Offsite Magazine - Issue 22 (March/April 2020)

OFFSITE DEDICATED TO OFFSITE DESIGN, MANUFACTURE & DELIVERY | ISSUE 22 MAR/APR 2020 | £4.95

BRINGING A BRIGHTER FUTURE TO HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION

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SIPS & PASSIVHAUS The Kingspan TEK® Building System and why timber can improve the UK’s built environment

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CFRC WOLVERHAMPTON How the Construction Futures Research Centre is working with SMEs to achieve high standards of offsite delivery

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TRANSFORMING CONSTRUCTION The Manufacturing Technology Centre and Construction Innovation Hub predict exciting times ahead

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Offsite Magazine is produced and published by Radar Communications: ©Radar Communications Ltd. Radar Communications Ltd, 5 Darwin Court, Oxon Business Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. SY3 5AL T: 01743 290001 www.radar-communications.co.uk SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE OFFSITE: This magazine is a bimonthly publication and the annual subscription fee for UK postage is £29.70 plus VAT for all six issues (£4.95 per copy). Visit www.offsitemagazine.co.uk ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: Julie Williams // T: 01743 290001 E: julie.williams@offsitemagazine.co.uk SEND US YOUR NEWS: Gary Ramsay // T: 01743 290001 E: info@offsitemagazine.co.uk BACK ISSUES VISIT: www.offsitemagazine.co.uk FOR OFFSITE ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: E: info@offsitemagazine.co.uk DISCLAIMER: The content of Offsite Magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers and are the views of its contributors and advertisers. The digital edition may include hyperlinks to third-party content, advertising, or websites, provided for the sake of convenience and interest. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication and do not endorse any advertising or products available from external sources. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers.

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KEEP ON KEEPING ON Welcome to the latest edition of Offsite Magazine and as the Coronavirus continues to pose unprecedented challenges to society, the team here hope all our readers are keeping as healthy and composed as possible in what seems a disorienting phase of modern life.

The specific effects of COVID-19 on the construction sector are impossible to predict – but delays, loss of revenue and major disruption are inevitable for all areas of the built environment and its supply chain. The key will be how to ride everything out without too much commercial and economic devastation. Build UK alongside a gamut of construction industry voices have asked the Government to keep ‘business critical construction projects open and operational wherever possible'. Financial help will be available with the Government’s £330billion Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, but who can say how far that will stretch – both in traditional construction and offsite manufacturing facilities. But by the time you are reading this, the situation may have changed out of all recognition anyway!

To this issue. The timber industry has long embraced offsite manufacture and is perfectly placed to capitalise on the need for low carbon design

We also hear about the use of precast concrete in tall buildings from the Concrete Centre and with a mission statement of ‘purpose beyond profit’, Willmott Dixon is using precast and offsite methods to great effect to improve productivity and quality with Town House at Kingston University.

Of particular note is a key feature from Trudi Sully at the Manufacturing Technology Centre on the profound changes happening in the construction sector. Cutting edge technology is transforming the way industry performs but importantly how it thinks. Trudi spoke to us as she moved roles to become Impact Director for Manufacturing at the Construction Innovation Hub – itself recently unveiling the industry names set to take forward its flagship Platform Design programme.

Many thanks to all our contributors, advertisers and supporters.

Gary Ramsay

Consultant Editor Email: gary.ramsay@offsitemagazine.co.uk

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and build. David Hopkins, CEO of the UK Timber Trade Federation, explains more inside. And as part of the Inside Offsite factory tour programme, I recently went to Kingspan’s North Yorkshire manufacturing facility, to see how its TEK® Building System is influencing Passivhaus design and energy efficient, sustainable timber construction.

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CONTENTS

COVER STORIES P06 | BRINGING A BRIGHTER

FUTURE TO HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION

06

36 | High Scores for Fire Tests

As part of its ongoing review of offsite construction, the NHBC has accepted Fusion Building Systems light steel frame solutions for residential buildings up to and over 18m in height.

P44 | ENERGY EFFICIENT TO THE CORE

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ESS Modular recently handed over a state-of-the art 3,300sqm, 40-bedroom ward extension at Clonmel Hospital.

Using a precision manufacturing offsite process significantly reduced the time required on-site, with the new hospital facility delivered in less than 12 months.

As part of the Inside Offsite factory tour programme, timber building specialists Kingspan invited delegates from across the built environment to its North Yorkshire manufacturing facility to showcase its innovative Kingspan TEK® Building System and Passivhaus.

P50 | MODELLING THE FUTURE

P52 | CREATING IMPACT IN TIMES

FOR REAL

50

OF TRANSFORMATION

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The Construction Futures Research Centre is part of the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton and part of a new wave of centres of excellence offering expertise in how best to deliver offsite construction.

With the construction sector set for profound change, Trudi Sully at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, predicts exciting times ahead with the Construction Innovation Hub set to change the way the industry thinks and performs.

NEWS

FEATURES

08 | Industry News

28 | Future Energy Efficiency

News and developments from across the UK offsite industry and wider construction arena including: the world’s tallest modular building lights up Croydon, more on the Construction Innovation Hub’s flagship Platform Design programme and Offsite Ready prepares to launch its series of collaborative events and online modules.

The impending changes to Part L1A and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings will increase energy efficiency requirements for new homes. Trevor Richards, Operations Director of offsite experts Cogent, discusses the potential implications for lightweight structural solutions.

40 | Time to Build and Think Differently

The timber industry has long embraced offsite manufacture and is perfectly placed to capitalise on the need for low carbon design and build. David Hopkins, CEO of the UK Timber Trade Federation explains further.

48 | Lean and Green: the Future of the Built Environment

Andy Goodwin, Managing Director of B&K Structures, considers the action needed now if the construction industry is to have a safe, strong and sustainable future.

56 | Emerging Realities 2020

The Emerging Realities conference and exhibition will answer many challenging questions about the digital technologies and breakthroughs revolutionising the construction arena.

58 | Demonstrating Effectiveness

Joe Mazzon, Research Engineer at BSRIA outlines some of the ways that thermal imaging can improve energy efficiency in building design and reduce impact on the environment.

66 | Offsite and the Route to Zero Waste

More on the Green Construction Board’s recent report into how to develop an interpretation of zero avoidable waste in construction and how to create a route map ahead of delivery.

70 | Concrete King at Kingston

Willmott Dixon has long adopted innovative techniques to improve the built environment.

Using offsite construction, they are improving productivity and quality with Town House at Kingston University.

74 | Tall Construction: Powered by Precast

As the population grows there is a greater demand for homes, particularly in urban areas. One solution to this is building tall with precast concrete and hybrid design providing many of the answers.

82 | Offsite Expo 2020

Offsite Expo continues to develop and expand rapidly. This year’s conference and exhibition is announcing new speakers, exhibitors and sponsors week by week.

FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES 07-08 JULY 2020 | MTC, COVENTRY CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

www.emergingrealities.co.uk

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COVER STORY ESS MODULAR

BRINGING A BRIGHTER FUTURE TO HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION

ESS Modular recently handed over a state-of-the-art 3,300sqm, 40-bedroom ward extension at Clonmel Hospital. Using a precision manufacturing offsite process significantly reduced the time required on-site, with the new hospital facility delivered in less than 12 months.

1 The new development consists of a two-storey accommodation block linked to the main hospital featuring 40 en-suite bedrooms, reception and lounge areas, kitchen facilities, staff changing rooms, store-rooms and drug preparation facilities. Each floor boasts 20 new bedrooms and the ground floor has been allocated as ‘Surgical 3’ as it directly links to the surgical area of the main hospital. The first floor will be used as a general ward block, known as ‘Medical 4’. The bedrooms vary in size to accommodate different usages including: semi-ambulant, bariatric, fully-ambulant and assisted bedrooms.

