Iain Hardcastle – Laing O’Rourke, Australia

Brendan Patchell FRICS – Morgan Sindall, UK

Dawn Smith MRICS – Arcadis, UK

Karim Ibrahim – BIMTEC, Qatar

David Philp FRICS – AECOM, UK

Graham Starkey – Costain, UK

Marion Jarvis – Troup Bywaters And Anders, UK

Steve Pittard FRICS – London South Bank University, UK

Anna Thompson MRICS – Turner & Townsend, UK

Ken Lee – Ken Lee Pty Ltd, Australia

Owen Pottle MRICS – Trident Building Consultancy, UK

Jason Whittall RIBA – One Creative Environments Ltd, UK

Laura Smagin – Atkins, UAE

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Green infrastructure

the perfect prevention for flooding?

By STEVE CHATWIN-GRINDEY of DeepRoot Urban Solutions Ltd

[

LAST YEAR WE witnessed some of the worst floods in the UK with storms Desmond and Eva bringing widespread flooding to the north of England. Thousands of homes and businesses were flooded. Much was made of the multimillion pound investment in flood defences that seemed inadequate against raging torrents. Little or no comment was made about green infrastructure and the role that natural processes, aided by good urban planning and wise use of compatible building products, can play in reducing the risk of flooding.

Of course, this was an extreme event. More than twice the average monthly rainfall fell in less than 24 hours. River banks were burst.

And, Carlisle aside, there was extensive damage in areas with relatively little in the way of concrete jungle. But our changing climate means that over the last 20 years Britain’s annual rainfall has increased by around 5% – and with an increasingly impervious environment, smaller

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rainfall events can cause serious flooding. We’ve witnessed similar such tragic events at both ends of the country over the past decade or so. And our population is projected to reach 77 million by 2050 – which means more concrete, paving and of course more homes at risk.

All of which is a clarion call for change in the way we plan our developments, and the onus is on town planners, the authorities and construction project teams to do this.

Factors influencing flooding There are a good handful of factors at play in local flood issues – deforestation and increasing development, poor land management, soil erosion from previous flooding, poor agricultural practice and construction works. Infrequent drain, sewer and watercourse clearance by councils and the littering that creates blockages also play a part.

Even homeowners choosing hard landscaping over grass and flowerbeds has a cumulative impact.

Just as there are various causal contributors, there are a number of solutions. Retaining walls, detention basins, sea defences. They’re all important, depending on geographical context, but we’re overlooking a simple solution which, if implemented widely, will begin to offer ever-increasing protection as the years go by – green infrastructure.

What is green infrastructure?

It’s the principle of using vegetation, soils and natural processes to manage rainfall and water run-off. In rural areas, it might include restoring grasslands and extensive tree planting, both upland and close to river banks, to slow the rate at which Suspended paving allows tree roots the space to flourish water reaches rivers and is carried downstream. In urban areas, it includes a combination of tree planting and installing sustainable SUDS urban drainage systems (SUDS).

Sustainable urban drainage systems are a series of water management facilities and practices that withhold and delay run-off, and absorb and return What’s the problem with urban development? a far greater percentage of rainfall into the ecosystem than through pipes into Hard, impermeable surfaces – from sloping roofs to pedestrianised areas sewers or watercourses. They include everything from wetlands and swales and car parks – don’t allow water to reach the land where it falls. Instead, it’s to permeable surfaces and filter and infiltration trenches, to green roofs and diverted into drainage networks. Those networks can hold far less water than greywater harvesting. the land area from which it’s drained. They are also prone to blocking from Rather compellingly, taken as a whole, SUDS cost around 50% less than debris and, when poorly maintained, this increases the risk of localised flooding traditional drainage systems and can be planned according to the situation. and damage to the sewer system. In combination with poor countryside They are sustainable, natural, support natural environments and help prevent management where urban areas give way to fields and farmland, and with freak natural disaster. They’re a common-sense choice. rainfall dropped on top, the urban sewer system can’t cope with the surge of stormwater run-off.

Suspend the disbelief What makes it all worse is that we compact soil to build new developments, Flooding is not just about permeability of the urban environment. It’s about so the earth that lies beneath our pavements cannot absorb and retain the compaction and quality of the soil beneath paving. Lightly compacted anywhere near as much water as soil that’s protected. soil contains plenty of air space to absorb, slow and clean rainfall – and one Engineered collection systems such as stormwater ‘sump pump’ sewers and of nature’s most potent water attenuation tools is the tree. The larger and tunnel systems have been introduced in the US and even proposed in the UK. more mature the tree, the greater the environmental services it provides. Their However, they are expensive, often disruptive, and there’s serious doubt about canopies collect and absorb rainfall – as much as 10% in a woodland setting. whether they are truly successful even in the short-term.

Their branches and trunks capture water too, and slow its flow to the ground.

The answer has to be more sustainable and considered. We need to manage The same applies, on a smaller scale, with shrubs and other plantlife. They all and increase our green spaces in urban areas far more effectively. We need to need water to grow, and evapotranspiration (the release of water vapour through blend the most effective water attenuation methods nature has given us and leaves during photosynthesis) is estimated to capture 57% of average annual support them with products that mimic natural processes. The answer is trees rainfall. and SUDS. That they remove pollutants from the air, provide wildlife habitats, add beauty and are proven to improve human health and wellbeing all adds further reasons for increased urban planting.

But trees need help to thrive in an urban environment. Suspended paving allows that to happen and has other benefits too. Suspended paving supports the weight of the paving and creates a void which can be filled with lightly compacted soil. This improves stormwater retention, reduces summer watering need, and allows tree roots the space to flourish for a longer, healthier lifespan so that they can do a more effective job too. Rainfall can be readily directed onto the suspended pavement through pervious paving, curb cuts, slot drains and catch basins.

Minor storms can cause significant flooding and spread pollution into natural watercourses. Flood defences aren’t the only answer, or even the right answer for some areas. Flood prevention, in the form of effective green space planning, can be applied anywhere, and must be applied to urban areas.

A holistic approach is needed that encourages local authorities, planners, green space managers, landscape designers and others to properly consider the role of green spaces and how they can impact on stormwater management in urban settings as well as creating a healthier environment. We also need to enforce the selection of quality soil, devices and solutions that enable our trees to grow and reach their potential, providing the important ecological benefits that make a significant difference to the quality of our environment. q

A stormwater rootball

• Steve Chatwin-Grindey is the general manager for DeepRoot Urban Solutions Ltd. He has worked on green infrastructure projects utilising the Silva Cell across the UK, including at the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial (London), Dortmund Square (Leeds) and council streetscape renovations countrywide. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Three rules of water management for green roofs [

TO MAXIMISE THE efficiency of a green roof when it comes to implementing Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), Boningale GreenSky say that it’s important for designers to have a basic understanding of how plant and substrates work and what the local climate is like.

Maggie Fennell, technical green roof expert at the Shropshire-based company recommends that green roof designers follow three main guidelines to ensure the best SUDS performance from any green roof – these relate to substrate depth and composition as well as plant combination.

“For substrate depth, 150mm is ideal because it offers the best possible water storage and attenuation, and supports a good, varied range of green roof plants,” explained Maggie. “It’s also important to examine carefully what the local climate is like, because rainfall distribution will majorly impact on the type of substrate you need. For example, we have developed a range of substrates that can store water to cope with drought, or attenuate water to mitigate flooding.”

“Selecting plants that are good for water management on green roofs is essential too, and is often overlooked,” confirmed Maggie.

While water-storing succulents such as sedum, delosperma and sempervivum are particularly good at surviving drought conditions, there are myriad wildflowers and perennials that can live happily alongside them – especially those with leaves that are silvery, hairy or have a small surface area.

“Successful SUDS design is about many different measures working together to control the flow of water around a site. Applying these three rules will mean that a green roof will have the greatest chance of success and efficiency when it comes to water management,” added Maggie.

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Boningale GreenSky have developed a range of substrates that are focussed on storing water to cope with drought, or attenuating water to mitigate flooding

Boningale GreenSky is the award-winning green roof department of Albrighton-based Boningale Nurseries, who have developed marketleading horticultural products and guidance in partnership with the technology experts at the University of Sheffield’s Green Roof Centre.

This research is translated into award-winning design tools that are freely available at www.boningale-greensky.co.uk. q

Not all D400s are created equal [

THE RANGE OF ductile-iron manhole covers on offer from market leader Clark-Drain includes three distinct types of products designed to comply with EN 124 D400 loading. Each is intended for different applications, but the company is increasingly finding that the wrong type is chosen, with price often seeming to be the most influential factor. ClarkDrain’s technical manager Jeremy Nesbitt explained the misconception surrounding the errors in specifying.

“Compliance to EN124 D400 loading is merely a statement about a product’s static vertical loading capability under laboratory conditions; not its suitability for any location with any amount of road traffic.”

That, he says, is because in certain situations – such as roundabouts, road junctions, main roads and other areas of high traffic density – the dynamic loading effects exerted by vehicles passing over manhole covers with greater frequency and/or at speed are potentially far greater than at other locations. That can cause stress fatigue failures either in the manhole cover itself, or more likely through the frame and to the bedding it is sited on.

Jeremy Nesbitt continued: “A product’s ability to resist a static vertical load of 400kN is only one small part of the equation that makes a product suitable for a given application in terms of its durability in service. Ideally, we’d only offer one type of D400 cover in our range that would be suitable for all locations – even if it meant overkill for less demanding applications.

However, in today’s cost-conscious market we have found the need to develop more competitively-priced products for those less demanding applications. Unfortunately, on occasion we find that this leads to the wrong product being selected for the application.”

He explained the different applications the various Clark-Drain products are suitable for: • Non-carriageway D400 products, such as the CD 701 KMD and CD 1659 KMD, are suitable for use in areas subjected to slow-moving

vehicles only, including the occasional HGV. Those would be car parks, cul de sacs, retail delivery areas, private access roads and the like. They are not suitable for use in carriageways.

• Carriageway D400 products, such as the CD 701H KMD and CD 1659H KMD, are suitable for use in carriageways subject to low-density traffic – including HGV’s – that can be fast or slow-moving.