“This new building provides the hospital with a modern department that will facilitate the delivery of safe,

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effective and efficient patient care,” says Maria Barry, General Manager, Clonmel Hospital. “It will assist in reducing significantly the numbers of patients who are currently treated on trolleys in clinically inappropriate spaces and it will reduce the level of over-crowding on the wards and within the Emergency Department.

“The staff welcomes the development as it provides a physical environment area that is bright and spacious allowing our staff to care for patients with dignity. It also provides greater patient privacy and comfort as all rooms are single and en-suite. In addition it will allow us to safely manage patients who require isolation, thus preventing and controlling the

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spread of infection. I would like to acknowledge the work of ESS Modular and hospital management who’s collaboration and communication ensured a successful build within 12 months.”

Design The modular ward extension was designed by ESS Modular who partnered with O’Connell Mahon Architects and Arup Consultants, to bring the works from planning stage through to detailed design, contractor tender and construction. The design brief specified the need for a naturallyventilated building and with this in mind, all bedrooms were designed on the building perimeter and fitted with large openable windows with the

COVER STORY ESS MODULAR As the role of offsite manufacture continues to expand across the construction sector, ESS Modular has also recently been appointed to two major construction frameworks in the UK. This includes a £2billion housing framework with Londonbased housing association, Hyde Group. Hyde plans to build around 11,000 new homes in London and the southeast over the next five years. In addition, Spatial Initiative, in which ESS Modular is a joint venture partner, has been appointed to a new £3billion Department for Education (DfE) modular schools’ framework.

This appointment marks the fourth successful framework selection for the company which has secured 16 new school builds over the last two years.

SPECTRUM HOUSE GOING TO SITE

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3 main clinical rooms centrally-located and fed from an air-handling unit. The new building is split into two blocks which works with the geography of the site and allows for direct access from the corridor of the new building on the ground floor direct to the central corridor and stairwell of the main hospital.

Site Works In addition to the delivery of the new building, ESS Modular was also responsible for all ground works which featured a site clearance, a reduced level dig, radon and under-building drainage, building of a 140m retaining wall, foundations, connection of mains water, gas and electric connection, provision of a 171m3 attenuation tank and soft landscaping.

ESS Modular is currently installing 42 high-end apartments in Hendon, London. The Spectrum House private development for award-winning developer Excelsior Homes, will span four storeys complete with gardens, balconies and underground parking.

These exclusive one, two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments are being fitted-out up to 80% offsite in ESS Modular’s precision manufacturing facility before being installed and completed on-site.

4 “We are proud to have handed over this much needed facility, said Paul Tierney, Managing Director, ESS Modular. “We are all too aware of the enormous pressures facing our healthcare system and it is an honour to be able to have helped to alleviate some of these pressures. Our modular construction process is ideal for projects such as these as we can deliver top quality, fully compliant buildings much quicker than traditionally constructed facilities.”

5 For more information visit: www.essmodular.com or follow on social media @essmodular Images: 01-04. The 40-bedroom ward extension at

Clonmel Hospital has used ESS Modular’s

precision manufacturing offsite process to

deliver a new hospital facility in less than

12 months 05.

Spectrum House, London

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS Offsite Ready to Upskill Industry

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) has teamed up with an expert UK-wide network of project partners to launch a major training programme to help grow best practice and skills in offsite construction.

The Offsite Ready project, a series of collaborative events and online modules will be launched at CSIC on 23 April. Following that there will be a number of events delivered by MOBIE across England and by Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) in Wales.

The project, which is funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), will offer a range of free-to-access online learning resources and face-toface training events intended to build capacity in the UK education and skills system, and ensure colleges, universities and training providers are well placed to respond to the growth in offsite construction in the UK. Offsite Ready will directly engage with employers, training providers, contractors, educational bodies and leading innovation organisations across the construction industry. A comprehensive suite of online flexible training modules will ensure the project outputs are accessible ‘anytime, anywhere’ and will be available to book and download from the Offsite Ready project website from April 2020.

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Throughout the train-the-trainer programme as many as 500 training professionals will have received the accredited training across the UK. The project is being led by CSIC and delivered in partnership with MOBIE (Ministry of Building and Education), CWIC (Construction Wales Innovation Centre), Edinburgh Napier University, COGC (City of Glasgow College) and COYO (Class of Your Own). Topics covered in the programme include: design functions, procurement functions, cost management, project and site management, onsite logistics and assembly, and follow-on and upstream trades.

Stephen Good, Chief Executive of CSIC, said: “The construction industry is facing a period of significant change. At CSIC, we want everyone involved in the construction industry to look to the future and do things better – and that includes tackling our housing shortage through modern, more efficient building techniques, like offsite construction. Key to this is improving the quality and consistency of training in offsite construction.

“The Offsite Ready project was developed in response to research which has shown that offsite construction can increase productivity and reduce costs and

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timescales compared with traditional methods, with nearly half of construction industry employers expecting to use offsite techniques within the next five years.”

George Clarke, MOBIE founder and Channel 4 presenter explained: “The Offsite Ready programme is a really exciting way to really move forward with offsite construction which is so important not only to the construction industry but to the future of the built environment, the way we build our places and spaces.

It’s amazing how much more efficient and better for the environment building offsite can be, yet in the UK less than 5% of construction uses offsite techniques, compared to around 9% in Germany, 12-15% in Japan and 20% in Sweden. Offsite building can bring the cost of construction down, can offer 30% quicker build time, and is one of the ways the industry can get to net zero carbon emission.”

Offsite Ready training modules will be available from April 2020 through an online training portal and the training events will take place in England, Scotland and Wales from April to July 2020. For further information on the training events and how to sign up, please visit: http://bit.ly/2vveuBY

ADOPT MMC AND START YOUR JOURNEY TO OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOMES (NH2) WWW.MMC.LHC.GOV.UK

Our OJEU-compliant framework agreements provide public sector organisations with easy access to procure works, products and services for the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing, schools and public buildings.

LHC strives for excellence in the services provided to their clients and aims to deliver the best solution to suit every project’s individual needs.

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS New Timber Frame Fire Safety Guidance

With an objective to enhance quality and drive product innovation through technical guidance and research, the Structural Timber Association (STA) has been collaborating with the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), the University of Edinburgh and BRE to produce fire safety in use guidance for timber frame buildings.

Fire safety in use affects all forms of construction.

All buildings must be designed to comply with the functional protocols of the Building Regulations for fire safety requirements, as a minimum standard. The STA has invested in an industry-leading fire in use research project, to test and prove commonly-used timber frame wall, floor and roof make-ups used in the UK marketplace.

The output of this research – a pattern book of EN tested systems – is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK timber frame sector. Timber frame construction has a proven track record of mainstream compliance and longevity and is a widely recognised offsite construction system, offering many benefits, including low carbon, cost effectiveness, quality, speed and regulatory compliance.

The EN-tested systems and best practice recommendations provide a comprehensive package of information, for the design, specification and construction of timber frame buildings. This research now forms part of the STA’s library of fire in use best practice guidance. The STA library of documentation provides comprehensive guidance, information and recommendations on system specifications and good practice principles when using timber frame construction.

World’s Tallest Modular Building Lights Up Croydon

The project was organised into four distinct, but connected work packages, running in parallel to gather the relevant data required for the pattern book.