• Heavy-duty D400 products, such as the CD 901H KMD and CD 902H KMD, are suitable for use in carriageways subject to high-density traffic, which can be fast or slow-moving.

Jeremy Nesbitt concluded: “Selection of the wrong product is likely to lead to an early failure of the manhole cover and/or bedding, meaning a costly on-site repair. A few pounds saved up front can therefore lead to great expense in the long run. So, if in doubt, always select the higher specification product.”

Construction sites Clark-Drain’s engineers are occasionally called out to construction sites where D400 products have failed. That is often because, while the product chosen and installed may be appropriate for the long-term intended use of the road, during construction a number of large site vehicles, often carrying large and unusual loads, will pass over them.

That fact is often overlooked in the planning and specifying stages and the dynamic loadings that those site vehicles exert are far greater than their static mass would suggest.

Says Jeremy Nesbitt: “Accepted best practice is to protect any ironwork from traffic until construction is complete, and that is also what we recommend. As a further precaution, consideration should be given to installing either a higher specification of D400 product or even an E600 product to avoid failure, should the product be unintentionally trafficked by site vehicles.” q

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Heathrow adopts WinCan web [

HEATHROW AIRPORT is famous the world over as the UK’s premier international airport with five terminal buildings.

To ensure the smooth running of such a huge undertaking requires some major behind the scenes operations, not least of which cover the ongoing management and maintenance of its utility services.

The airport is served by some 530 km of surface water drainage, the effective operation of which is vital even during the worst of weather. There is also a network of some 120 km of foul sewers that need to be continually maintained. Both networks are privately owned.

Across the whole pipeline spectrum, diameters vary from as small as 80 mm up to 1,800 mm diameter. The largest pipe yet to be surveyed is a main outfall measuring 2.9 m diameter serving Terminal 5. The inspection, assessment and maintenance works are fully underpinned using CCTV survey techniques and equipment.

Historically, CCTV surveys have been undertaken in the traditional way with cameras being passed through designated sections of the pipe network. The video is recorded and notes made on screen, and in printed reports, to highlight defects in the network. Surveys have been recorded to DVD and the reports stored physically for access by those who need them. However, as with most such systems, there is no guarantee that the information is stored correctly or that information cannot be lost as the ‘file’ is passed from one office to another.

So staff at Heathrow have been looking to develop a centralised system that did not require the physical movement of data, thus making the management of the information simpler and accessible from anywhere within the Heathrow operation.

To this end the asset management team recently worked with Surrey-based CCTV reporting and data handling specialist WinCan Europe Ltd to launch its operations on the company’s WinCan Web system.

With CCTV inspections being undertaken by Tomato Plant, Heathrow’s preferred specialist, survey reports, generally undertaken at night when the airport is least busy, can be completed and uploaded to the central WinCan Web software immediately on completion.

From WinCan Web the reports can then be accessed, usually the following day, with the information available to anyone with the required access protocols and without the need to transport documents between sites.

According to Paul Melvin, asset engineer for Heathrow: “What the introduction of WinCan Web will allow us to do over time is move away from this physical handling of inspection reports and DVD’s and have access to significant information on asset condition

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Surveying at night enables reports to be made available as early as the next day to engineers working on the airport’s drainage networks online, thereby enabling us to plan our regulatory investment more effectively and to expedite pipe replacements or repairs that are the most urgent.”

While at present the asset condition of only some 15% of the Heathrow network is known, the availability of the WinCan Web software will mean that new surveys will be accessible more quickly. Although Paul Melvin did comment: “It may be some seven years or more before the whole network is fully surveyed and available through the WinCan Web system. But as we add more information we will be able to compare previous surveys with current ones to highlight potential areas of concern early. This will minimise the occurrence of unplanned events and reduce the impact on the airport of the high costs involved in ‘emergency responses’. It is ultimately about asset management and showing value in what we do and why.”

The information placed on Heathrow’s WinCan Web system will be linked with WinCan’s Analyst software tool which offers a good visualisation of active location conditions and can highlight local hotspots needing further investigation or maintenance work before they become a problem. Any additional survey works can also be uploaded to the WinCan Web system as and when required.

The WinCan Analyst system is able to evaluate, manage and analyse sewer networks.

The software is based on the WinCan VX platform which secures a direct integration of the inspection data to the analysis. There is no need to interchange the data which could reflect in the loss of specific information such

Typical output from the WinCan system being utilised at Heathrow

as inclination measurement. One of the main values of WinCan Analyst is the seamless integration into different GIS systems and the optimisation for high performance with high data volume.

One key part of the Heathrow set up is the use of WinCan Map VX which is a geographic information system for sewer networks. This software allows engineers to navigate and analyse inspection data using familiar GIS views and tools. Map VX accepts all major GIS data formats including ESRI, AutoCAD, DXF/ DWG, MapInfo and OpenStreetMap. This highly flexible interface offers easier interaction – it can group interface elements according to function, resize them, and turn them on or off with interface customisations that can be saved for easy recall and sharing.

Also when an asset position is unknown, WinCan Map VX can accept coordinates directly from a GPS unit and map it.