• First: the completion of research into various aspects of timber fire safety and testing • Second: the completion of a large programme of full-scale fire EN fire resistance testing, including collaboration with the Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers’ Association (ITFMA), Engineered Wood Products Committee (EWPC) and Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) testing programmes • Third: the collation of all research and test information, for analysis, peer review and validation

by BRE and the subsequent endorsement by verifiers and regulators • The final stage was the creation of the pattern book.

In addition to the extensive fire in use research of timber frame systems, the STA identified that the installation of fire stops and cavity barriers are of equal importance when it comes to building safety, an issue which prevails regardless of the building methodology.

The STA have responded by developing a new guidance document on cavity barriers to complement the existing information.

This research, which has been supported by Swedish Wood and Scottish Forestry, has been endorsed by several industry and government stakeholders. The pattern book of systems provides a unique reference library of information for clients, specifiers and STA members to use with confidence. The information will be regularly reviewed and updated by the STA Technical Committee and Board.

The pattern book plus the guidance on fire stops and cavity barriers are free to download from the STA’s document library: www.structuraltimber.co.uk/links/research-documents

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WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MARCH/APRIL 2020

Tide Construction has switched on the lights at their landmark 101 George Street scheme in Croydon for the first time, bringing the world’s tallest modular building to life. This milestone comes just 12 months after they commenced the installation of 1,526 modules using their 3D volumetric offsite company Vision Modular Systems.

Tide Construction’s John Fleming and Christy Hayes were in south London to hit the switch from the top of 101 George Street’s 44-storey tower. John Fleming, Chairman at Tide Construction, said: “It’s great to see 101 George Street come to life, signifying just how close we are to completion. This new development showcases the very best of British design, engineering and offsite technology. It’s thanks to this technology and our efficient construction logistics that we were able achieve a 26-month construction programme.”

The scheme purchased by Greystar and Henderson Park will house 546 Build-to-Rent apartments. In October 2019, Tide Construction craned into place the last of 1,526 precision-engineered modules which have been installed on site in Croydon to create two towers reaching 44-storeys and 38-storeys tall. The 136m high scheme – equivalent to the London Eye – was created in a factory by Vision Modular Systems.

By manufacturing the buildings inside a controlled factory environment, the developer and manufacturer will complete the project in just over two years – half the time it would have taken using traditional methods of construction.

Vision Modular Systems’ factory in Bedford produces the modules that are fully completed internally – including kitchens and bathrooms – before being transported to site. All of the apartments that roll off the production line are fully-certified and accredited, backed by the UK’s leading certification bodies, to ensure that every home is fundable, mortgageable and insurable.

Source: www.tideconstruction.co.uk

Helping to deliver long-lasting homes SUPPORTING MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

Our Innovation Team is here to help deliver high quality, long-lasting homes. n From component materials and design, to onsite installation and connection

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS Sekisui and Urban Splash Moving Up Urban Splash has been granted planning consent for the creation of their first factory-built, customisable homes at Northstowe. The homes will form part of the new urban village of Inholm – the largest in the UK to be manufactured offsite using volumetric construction.

406 homes were approved at Inholm by South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Planning Committee.

They encompass a range of housing typologies, later living homes and mixed-use buildings. The modular homes – called Town House – can be configured by the buyer to their own design before being built in a factory and delivered to site.

There are over 70 different configurations available so new homeowners can design their perfect home. They have been created to suit a variety of 21st Century needs for families, couples and individuals, and to create a diverse intergenerational community.

Mark Latham, Regeneration Director at House said: “We are very excited to launch our first homes in Cambridgeshire and for the opportunities ahead at Northstowe, as we contribute to this emerging new town. I can’t wait to bring our House by Urban Splash portfolio to this part of the country – somewhere renowned for innovation and doing things differently.

We want to break new ground, surprise and cause a stir with our new neighbourhoods, using great design and the latest building technology. Our range of customisable homes and apartments are designed to suit all sorts of modern families, lifestyles and budgets.

We can’t wait to get going.”

Stephen Kinsella, Chief Land and Development Officer at Homes England, added: “I’m delighted that planning permission has been granted for the first homes to be built on Homes England land at Northstowe, which is a significant step forward for the new town and an important milestone for our joint venture with Urban Splash and Sekisui House. This is a really ambitious proposal for 406 homes using modern methods of construction, and the quality design of these homes really reflects our ambition to deliver outstanding places.”

Proctor & Matthews Architects is the lead architect and masterplanner of the site. The modular homes will include designs by architects shedkm. Ian Killick, Director at shedkm commented: “We are delighted that the full range of our customisable, factory-built homes are soon coming to Northstowe. The Inholm urban village will feature the most up to date versions

of our house and apartment designs, incorporating new technologies and Cambridgeshire-inspired materials and details. We’re working with a great team and have high hopes of creating an exemplar new neighbourhood that sets a new benchmark for the use of modern methods of construction.”

Stephen Proctor, founder of Proctor and Matthews architects says: “Our design for this contemporary mixed-use residential quarter is inspired by the form of traditional edge-of-fenland settlements and recent archaeological discoveries within the locality.

Innovative clusters of homes employing offsite modular construction will help to deliver a visually distinctive narrative creating a new Inholm village for the 21st Century.” The customisable homes will be launched in Spring/Summer 2020.

Source: www.urbansplash.co.uk/inholm-northstowe

Kier Get Green Light from DIO The £10.7million contract to build the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) new headquarters building has been awarded to Kier. DIO’s new building will be based on the site at Defence Medical Services (DMS) Whittington in Lichfield, Staffordshire. The new headquarters will include an atrium which will provide an informal meeting space for employees. It will be constructed using factory construction with modules being constructed offsite and transported to the building site for installation.

DIO will vacate their current site in Sutton Coldfield

by Spring 2021. The site will be disposed of which will save money overall while supporting the MOD’s contribution to meeting the Government’s housing targets. Staff will be moving to a purpose-built building on an existing, local military site demonstrating DIO’s commitment to reducing the size of the defence estate.

Demolition works have taken place at DMS Whittington to clear the site ready for construction. Works are expected to start in Spring 2020.

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Peter Lemon, DIO Sutton Coldfield Head of Establishment, commented: “DIO’s new headquarters at DMS Whittington will ensure that staff will be able to enjoy many of the facilities that a large, modern, operational military base offers. Co-locating on an operational defence site will also bring DIO staff closer to our customers and allow us to experience the Defence estate in use every day. We are working closely with staff currently based at Sutton Coldfield to support them with the transition and with trade unions to undertake the necessary consultation.”

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Mark Pausey, Managing Director at Kier Regional Building Central, added: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this project to design and construct DMS Whittington’s brand-new HQ. Using offsite modular construction will allow us to simultaneously reach key milestones both onsite and in the factory, leading to the project being delivered to the DIO as quickly as possible and providing us with a more consistent end result.”

Source: https://bit.ly/2xevTiF

UK INDUSTRY NEWS Offsite & Off-grid Sustainable, offsite construction company, Green Unit, has announced a partnership with Verditek, a clean technology company that develops, manufactures and sells certified lightweight solar panels. Under the new partnership Green Unit will incorporate Verditek’s next generation solar panels onto the roofs of their modular buildings.

The partnership marks Green Unit’s first collaboration with another company in the clean-tech space as the two companies start trials of the technology on their uniquely curved ARC eco-buildings. The offering will allow Green Unit to offer its clients a complete off-grid, modular building solution. The two companies met at Cambridge Cleantech’s Cleantech Venture Day, an event for innovative, clean technology companies via their Oxfordshire Greentech membership. Verditek’s lightweight solar panels are less than 3mm thick and, being flexible, are able to wrap around the ARC’s curved roof. Since they use conventional silicon PV technology they harvest the same amount of power from sunlight that a conventional rigid panel does, and now integrate into the ARC roof. By introducing a solar roof ARC buildings can generate their own power, enabling them to be sited in more remote locations where infrastructure and grid connections are limited.