In terms of data visualisation, WinCan Map VX offers colour-code map elements according to asset attributes – such as material, age, profile and damage classification – and can then save those preferences as a template.

Several standard templates come with the software.

During a mainline inspection important information is gathered about lateral connections such as location, angle and clock position. WinCan Map VX can also use this data to display laterals on GIS maps, export them to DXF and Shape files and the whole process is fully scalable.

According to Paul Melvin: “Whilst our WinCan Web is currently operational, it will take a little time to get up to speed as there is a requirement for staff to obtain the operational training to use the system effectively and efficiently. It will also take time for the engineering staff to understand how the new system can be best utilised going forward.

However, we are already seeing advantages to using the system and expect to see more as time goes on, particularly once the most vital areas of the network have been added to the system.”

For WinCan, director Paul Woodhouse said: “We are very pleased to have been able to provide the Heathrow asset management team with a product that will enable them to manage, plan and implement their sewer and drainage works based on current and easily accessible data without the need to ‘manhandle’ reports as has been necessary in the past. This type of situation is precisely the sort of operation that WinCan Web has been designed to handle quickly and effectively. We will of course be available to offer any support that is necessary to the Heathrow team as the airport grows.” q • For further information visit www.wincan.com.

The effect of Brexit on the construction industry?

Some of us have been here before EUAN BELL of Ultimate Construction Finance has already had a dress rehearsal about the outcome of the referendum.

[ HAVING WRITTEN THIS prior to the referendum, in order to

meet the magazine’s deadline, I have no idea of the outcome.

As you read it now, we will all know whether we are in or out and if the result is going to ‘shake it all about’!

Strangely, prior to the vote, I had a distinct feeling of déjà vu.

That’s because, being based in the Glasgow office of Ultimate Finance, I had experienced a very similar scenario when we Scots were asked to vote on whether we wanted to remain in the Union or go for independence.

In the months leading up to that referendum, the construction industry and the housing market were effectively put on hold until the outcome was known. Naturally it was a frustrating and worrying time for many within the sector. Bills had to be paid, staff needed their wages and overheads had to be met.

Prompt payment The sector does not have the best reputation for prompt payment and the uncertainty prior to the vote certainly gave some companies even more of an excuse to hold up the settlement of invoices or ‘uncertified applications for payment’.

It was at that time we received quite a lot of calls from construction companies who had been somewhat frustrated with the response from their banks to this ‘blip’ in their previously strong trading record.

They wanted to know if we could help with their relatively short term cashflow problems. This gave us the opportunity to introduce them to invoice finance which enabled them to turn their outstanding billing, whether it was ‘uncertified applications for payment’ or invoices, into cash within 24 hours.

As we all know, Scotland decided to remain in the UK, the construction industry in the country cranked up again, and things returned to normal.

Why wait?

It was interesting, from my point of view, that many of the companies we helped, by providing them with a cashflow solution, decided to continue with invoice finance. They didn’t want to go back to having to wait the industry average of 107 days to get paid. Instead they wanted to use the cash we provided to them against their billing to take on new contracts and build their respective businesses.

So, now we have a rerun with Brexit, is the same thing happening in the industry?

North/South divide Strangely, we are finding a north/south divide. Having been through it all before the construction market in Scotland remains robust.

Although we continue to grant new invoice finance facilities north of the border, this is not because of a slowdown in the sector but rather because more businesses now view it as an alternative form of finance that can sit alongside traditional lending from high street banks.

A growing number of companies have the philosophy that they have earned the money so why should they have to wait so long to be paid, when they could be putting the money to good use within their own business.

Conversely, south of the border, we read reports that ‘the UK construction sector has suffered its first drop in new orders in more than three years, as the uncertainty surrounding the EU referendum and weakness in the global economy have prompted firms to hold back on big projects.’

A survey of the sector compiled by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) revealed the industry’s growth as a whole has also slowed with the Purchasing Manager’s Index dropping from 52 to 51.2 in May, its lowest level since June 2013.

With this information, my message to those south of the border is don’t despair if this is causing you a cashflow problem and you are not getting the answers you want from your bank. Give us a call and we will explain the advantages of invoice finance.

Like my clients in Scotland, once you have experience of this form of finance, you may no longer see it as an alternative but something which sits alongside, or indeed replaces, your current funding. q • Ultimate Finance has offices across the UK and further information is available at www.ultimatefinance.co.uk/industryfinance/construction-finance or call 0800 121 7757. www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Supporting growth through asset finance

By ANDY SAGAR, Managing Director of the Construction and Recycling division at Close Brothers Asset Finance

[

CLOSE BROTHERS ASSET FINANCE has been supporting both the construction and SME industry for close to 30 years, helping businesses of all sizes finance the tools and equipment they need to help them grow.

We know that companies need to be properly equipped to grasp the opportunities created by continued year-on-year growth in the construction industry – this sector’s output alone tops £100 billion annually, equating to around 6.5% of the UK economy. Over 2.1million people are employed in various roles, making up 6.2% of the UK total.

We see it as our role to help businesses benefit from the broad recovery of the economy – and to provide access to finance, allowing them to ramp up production. This recovery, coupled with the ever-increasing demand for more machinery and equipment, means business owners are on the lookout for new ways to finance their expanding operations.