STRIKINGLY VERSATILE

Jonathan Finnerty, Managing Director of Green Unit, said: “Partnering with Verditek is a very exciting step for Green Unit and we’re looking forward to offering our clients a fully integrated, off-grid modular building. Our companies share an ethos around sustainability and design and strive to offer a building solution to clients that meets the highest form and functional standards.

This also marks an important step for Green Unit, with what we plan will be the first of many research and development trials out of our new six-acre Oxfordshire Science Vale site, as we continue to partner with other green-tech companies from the built environment.”

Dr Geoff Nesbitt CEO of Verditek, added: “Verditek’s purpose is to make sustainable energy generation possible anywhere in the world, so we’re thrilled to be working with Green Unit and offer their clients the opportunity to embrace sustainable energy to power their buildings. Our low profile panels provide a uniquely elegant sustainable power option for customers when integrated into the ARC roof. We look forward to helping Green Unit increase the options available to their customers.”

Source: www.greenunit.co.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS thousands of families on our waiting list. I’m delighted to see the completion of this latest project which contributes to meeting that goal.”

Mark Powell, EDAROTH Managing Director, added: “Social housing is a long-standing national problem, which will not be solved without innovation and positive disruption. As such, the Hillside Gardens development represents an early milestone for EDAROTH as we look to work in partnership with public sector clients across the UK to unlock the latent social and economic value of under-utilised land.”

Lambeth Council and EDAROTH Celebrate Lambeth Council and EDAROTH – a subsidiary of design, engineering and project management consultancy Atkins – have officially unveiled a new offsite housing development which promises to provide a blueprint for the future delivery of social housing across the UK. The Hillside Gardens development in Streatham Hill comprises four family homes which will provide high quality, affordable accommodation close to local amenities and transport links. The project was delivered as a pilot scheme for EDAROTH’s MetroHome

housing product, which is built using the latest offsite manufacturing techniques before being assembled on-site. This approach delivers new homes at speed, volume and at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional new builds, and also unlocks brownfield sites and underutilised land with constrained access.

The Hillside Gardens development – which is situated at the rear of existing council-owned properties on the Hillside Gardens Estate – was previously occupied by a derelict garage block but now adds four new homes to Lambeth Council’s housing stock which will be rented at council level rents. Cllr Matthew Bennett, Cabinet Member for Planning, Investment and New Homes, said: “Lambeth Council is committed to delivering a new generation of social housing in the borough, to tackle Lambeth’s housing crisis and support the

EDAROTH brings together design and engineering expertise, the latest offsite manufacturing techniques and construction partnerships to deliver new houses at speed, volume and at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional new builds. MetroHome is part of a suite of EDAROTH products which includes houses and apartments of different typologies designed to suit varying client requirements. EDAROTH also provides end-to-end development solutions which focus on delivering social and affordable housing at the point of need. This approach prioritises brownfield and underutilised land within existing communities – which are often considered too difficult or expensive to develop – and sees the landowner typically retain the land, assets and ongoing rental income.

Source: www.edaroth.co.uk

McAvoy Gets Multi-Million Private Equity Investment The McAvoy Group has secured multi-million-pound investment from London-based Blantyre Capital. The investment will support McAvoy in its continued growth in the dynamic offsite sector. It will also finance the Group’s ambitious expansion programme.

The McAvoy family – Orla Corr and Conor McAvoy – remain as shareholding directors and fully active in the business. The current Board will continue to be led by Mark Lowry, Managing Director, and will be joined by a director from Blantyre, further strengthening the existing management team.

Orla Corr OBE, Shareholder and Director, said: “We are extremely excited to partner with a highly respected investment fund that is fully aligned with our vision for future growth and our strategic plan. It was important for our staff, our customers and our valued supply chain to join forces with a dynamic and reliable investor who will help accelerate our growth. We have our strongest project pipeline for many years and in a diverse range of sectors. Partnering with Blantyre will enable us to leverage industry-leading offsite solutions across the UK and Ireland and to continue to develop our award-winning digital construction strategy.”

Adam Phillips, Head of Investments at Blantyre Capital, added: “The offsite sector offers enormous

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opportunities for transforming construction and is a sector in which we are keen to invest. We are confident in McAvoy’s growth potential and we are looking forward to a highly successful and productive business partnership.”

Projects nearing completion include a new mental health assessment unit at Kingston Hospital in Surrey and the 630-pupil Paxton Academy in Croydon, which is one of the most challenging offsite education projects ever undertaken. In a first for a modular

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building, McAvoy is constructing a play area on the roof of the four-storey building, and a multi-use games area (MUGA) above the sports hall. The company has been delivering bespoke, fast-track offsite schemes and interim modular buildings for the past 50 years and it has two purpose-built manufacturing centres in Northern Ireland spanning more than 150,000sq ft.

Source: www.mcavoygroup.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS Welsh Government Wants More Modular Housing Factory-made modular housing could be used in Flintshire to quickly increase the number of high-quality social and affordable homes being built in the county.

Housing Minister, Julie James announced a new Welsh Government strategy aiming to kick-start the offsite construction industry.

The Welsh Government wants councils to build far more Council homes at scale and at pace, however but face the same capacity constraints faced by traditional housebuilders. To deliver more homes quickly, councils will be encouraged to use offsite construction. To back Welsh business, Ministers plan to help this next generation of homes to be built utilising national assets such as Welsh steel and Welsh timber.

There will also be a focus on using the emerging offsite industry in Wales to pursue Welsh social and ethical ambitions, including developing skills and marketleading technical expertise in communities hardest hit by the decline of traditional industries. Investment will also help firms invest in locally sourced labour. As part of the Welsh Government’s new Modern Methods of Construction strategy ‘Reimagining social house building in Wales’, Ministers are making a major

£45million investment in the modular housing industry in Wales, to ensure it can deliver the next generation of social housing that people need. £20million is being made available for offsite businesses, who in partnership with Welsh social landlords, want to build the next generation of social housing. This investment is designed to help and encourage the market, especially SMEs, to develop offsite manufacture solutions such as supply chains, factories, skills development centres, that meet the needs of the next generation of social housing in Wales. A further £25million is being made available for round four of the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, which will focus on innovative housing delivered through offsite.

Housing Minister, Julie James said: “Building more social and affordable homes is a key priority for the Welsh Government. The significant investment we’re making in the modular housing industry will enable us to do that. Gone are the days of MMC’s association with poor quality, temporary, pre-fabricated housing: MMC now produces high quality, desirable and energy efficient affordable homes that tenants can be proud of. Developing the MMC industry in Wales presents us with a great opportunity to not only build beautiful new social housing, but also kick-start a new industry that will become increasingly important for our economy.”

Source: www.deeside.com

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS Platform Design Team Announced

The Construction Innovation Hub has unveiled the industry ‘players’ who will take forward its flagship Platform Design programme – a central plank of the Hub’s four-year Government-backed programme to transform UK construction.

Platforms will enable new buildings to be designed and configured using a pre-defined ‘kit of parts’, which are proven to demonstrate greater whole-life value, lower carbon and energy use, better safety and quality and which will improve the overall performance of buildings.

This approach will support government’s ambition to drive innovation and build industrial capability and capacity in businesses throughout the UK to deliver more sustainable buildings in the near future. The Platform programme will be driven by a collaborative team of integrators comprising some of construction’s biggest names: Skanska, BAM, PCE, MID Group, Kier/ VINCI Construction UK, Mace and Mott MacDonald.