Close Brothers Asset Finance operates on a partnership model, employing a team of dedicated experts, most of whom have first-hand experience of the construction industry and understand the pressures the industry faces.

This approach is particularly useful because it’s one thing to have access to finance, but having a structured deal suited to your individual needs is completely different as it gives businesses peace of mind that their assets are secure and won’t be repossessed.

As an example, we understand that some businesses operate seasonally and have the attendant fluctuations of cash flow, which is one of the key

indicators of a business’s health. We use asset finance as a mechanism to ensure it’s not a barrier to growth.

Our products Asset finance is an alternative and fast-growing form of finance that gives businesses access to the equipment, vehicles, plant and technology they need to perform, without compromising cashflow. It can be used to finance both new and second-hand assets, or even as a mechanism for releasing value from existing assets.

To give you an idea of the size of the asset finance lending market, the Finance and Leasing Association says its members have provided over £22 billion of asset finance to businesses and the public sector. This represents over 30% of all fixed capital investment, excluding property and own-account software, in the UK. We offer a range of products: • Hire Purchase enables you to acquire an asset while paying for it in • instalments over an agreed timescale – the term. At the end of the • term, you have the option to purchase the asset outright.

• Refinancing is a quick way to access the value of assets on your • existing balance sheet and redeploy that value elsewhere within your • business – for example, to fund a deposit on new equipment or unlock • some working capital to ease cash flow.

• Our Finance Lease arrangement lets you use the equipment you need • without having to buy it outright. You pay us rent for the full use of it.

• The rental period (the primary lease term) is flexible and can be • tailored to your usage needs and cash flow.

• Similar to a Finance Lease, an Operating Lease allows you to rent the • asset from us while you need it. The key difference between the two is • that an Operating Lease is only for part of the asset’s useful life. q • For more information visit www.closeasset.co.uk/construction or call to speak to one of our finance specialists on 01244 456504.

Typical construction assets Close Brothers finance incude: • • • • •

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Excavators Crushers Screeners Bulldozers Dumpers

• • • • •

Demolition equipment Repairs Vehicles Site plant

BMF adds voice to Javid’s late payment campaign [

BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS JOINED the chorus of approval following measures announced in the Queen’s Speech to tackle the issue of late payment of bills. In particular, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) applauded signals from Business Secretary Sajid Javid that he will implement legislation passed by the last Government to tackle the thorny issue of late payments and use measures such as the Small Business Conciliation Service to combat the worst late payment practices.

Over the past two years, the BMF says, it has helped the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills shape proposals on standard, maximum and average payment times and terms that were passed into law on the last day of the last Parliament.

John Newcomb, BMF’s managing director (pictured), said: “For far too long a culture of late payment has existed within the corporate world towards small and medium-sized firms like the merchants the BMF represents.

“Previous attempts by governments of any colour to eradicate bad practice using voluntary approaches have not been successful. Ministers in the Coalition Government made a positive start to compel big businesses to report on their payment practices and to strengthen the Prompt Payment Code.

“We applaud Mr Javid’s intention to keep the momentum going to help solve late payment.

Our message to him is that late means late – not extended – and bills ought to be settled on time, to agreed terms, free of unnecessary

charges. Small to medium-sized businesses can no longer be expected to lend money, interestfree, to large companies. It causes cash flow problems that can be avoided if bills are paid promptly, in full, without unnecessary dispute or delay.” q

Is your accountant saving you money? [

MANY BUSINESSES, particularly small businesses, see their accountant as a necessary evil to satisfy HMRC requirements. Presenting the accountant with a pile of papers, cheque book stubs and bank statements after the trading year may seem like the easiest way to get over the administration hurdle – but are you making the most from the fee you pay?

Administration which could be performed during the year still has to be done to prepare the end of year returns. Unfortunately, when prepared after the year end the benefits can be limited. Once you have completed a transaction and the year end has come and gone it is far more difficult to minimise your tax liability.

Surely your accountant should be part of your day-to-day trading, offering proactive advice on current tax changes and how they may now affect you? If you are paying a fee for the work being done why not have the preparation work completed at a time that benefits both you and your business.

At Chester-based Foremans LLP they believe that being involved with a client’s business allows them to provide the most useful administration and tax service. Senior partner Alison Ensor said: “Many clients may not be aware, for example, that as of May 2016 all Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) returns must be filed online and paper returns will not be accepted. They may not have considered being VAT registered. VAT registration sounds like hassle, but by letting us look into it, VAT can be profitable. Even better, we do the returns.

“So apart from the required year end work why not use an accountant’s in-house skills during the year? By instructing your accountant to be your back office you not only free yourself from the tedious paperwork, you also give them the knowledge to maximise your profits and minimise your tax liability.”

Foremans acts as a full time bookkeeper, available at any time to answer questions and process paperwork, at a fraction of the cost of employing someone full time.

Alison Ensor continued: “Whether you hate raising invoices, loathe checking the bank account, despair of sorting expenses, or simply would rather be working than waiting for HMRC to answer the phone why not make life easier for yourself? Letting an accountant do what they are good at throughout the year as well as the year end allows you the

freedom to do what you are good at. Freedom to generate more income and/or enjoy more free time.”