Supported through every step of the programme by manufacturing, building performance and digital

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specialists from the three partners of the Hub – the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), BRE and Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) – Platform participants will develop and refine their products, technologies or services which will then be installed and widely showcased on a proof-of-concept building, demonstrating how these solutions can be applied across a wide range of UK government projects for vital new buildings including schools, hospitals and prisons.

and industry, we could see a critical mass of new-built projects like schools and hospitals constructed using the Platform approach in as little as ten years, driving improved productivity and performance for the sector and better outcomes for the environment and society.

The innovative businesses joining us on our journey are the vanguard of transformative change, not just in terms of how we create buildings, but in how those buildings impact on our lives and the environment.”

The wider collaborative team for the Hub’s Platform programme comprises over forty businesses drawn from a range of disciplines, and includes a number of specialist SMEs, who will work alongside the Hub and the integrators, providing design, specialist consultancy services, sub-assembly, components and materials that will be showcased on the proof of concept building.

MMC Programme Director at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), Will Varah, added: “There is a strong alignment between the IPA’s P-DfMA approach and the Hub’s Platform programme. We look forward to working together to deliver a more sustainable and productive way to meeting our ambitious investment programme.”

Construction Innovation Hub Programme Director, Keith Waller, said: “Our flagship Platform Design programme is a game-changer for construction. With the right blend of expertise and collaboration across Government

Source: www.constructioninnovationhub.org.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS BIM Adoption Accelerating Across Europe According to a newly published white paper from MagiCAD Group, the implementation of BIM in the building industry has accelerated quickly in recent years and both public and private sector actors are increasingly recognising the benefits to be gained with a transition to digital technologies.

The white paper examines the current status and recent development of BIM adoption in Europe and also addresses existing challenges to BIM adoption, including issues related to implementation, awareness and standardisation. In the paper, Dr Arto Kiviniemi elaborates on projected future developments in BIM including geographical expansion, business-driven adoption and improved interoperability as the next levels of increasing BIM adoption and also discusses BIM development in connection with larger global trends of urbanisation and environmental issues.

BIM adoption has not progressed concurrently across the various European nations. In fact, the pace, drivers, and strategies of BIM adoption in different countries vary greatly and may often reflect national industry tendencies. In 2019, the European Construction Sector Observatory outlined several key challenges to BIM adoption in different countries, including fragmented implementation, market structure and company size,

lack of demand from project owners and lack of standardisation and centralisation. In addition to smart buildings, many visions of tomorrow’s built environment introduce the concept of smart cities.

According to Dr Arto Kiviniemi, an Honorary Research Senior Fellow at the University of Liverpool, “Digital Twins as the solution to connect the virtual and physical worlds will be a crucial part of smart cities. However, we must remember that a model is an abstraction of a reality for a purpose. This means that we must always define the purpose before we can define and build the model, and that there will always be several models for different purposes.”

The rapidly accelerating pace of BIM adoption illustrates the importance of the new technologies, while the multitude of approaches and schedules for national implementation are indicative of the fragmented nature of BIM development. While the early adopters are already reaping the benefits of established BIM programs, BIM implementation remains in an exploratory phase in many countries.

You can download the free white paper ‘BIM Adoption Europe’ at: www.magicad.com/whitepaper

Setting the standards for offsite fastening BeA your partner for offsite timber and light gauge steel frame construction Across Europe and worldwide, BeA’s fastening technology, tools and consumables are the trusted choice for some of the biggest and best known names in offsite timber and light gauge steel frame manufacturing.

BeA manufacture an extensive range of market leading choice of fasteners, nails, staples and tools.

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS New Roofing Guide for Housebuilders Launched

A new technical guide is being issued to housebuilders in the UK to boost uptake of gable wall spandrel panels, a readily available component that can support the industry as it moves towards more offsite construction methods.

Gable wall spandrel panels are an offsite manufactured product, put together in quality-assured factory conditions before being delivered direct to site. They provide an alternative to the inner leaf of an exterior masonry wall at the gable end of a building and must be designed to comply with robust structural and thermal requirements and in some circumstances fire resistance performance standards too. Use of gable wall panels makes housebuilding more efficient, often saving hours of bricklaying time and can improve site safety as less time is spent working at height.

Published by the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA) the ‘Gable Wall Spandrel Panels Guide’ provides information and guidance for both designers and onsite contractors. The guidance specifically relates to pitched trussed rafter roofs above masonry-built homes, where there is an unoccupied roof space and insulation at ceiling level.

Nick Boulton, TRA Chief Executive, said: “We have developed the Gable Wall Spandrel Panel Guide to help housebuilders and designers understand every aspect of the product and its benefits. With increasing interest in MMC, gable wall spandrel panels are an ideal component to help speed up and improve the build process.

“The guide offers information on design responsibilities, structural considerations, fire resistance, thermal performance, and the manufacture of panels. On the contractor side we cover site handling details, installation, gable lateral restraints and most importantly advice on staying safe when working with gable wall spandrel panels. The TRA is committed to offering guidance to increase safety, quality and accuracy wherever possible. We hope this guide will help designers and contractors alike.”

The guide also features detailed technical illustrations to show what is required on installation as well as advice on satisfying thermal performance requirements plus a safety checklist to assist contractors and site staff responsible for installation.

Source: www.tra.org.uk

New Utility Pod Range from Offsite Solutions Offsite Solutions has launched a range of MEP utility pods. Fitted out in the factory and delivered to site fully completed, this latest advancement in pod technology is designed to accommodate all the mechanical, heating, technology and building services required for individual apartments or studios for build-to-rent or build-to-sell developments.

This is a premium product manufactured entirely offsite to suit specific project requirements. Each pod can be pre-installed with a range of elements including: heat interface units (HIUs) to deliver hot water and heating for each home, avoiding the need for individual gas boilers, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) units and a range of power, pipework and connection boxes. The pods have a highly durable steel-framed construction with a welded box section base frame, boarded with robust cementitious board and lined with a hygienic PVC walling sheet for a superior functional and aesthetic interior finish.

Adjustable heavy-duty feet allow accurate installation.

The pods are delivered to site pre-plumbed, pre-wired and fully fitted out to reduce installation time to just a few hours. The units are typically located in a hallway, within an apartment, adjacent to the kitchen and have an open-fronted design ready for the fitting of double doors or the addition of a stud wall on site.

Richard Tonkinson, Executive Director of Offsite Solutions said, “This launch follows an extensive period of product development and builds on our 15 years of experience in offsite manufacture and premium pod technology. The new utility pods will be manufactured

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to the same high standards as our multi-award-winning bathroom pods, using our proven quality control processes and robust factory testing before being delivered to site fully completed and ready to connect to the building services. This new product launch is the next step towards providing a focussed range of high quality prefabricated modular solutions for the construction sector to enable buildings to be built more quickly and efficiently.”

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All the utility pods will undergo stringent factory testing and quality inspections before arriving on site. These include full function and resistance tests undertaken by NICEIC-approved electricians with air-testing carried out on every pod at pre-calibrated static testing stations.

Source: www.offsitesolutions.com/utilitypods

UK INDUSTRY NEWS Rollalong Leading in Health and Safety New figures revealed by Rollalong show how they are leading the way when it comes to health and safety.

At Rollalong in 2019 the average number of days lost per worker was zero, and the number of accidents per 100,000 workers reported under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) regulations was also zero.

This compares to the national average for the entire construction sector, where 366 accidents per 100,000 workers were reported under RIDDOR regulations in 2019 and the average number of days lost per worker according to statistics come from the Health & Safety Executive was 0.17.

Rollalong workers and contractors have worked over 500,000 hours since the last Lost Time Incident in October 2018 and almost 1.5million hours since the last RIDDOR incident in July 2017. Accident statistics at Rollalong over the past three years (2017 to 2019) are also significantly better than the national construction sector average: RIDDOR: 133 per 100,000 workers (2.75 times better than industry average) and average days lost per worker: 0.04 (4.25 times better than industry average).

“As a company we are committed to health and safety at every level,” said Daniel Newcombe, Safety, Health Environment and Quality Manager at Rollalong. We don’t just do the minimum of what is required: all our staff and contractors are encouraged to go above and beyond to ensure the safety of everyone involved. As a result we have an exemplary record for health and safety and it’s pleasing that this latest set of industry data confirms that.”

The average number of workers at Rollalong is 250, made up of 70 directly employed factory workers, 30 factory subcontractors, 40 office staff, 10 directly

employed site workers and 100 site subcontractors.

Rollalong has over 50 years of experience in the rapid and risk-free delivery of quality, bespoke and modular buildings for all market sectors.

Last year Rollalong won seven monthly contractor health and safety awards for being the highest performing contractor on the £1.1billion Army Basing Programme, providing housing for British Army personnel returning to the UK from Germany.

Source: www.rollalong.co.uk

PROTECT MEMBRANES IS SUPPLIER OF CHOICE FOR FLAGSHIP MODULAR DEVELOPMENT Wall construction membranes, roofing underlays and accessories from Protect Membranes were used by modular construction specialists Totally Modular as part of an innovative pilot scheme on behalf of social housing provider Citizen in partnership with Coventry City Council.

Built in compliance with BOPAS, CML and LABC requirements, the scheme involved the manufacture of a two-bedroom and a three-bedroom two-storey dwelling in light gauge steel frame. Using a volumetric modular approach, four fully-furnished modules were created, delivered to former disused land in Willenhall and craned into place before being connected together. Taking twenty weeks from build to delivery, time on site was reduced significantly in comparison to traditional housebuilding construction. With offsite construction seen as an ideal way to combat the national housing crisis, the pilot was deemed to be successful with the potential for roll out across Citizen’s housing stock.

Protect products were supplied and installed in both dwellings to help

ensure the management of moisture within the structures. This ensured condensation control and strict airtightness levels were met to help meet minimum levels of 4.00m³/h.m.² or lower. This included Protect BarriAir, an internal airtightness and vapour control layer to contribute to energy efficiency and Protect Zytec, a roofing underlay, offering strong wind uplift resistance and good vapour permeability. The roof structure also

included Protect RediRoll, a universal dry fixed ventilated ridge and hip system, to deliver 5,000mm2/m of ventilation as well as the Protect Eaves Skirt and dry verge system.

For more details about Protect’s products for offsite construction visit: www.protectmembranes.com email: info@protectmembranes.com or call 0161 905 5700 quoting ‘Totally Modular.’

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS LABC Welcome SAP Training Course

Raising Standards In Fastener Specification

Fixfast, a leading manufacturer and supplier of fasteners, has launched two major initiatives to support the correct specification of fasteners for the building envelope. Architects and contractors can access a comprehensive technical support service providing guidance on project-specific fastener selection and testing. Complementing the new service, a highlydetailed Specification Guide can be downloaded by specifiers as useful reference material.

Developers, surveyors, architects, building control heads and energy surveyors across the South West have been the first to enjoy a training course on changes to SAP, devised by insulation specialist Actis. The module, on how insulation can be used to meet revised SAP requirements, was one of the highlights of two LABC technical updates held in Torquay in Devon and at the Eden project in Cornwall this month.

‘SAP, the basics, how it's changing and how insulation will need to adapt’ is full of in-depth, technical detail and looks at all elements which need to be taken into account when undertaking a calculation under the updated SAP 10. Actis UK and Ireland specification manager Dan Anson-Hart, who devised the programme with the company’s Technical Director Thomas Wiedmer, said it had been extremely well received by building control heads and LABC members and partners drawn from across the region.

The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) – used to work out the predicted energy use and emission rate of a dwelling – assesses how much energy will be used, how much of it will be lost or gained, how efficient the home is at retaining heat, and ensures minimum fabric energy efficiency requirements are met. The module looks at how a building’s energy efficiency is quantified by offsetting heat losses against heat gains and examines the eight areas which have been updated under the new, revised SAP 10. It highlights changes to default y-values and reminds developers of penalties for those who don't consider heat loss through building junctions.

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It also looks at how one of the likely changes to Part L later this year will include a requirement for photographic evidence to confirm that the completed work matches the as-built energy performance. It also illustrates how the scrapping of the old Accredited Construction Details means architects depend more on product specific details supplied by manufacturers such as Actis to ensure as-built SAP is as close to what was predicted at design stage.

“If these specific details are not available or provided a worsened default value will need to be used,” said Dan Anson-Hart. “New SAP10 is also making this default figure worse again, thus putting even more emphasis on the product specific details."

A new set of Registered Construction Details (RCD) designed by Actis and LABC for this specific purpose includes, among other features, nine suites of psi value details. The wider RCD set, available here, also offers instant access to online tutorials to help builders reduce heat leakage through the weak points of an insulated building envelope and design out thermal bridging.

Pictured: Actis UK and Ireland Specification Manager Dan Anson-Hart, with LABC's Head of Engagement Anna Thompson.

Source: www.insulation-actis.com

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Both initiatives have been introduced to encourage more consistent and improved specification of building envelope fasteners, and therefore enable the construction of better, safer, and longer-lasting buildings.

Against a construction industry background of increased scrutiny on building product safety and quality, Ken Lynes, Managing Director of Fixfast, explains: “Our experience shows that fasteners can sometimes be overlooked. Although a small detail, it’s critical that the right fastener is used for the right building application. The consequences of a building or its sub-systems failing could be very serious. In addition to the obvious impact on public safety, using the wrong fastener could compromise the building’s whole-life value, and introduce the risk of litigation for the people involved in creating it.”

The Specification Support Service promises responses to queries within 48 hours, access to Fixfast’s dedicated Technical Support Team, and advice on what fastener will meet the required system specification while complying with current building standards and regulations. The service also includes support with writing project specifications, preparation of fixingrelated calculations and access to technical documents and CPD sessions.

The Specification Guide sets out the basic principles of fastener performance and also features an overview of the relevant standards and regulations plus a checklist to work through when developing written specifications.

Source: www.fixfast.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS RTPI Applauds World-class Ambitions for Planning Government plans to put good design and placemaking at the heart of a reformed planning system have been welcomed by the Royal Town Planning Institute. Speaking in Parliament, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said that the new system would champion tree-lined streets, a ‘fast track for beauty’ and greater opportunities for communities to influence design standards in their area.

Reacting to the announcement, RTPI Chief Executive Victoria Hills said: “We are delighted that the government intends to take forward many of the recommendations in the recent Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission report, which was clear about the crucial role played by the planning profession in placemaking. We are also pleased that the National Model Design Code will be used to set out clear parameters for promoting the design and style of homes and neighbourhoods that local people want to see, resulting in standards that are embedded in planning policy.

“More broadly, the ‘infrastructure first’ approach taken throughout recognises how crucial planning is in delivering on key housing commitments. The recognition of the need to ensure adequate funding for planning through a review of the fee structure is

something we have long campaigned for and is to be welcomed. Overall, we applaud the ambition to create a world-class planning service. We have long recognised that the expertise of UK planners is widely acclaimed internationally.”