Ongoing bookkeeping tasks you might want your accountant to do for you could include: • Raising invoices on behalf of your business and forwarding to your • customer • Reviewing and recording purchase receipts and expenses • Reviewing and recording expenses • Calculating the cash for taxes you should leave in your business on • a weekly or monthly basis • Weekly or monthly bank reconciliation • Calculating and filing VAT returns • Processing payroll calculations and filing Real Time Information • (RTI) for every payment • Liaison with HMRC • Auto-enrolment pension processing and advice This is not an exhaustive list and there are many ancillary services that you may need occasionally but will be more tax efficient if your accountant knows your business.

Alison concluded: “Always check that your accountant is qualified, regulated by a recognised body and has adequate professional indemnity insurance. Then give them the details of who to invoice and pass on all your purchase receipts and let them do the rest.

“So say Goodbye to the once a year trip to the accountant and say Hello to proactive tax advice and a daily bookkeeping service giving you the same advantages as your larger competitors. What are you waiting for? Free yourself from the daily drudgery of paperwork and make your accountant earn their fee.” q • For further information on Foremans bookkeeping, administration and taxation services call 01244 625 500 or visit www.foremansllp.com.

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The language of demolition With demolition often forming the first stage of a construction process, an increasing number of construction companies and house-builders are looking to increase their understanding of this allied industry sector.

[

IT IS SAID that the UK and the US are ‘two nations divided by a single language’. The same could equally be said of the demolition and construction sectors. They are both governed by the same sets of rules and regulations, use the same equipment, and share many of the same challenges. But, even though they often share the same site, it is often a case of ‘never the twain shall meet’. At least it was.

In the BIM age of cradle-to-grave transparency and accountability, a number of major construction companies are seeking to increase their understanding of the demolition process to overcome potential contractual pinch-points, smooth the handover process, and generally take their principle contractor role as seriously as modern legislation demands. And to achieve that greater understanding, they are turning to companies like C&D Consultancy to provide vital training and guidance and to act as a conduit between the demolition and construction disciplines.

“The demolition contractor is often the first person on a site and they set the first impression on a contract that might run for another 24 or 36 months after their work there is done,” explains C&D Consultancy’s Mike Kehoe. “It is vital that first impression is positive, and that it facilitates a smooth and timely transition between the demolition and construction processes. That’s where we come in.”

Kehoe reports that his work involves ensuring that the specific needs of all stakeholders are being met at all stages of the demolition process. “In the past, the demolition contractor was merely required to leave a site flat

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and construction-ready. But not any longer,” he says. “Today, they are a key stakeholder with a duty to the client, principle contractor, local people and businesses as well as highways agencies, railway companies and utilities providers.”

According to Kehoe, demolition and construction companies are increasingly working side-by-side to ensure that strictly enforced deadlines are met. “It is not unusual for demolition to be taking place in one area of a site while piling is taking place in another,” he says. “Also, with secondary materials being used to an ever greater degree, the demolition company is now viewed as much as a materials supplier as they are a specialist contractor. The demolition and construction landscape has changed and it is vital that both industries fully understand each other.”

Mike Kehoe believes that it all boils down to competence. “A demolition contractor might have highly trained workers and a fleet of highly specialised equipment but that does not mean it is capable of building a house or an office block,” he concludes. “In the same way, not even the most competent and multi-skilled construction company is equipped to tackle demolition.

“By using a consultancy such as ours to act as a conduit, or by using an accredited demolition company – ideally one that employs a qualified demolition engineer – construction companies can save themselves a lot of time, money and heart-ache while delivering a safe, commercially secure, efficient, environmental and best value outcome for their clients.” q

Award winners look forward to the next stages [ON 17 JUNE the National Housebuilding Council (NHBC)

announced the first-round winners in its annual Pride in the Job awards – the competition set up to reward the country’s best site managers.

Around 400 of the top site managers received Quality Awards in the four award categories: Small Builder, Medium Builder, Large Builder and Multistorey Builder. From them, the best 100 will be awarded a Seal of Excellence at regional events around the country, where the Regional Winners will also be announced.

This year 11 regional events will be taking place from the beginning of September to 11 November. The Regional Winners will go forward to the national final in London to compete for the Supreme Awards in the same categories. Those awards are presented at a gala dinner in London.

Pride in the Job is the only UK-wide competition dedicated to recognising site managers who achieve the highest standards in housebuilding. It has been instrumental in driving up the quality of new homes for 35 years. It represents success for the site manager, his team and associated trades as well providing a reputational boost for the building company. Most importantly, homeowners who buy a Pride in the Job award-winning home benefit from a high quality product.

Site managers are automatically entered into the competition if they are working on a site registered for NHBC warranty. The competition is completely free and there are no entry forms to complete.

The announcement of the Pride in the Job awards came just three weeks after the winners of Commendations in the NHBC’s Health and Safety Awards were announced. The NHBC noted that this had been a record year, with a ‘fantastic’ number of entries and the judging team had a difficult task in selecting 61 first-round winners.

The winners are all invited to attend a new-look awards evening on 8 July in Birmingham, where they will find out if they’ve won further recognition in the form of a Highly Commended, National Runner-up or overall National Winner award.

Now in its 7th year, the NHBC Health and Safety Awards is the UK’s only health and safety awards scheme exclusively for homebuilders.

Designed to recognise and reward the very best in health and safety, the awards are also helping to drive up safety standards in the industry by showcasing and sharing best practice.

Tom Kitchen, NHBC’s operations manager, said: “For the last seven years NHBC has been awarding the UK’s safest house builders, celebrating and promoting the success of site managers in keeping a safe environment on site. The awards demonstrate the benefits of implementing good health and safety practices and highlight examples of good management." q

FMB: apprenticeships key to solving housing crisis [THE GOVERNMENT MUST succeed in its aim to create millions of apprenticeships over the

lifetime of this Parliament if it is to solve the housing crisis, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Commenting on the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech in May, the FMB’s head of external affairs Sarah McMonagle said: “The new Government is right to bring forward legislation on both apprenticeships and housing in its first Queen’s Speech as one cannot succeed without the other. The 200,000 Starter Homes the Government wants built over the next five years quite simply won’t get off the ground unless we tackle the construction skills crisis.

“Our latest research shows that 50% of small local builders are struggling to hire bricklayers and this is a stark reminder of how the Government’s ambitions to build more new homes could be scuppered by a lack of skilled workers.”

Ms McMonagle pointed out that, as the construction industry accounts for around 7% of GDP it should be delivering 210,000 of the government’s target of three million apprenticeships over the five years – or 42,000 a year. That, she said, is a big ask, given that only 16,000 apprenticeship starts were achieved in the sector in 2013/2014.

She also commented on measures to tackle the issue of late payment, saying: “From a construction SME perspective, we’re also keen to ensure the Enterprise Bill succeeds where others have failed and finally puts a nail in the coffin of late payment. Poor payment practices have plagued the construction industry for too long and we’re hopeful that widening the powers for representative bodies to act on behalf of their members to challenge grossly unfair payment terms will go some way to address this.” q www.constructionnational.co.uk

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Twin jewels set in an enchanted forest [

UPPER HARTFIELD in East Sussex is the location of a unique project to convert a former country estate into a select collection of bespoke residences. Landhurst was once the home of the Rank family, of flour manufacture fame, and later a headquarters for pilot training. It has now been redeveloped to form a small cluster of exclusive homes.

A number of the homes have been created from the existing buildings, which have been substantially converted to produce modern luxury homes. These include the Manor, Oast House and two barns. A further two completely new build properties have also been created – both by small local developer Steed Construction of St Leonards-on-Sea. The two new homes are on adjacent plots on the estate. The first (pictured above) was completed last year and won for John Steed a coveted Single Plot Commendation in the NHBC Pride in the Job awards.

One of the principal features of that design is the manner in which it

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blends with the traditional feel of the existing conversions. There are large overhangs in the rural Weald style, supported by gallows brackets. Lime mortar and old English quicklime has been used, together with tumble bricks to create an antique look.

John said of this use of traditional materials and design: “I believe it enhances the development as a whole.”

The adjacent property (pictured below) was constructed soon after by the same team. It is a five/six bedroom home with a wealth of modern features fitting perfectly within the traditional setting.

The standout features are the lavishly equipped kitchen with wood burning stove, the large lounge with fireplace and double doors leading to the stunning garden – which itself backs onto the Ashdown Forest – and underfloor heating on the ground floor.

Externally the house is hugely imposing. A front gable boasts an overhanging first floor with white board facing, while the large front door is set in a glazed façade.

The nearby forest is the setting for the famous Winnie the Pooh books

by A A Milne and less than a quarter of a mile away is the celebrated Pooh Corner. q

Bard lends his name to awardwinning development [THE BARNHILL DISTRICT of Dumfries

has seen a wealth of development over the past decade or so. Situated on the north-west outskirts of the historic town, the area has become a desirable residential district with the best of town and country on offer.

Dumfries is known the world over as the final home of Robert Burns and the great poet has given his name to a development of 50 homes

by Persimmon. Built over a two-year period, Burns Green was completed earlier this year.

The development comprises a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes from the housebuilder’s popular Scottish Town range.

There are to be found homes as diverse as the compact two-bedroom Portree to the sumptuous five-bedroom Warriston. The Scottish Town range of designs is marked out by its flexibility, allowing purchasers to make their home their own.

Burns Green has been designed specifically to take advantage of the views on offer over the surrounding countryside. It is on the edge of the Barnhill community, next to the rolling countryside of southern Scotland – not for nothing has Dumfries been dubbed the Queen of the South.

The Burns Green development has its own champion, too. The development won successive NHBC Pride in the Job awards for site manager Jim Robison and his team – last year and the year before. q

Local housing provision gets a boost in Keswick [LOCAL HOUSING FOR LOCAL PEOPLE is

the theme of a development of 55 homes being built by Atkinson Building Contractors Ltd of Penrith in Cumbria.