However, Victoria Hills was less positive about the use of permitted development rights (PDRs) which Robert Jenrick said would be extended by the summer to encourage councils and developers to take a more innovative approach to home building.

She said: “The RTPI has long-standing concerns with the extension of permitted development rights

which we feel will encourage a piecemeal, short-term approach. Extended PDRs risk poorly designed and inappropriately located housing and will make it more difficult for communities to have a say on development.

It will also result in diminished developer contributions through application fees, which go towards affordable housing and infrastructure. One encouraging change from when these proposals were first mooted last year is that the governments says that new residential units should be ‘well-designed’ and meet natural light standards.

Source: www.rtpi.org.uk

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS CIRIA and Laing O’Rourke Publish New Report

CIRIA and the Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology, University of Cambridge, have announced the launch of a new guidance report: ‘Methodology for quantifying the benefits of offsite construction’.

This new CIRIA guide proposes a framework for comparing construction approaches, making it possible to keep consistent records across projects and identify all the possible benefits available. This guide also highlights the challenges that can be expected when assessing the performance of construction projects and developing robust benchmarks for comparison.

It provides a framework for evaluating project performance that can be used by clients, construction management teams and designers to assess the value and benefits achieved on projects. The guidance is set to support decision making and facilitate wider industry collaboration across different sectors in the construction industry.

The reader is guided through the process of identifying the metrics for assessment and how these can be influenced by offsite construction in academic and industry literature. The proposed methodology is tested

Birmingham Development Topped Off & Sold Out SevenCapital alongside construction partners Colmore Tang and Creagh Concrete, have marked the topping out of its St Martin’s Place development and announced it is now sold out one year ahead of expected completion.

The building envelope is now complete, with floors laid across the development and windows fitted to all levels.

M&E has been integrated into panels offsite. The build used a total of 3000 precast pieces, manufactured by Creagh at their head office facilities in County Antrim (NI), benefitting the project with six months build betterment against traditional construction methods.

The work has provided significant employment opportunities for the local workforce, with contractors for both Colmore Tang and Creagh Concrete coming from the region.

Construction on the development, which sits adjacent to SevenCapital’s Park Regis Hotel – also constructed

by Colmore Tang, on the site of the former Five Ways Shopping Centre, began in June 2018 and is expected to complete during 2021. With 228 new one, two and three-bedroom apartments across four blocks of between six and 17 storeys, the development will feature exclusive private residents’ amenities, including cinema room, Wi-Fi lounge and a gym.

Steve Underwood, CEO of Colmore Tang Construction commented: “We have worked with Creagh on developing an innovative solution, which has accelerated our programme and offered significant benefits in terms of quality, safety and construction. This project is now our 16th in the region, having delivered 3500 apartments, demonstrating our expertise and making us the contractor of choice for delivering high density residential schemes in the Midlands area.”

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through the analysis of project data received on case studies in the educational sector, demonstrating how the metrics could be used to assess performance. It provides a template for evaluating project performance that can be used by clients and construction management teams to assess the value and benefits achieved on projects. This could be applied across different building sectors in the construction industry and adapted for infrastructure projects.

Professor Lord Robert Mair, Emeritus Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of Research at the University of Cambridge commented “There is compelling evidence for more widespread adoption of offsite manufacture in construction. Yet a methodology for quantifying its benefits is much needed. The process outlined in this excellent report provides an invaluable guide for industry professionals, such as contractors and project managers, as well as those who are influential in decision-making on construction projects, including clients, advisors and policy makers.”

Source: www.ciria.org

Seamus McKeague Chief Executive of Creagh Concrete added: “This is a proud moment for Creagh. In recent years we have moved from being just a concrete and materials supplier to a specialist subcontractor, which has opened up new opportunities.

We are seeing strong interest in our Rapidres Fastrack Build System because developers now understand the true value of slashing programme times. Investors not only benefit from revenue gained by the early occupation of units but, also, from the mobility of their capital resource. Quite simply, shorter build times mean developers can complete more projects with the same pot of finance.”

Pictured: (L-R) Steve Underwood (Colmore Tang), Damien Siviter (SevenCapital), Stuart Millichamp (Colmore Tang), Seamus McKeague (Creagh Concrete) Source: www.sevencapital.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS

BUILDING CONTROL TIGHTENS UP ON NON-COMPLIANT FIRE PROTECTION PRODUCTS There is increasing attention paid to passive fire protection products, and rightly so. It is more important than ever to build structures using only appropriately tested and fully approved passive fire protection products. This ensures that buildings are signed off without expensive delays and that residents receive maximum protection from risks.

Some downlights have not been tested with the lightweight I-beam or metal web joists which dominate the 30-minute resistant ceiling/floor market. Another focus should be the correct passive fire protection of ceiling penetrations such as air valves and ceiling fans. These are often found to be untested and do not protect against the spread of fire.

Recent examples include underperforming fire doors which force building controllers to look at other tested systems. The next is firerated and fire-resistant downlights.

Some downlights are lacking the required testing to match reality.

Fire Stopping in External Cavities

After already spending on products with inadequate testing, builders and designers then need a fully-tested system to achieve the required fire resistance and allow buildings to be compliant and signed off.

Builders and designers are contacting Tenmat for this solution. Tenmat offers a full range of fully tested solutions for

Fire Stopping for Air Valves

Tenmat’s range of fully approved products is all tested to the latest and strictest fire resistance standards to provide maximum coverage for actual real-life applications.

For more information visit: www.tenmat.com

Fire Stopping for Pipes

Fire Stopping for Wall / Floor / Ceiling Joints

Fire Stopping for Ventilation Ductwork

lightweight joist constructions.

Tenmat downlight fire hoods are fully tested in a wide range of lightweight joist types. Thanks to their simple installation, Tenmat fire hoods are accepted tested system with building controllers and are an approved solution for the market. Tenmat fire hoods offer fast installation and are a cost-effective answer to this increasing problem.

Fire Stopping for Electrical Services

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Contact TENMAT for further information

+44 (0)161 872 2181

www.TENMAT.com

passive.fire@tenmat.com

UK INDUSTRY NEWS Bristol City Council Working with L&G Modular

Bristol City Council’s Cabinet is being asked to consider a proposal to dispose of disused land in Lockleaze to enable Legal & General Modular Homes to deliver over 180 new modular homes. Bonnington Walk in Lockleaze is a former allotment gardens and has been allocated for housing in Bristol’s Local Plan.

The council and its partner – the Bristol Housing Festival – is suggesting that the land is developed using offsite construction, as an innovative solution to help address the shortage of housing in north Bristol.

Councillor Paul Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We’re doing everything we can to accelerate the building of housing across the city, especially council housing. Working in partnership with Legal & General Modular Homes means homes will be manufactured offsite and completed onsite, allowing much needed family homes to be built in days instead of months.

“It is particularly important to be building homes that people can afford, and I am really pleased that there's a commitment for up to 51% of the homes to be affordable through a mixture of homes for council housing and shared ownership. This will far

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exceed the council’s affordable housing guidelines for developments outside the central area of the city.”

Jez Sweetland, Project Director for the Bristol Housing Festival, added: “We need a revolution in housing design and construction, but we also need to transform housing finance and affordability to better support the needs of local communities. Legal & General Modular Homes are at the forefront of precision manufacturing, and it’s great that our partnership means we can showcase these ideas in Bristol.”

The council has been working in collaboration with Legal & General Modular Homes on the design of the modular homes for Bonnington Walk and is currently finalising terms and preparing plans for the submission of a full planning application. Local consultation on the development is underway and, subject to approvals, it is hoped that building works will commence onsite later in the year.