The homes are a collection of two, three and four-bedroom houses at Calvert Way in Keswick. They are being built on behalf of Keswick Community Housing Association, which will own 22 for a mix of rental and shared ownership, Impact Housing Association, which will offer 23 for rental only, and Atkinson Homes themselves, who will see 10 on open sale. All have been designated as being for occupancy by Keswick residents only, as part of a drive to make housing in the Lake District more accessible to local people.

The development is also playing its part in caring for the local environment with the installation of solar panels on all roofs (pictured).

The site is a participant in the Considerate Constructors Scheme. Following a visit by a scheme monitor, the site’s management was commended particularly for its respect for the local community in Keswick, as well as its compliance across the five elements of the scheme.

In a statement the company said: “Atkinson’s would like to commend Neil, Martyn, Jonathan and all our team at the project for their hard work in improving the site’s standards.” q

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Online programme will explore housebuilding industry [THE FUTURE OF housebuilding will be

the subject a unique collaboration the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and ITN Productions, to produce a ‘news and current affairs-style’ programme.

Foundations for the Future will be an in-depth, online programme providing a unique platform to stimulate debate. It will champion collaboration, celebrate innovation and encourage the exchange of ideas.

It will also explain how HBF is working with government to meet its ambition of delivering a million new homes by 2020.

The aim is to heighten awareness among policy-makers, politicians and the wider public about the challenges faced and how policy needs to evolve in order for government targets to be achieved.

The news-style piece will combine key interviews and reports with sponsored editorial

Starter homes target too ambitious, say lenders [IN MAY the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) published its response to the DCLG’s

consultation on the regulations regarding starter homes.

The CML said: “We believe that the target of delivering 200,000 starter homes over the lifetime of this parliament is too ambitious, particularly when combined with the goal of providing 135,000 shared ownership properties over the same period.

“Those joint targets amount to some 112,000 properties annually over the next three years – or more than three-quarters of all the properties we expect to be built over that period, assuming that they substitute for, rather than add to, the expected supply of homes. We believe that it is highly unlikely that such a target could be achieved.”

The response continued: “We believe that a less ambitious target than 200,000 homes is more likely to result in a successful scheme. A more modest target would also help the government meet its other housing aspirations, such as increasing shared ownership and providing more custombuilt homes.” q

profiles of some of the leading organisations who are working in the sector.

HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: “The industry has a very strong story to tell and is committed to delivering the high-quality homes the country needs. Over the past two years output has increased significantly as housebuilders have reacted to the positive stimuli put in place by government. However, some constraints still remain and government and the industry need to continue to work together on developing policies that will allow increases in output to continue.”

Foundations for the Future will be launched at a specially scheduled event at The Build Show during UK Construction Week on 18-20 October.

The programme will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring HBF members, professional partners and influential individuals within the government, as well as journalists, writers and bloggers. q

Insulating the UK’s hard-to-treat or ‘problem’ domestic dwellings [OVER 23% of the 19.6 million cavity walled

domestic properties in Great Britain do not have cavity wall insulation according to the Household Energy Efficiency National Statistics, Detailed Report 2015, published by the Department of Energy & Climate Change in March 2016. Most of these 4.7 million properties are classed as ‘hardto-treat’ dwellings which simply means that they are more difficult to insulate.

Standard forms of cavity wall insulation may not be possible for a number of reasons. The properties may have irregular or narrow cavities which restricts the use of injected insulation methods. They may have defective or corroded wall ties or be unsuitable for external wall insulation due to planning restrictions. It could be that internal wall insulation may disrupt tenants, the properties could be located in high or severe wind driven rain exposure conditions or be at risk from flooding.

The use of injected polyurethane foam can provide the best solution for these properties.

The process can easily be used for walls or sprayed in as roof insulation to effectively insulate most housing. Closed cell polyurethane foam has been around for over 30 years. The

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Sprayed polyurethane foam wall insulation polyurethane insulant is a two-component liquid system which produces a highly-efficient blanket of insulation with an exceptional thermal conductivity figure. Systems can be applied to various depths and have K-values in the range of 0.025 to 0.028W/mK. For cavity wall insulation, injected polyurethane foam provides a superior performing insulant which also helps to bond the inner and outer leaves providing strength to the building. Air leakage through the cavity can be reduced to zero. Because of the greater

thermal performance and the reduced air leakage, polyurethane foam outperforms all other forms of cavity fill. Injected polyurethane cavity wall insulation can be used in flood-plain areas to provide an additional barrier against water ingress through the walls.

Occupiers of hard-to-treat properties may often be classed as living in fuel poverty, whereby a large proportion of their income is required for heating their homes. They may be elderly or vulnerable and would particularly benefit from well insulated homes.

In fact, it is often these people who end up in hospital with cold-related illnesses. If all homes were brought up to a decent standard of energy efficiency this could certainly relieve some of the pressure on hospitals both in terms of admissions and the resultant cost savings.

The British Urethane Foam Contractors Association (BUFCA) represents professional installers of sprayed and injected polyurethane foam systems. A BUFCA twenty-five year insurance warranty is available for cavity wall insulation projects. q • For further information visit www.bufca.co.uk.

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