Rosie Toogood, CEO at Legal & General Modular Homes, said: “Bristol City Council has an ambitious strategy to deliver thousands of new homes across

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the city, and we are delighted to be collaborating with them at Bonnington Walk. Our proposals will deliver a thriving community of over 180 homes, with a commitment to 51% affordable, and a place that is both desirable to live and an innovative step change in residential scheme development in the UK.” “What we are doing at Legal & General Modular Homes is ground-breaking. Our advanced technology and innovative design delivers high quality homes incorporating improvements in building fabric and low carbon technologies, ensuring all our homes come with an Energy Performance Certificate A, which means they are in the top 1% for energy efficiency in the country.

We are determined that Bonnington Walk will be an exemplar of innovation and sustainability.”

The council’s ambition is to accelerate the delivery of new housing over the next five years, creating 1,000 new homes through various delivery routes, including a number of offsite manufacturing projects.

Source: www.news.bristol.gov.uk

the Future is Modular Offsite construction is transforming the industry.

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UK INDUSTRY NEWS Clear Mission at Futurebuild 2020

Bringing together 450 innovative and inspiring brands alongside a world class knowledge programme, Futurebuild 2020 saw three days of activity centred around transforming the industry to achieve net zero carbon emissions in a resilient and sustainable environment.

Futurebuild’s highly-regarded Arena programme opened with a packed crowd listening to eminent speakers from industry, government and academia discussing why we need to put the planet first.

Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, began with an impassioned declaration that, with key environmental performance continuing to decline, Government needs to do more and be held more accountable.

The six theme-specific Keynote Stages also provided thought-provoking debate and discussions. It was standing room only at the Building Keynote Stage as leaders from across government and industry covered vital issues, such as the proposed changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations and how we can the make UK’s existing housing energy efficient.

The Offsite Keynote Stage proved highly popular.

Prominent speakers from across the industry, including BRE, the STA and MPBA, joined leading manufacturers and policy makers to tackle the biggest issues in the sector.

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This included an honest discussion around ensuring offsite delivers not just on quantity but also quality, as well an exploration of how deeper collaboration between designers, clients and the wider supply chain can successfully deliver offsite solutions.

Visitors explored the all new Innovation Trail, which united Futurebuild’s Innovation Partners. The trail offered attendees the opportunity to view and experience revolutionary products, solutions and materials and meet the leading thinkers behind these innovations.

Among the 20 Innovation Partners was Kingspan.

Bianca Wong, who is their Global Head of Sustainability said: “We’ve been showcasing our Planet Passionate sustainability programme at the starting block of the Innovation Trail here at Futurebuild and it’s been an exciting couple of days. Engaging with visitors and learning from industry influencers on how we can enhance our products and services has been truly inspiring. It’s been a great opportunity to elevate our own innovations, while collaborating with like-minded individuals who want to enable a net zero carbon and circular built environment.”

The Big Innovation Pitch, in partnership with BRE, also made its return to the event. On each of the six Keynote Stages, brands pitched their new products and approaches against each other, with one innovation shortlisted from each stage. The finalists were Hope

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Resources (Critical Infrastructure), Passiv Pod Ltd (Offsite), Gapogroup (Energy), Kenoteq (Resourceful Materials), C.H.E.E.S.E. (Buildings) and Rype (Interiors) – with the Rype Office being declared the overall winner.

During the session examining ‘Carbon neutral cities of the future’, crowds of visitors gathered to hear from London Mayoral Candidate, Rory Stewart. He warned the Arena not to: “let anyone make you think that talking about a digital future is different to a green future, these things are one and the same.” He highlighted the need for delivery and humility in order to unlock the “bold, brave and green” future we all want.

Martin Hurn Futurebuild Event Director commented: “Everywhere you turn at this year’s event you experience innovation and forward-thinking companies who are tackling the issues we are facing as an industry. But these aren’t futuristic or conceptual ideas, they’re tangible solutions which will make a real difference.”

Futurebuild 2020 came to a close with a powerful call for industry to work together in order to tackle the climate emergency. Futurebuild will return to the ExCeL, London 02-04 March 2021.

Source: www.futurebuild.co.uk

FR EE TO

AC CE S

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S

FUTURE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

FUTURE-PROOFING NEWBUILD HOMES

The impending changes to Part L1A and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings will increase energy efficiency requirements for new homes. Trevor Richards, Operations Director of offsite experts Cogent, discusses the potential implications for lightweight structural solutions.

1 The impending Future Homes Standard requires that newbuild homes be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. But have you started to consider the practical effect of the imminent changes to Part L1A and Part F on your product design or system solution?

The ‘Fabric First’ approach of the current Part L1A can now be considered a given, and the proposed change in metrics to SAP, with the introduction of the Design Primary Energy Rate (DPER) and Target Primary

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Energy Rate (TPER) – create a new set of challenges to achieving compliance.

These changes are more than simply improved U-Values, reduced thermal bridging, reduced air-permeability – all challenges that offsite technology can clearly overcome. In fact, many have seen these changes as a way to promote a competitive advantage for offsite technology.

The superior build quality and the consistency of the delivered ‘as-built performance’ achieved through factory manufactured solutions is the mantra for the offsite sector and this will continue to be a key part of

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the ‘conversion rationale’ for those promoting offsite technologies as a fundamentally better way to build.

However, the proposed changes to Part L1A and Part F considers the home’s energy package, and the first indications from the available ‘beta’ SAP software, which Cogent has been trialling on a range of offsite system developments since the end of 2019, indicate those lightweight structural offsite technologies that have an integral lack of thermal mass, would appear to be presented a greater challenge.

FUTURE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

2 The proposed changes are giving further clarity on the issues of security (ground floor dwellings) and noise (all dwellings), and the interpretation of how ‘open’ a window can be, and when ‘opening’ a window is allowable more clearly defined. For over-heating and cooling, which is already an issue for the current Part L1A particularly in bungalows and ground floor flats, this will present a potential problem where the structure does not provide sufficient thermal mass.

Within SAP calculations, thermal mass aids the heating and cooling performance. Thermal mass is determined for SAP by the first 100mm of a structure from the internal face (i.e. from inside to outside) or when an insulation is met - whichever occurs first.

At Cogent, we are currently working on a series of low-rise and highrise structural offsite manufactured technologies for the residential sector and futureproofing is a fundamental part of any good design process.

Working with the currently available ‘beta’ SAP software from Elmhurst Energy to model the effect of the two options proposed for the changes to Part L1A and Part F, it is evident that there is an underlying issue for lowrise solutions in particular from the proposed changes. In short, for certain systems and applications there is a lack of thermal mass in a number of the mature offsite technology system designs.

What does this mean? For most it could well mean that more thermal mass needs to be added to the structure to make it future SAP compliant. However, more mass is likely to mean more material, more labour, more weight, and in the case of external walls, ‘thicker’ elements, meaning either a greater external footprint, or a loss of internal floor area. Alternatively, it could mean the requirement to introduce and enhanced MVHR system into the home. Or, it could mean both.

Alternatively, it could mean a product redesign and re-validation under the new performance requirements. The Future Homes Standard might act as a stimulus to evolve the product design along a new route to establish new solutions – effectively ‘taking the product back to formula’, or considering new material choices, such as phase change materials.

This might sound like a radical suggestion, but in an ever increasingly competitive environment where offsite manufactured technologies already work with the handicap of a greater upfront capital cost (in most instances), will the market afford you the solution of additional layers of material content to your product, that is not necessarily providing value!? Only time will tell and no doubt ‘necessity will remain the mother of invention’ so we will see some fantastic next-generation offsite technologies emerge to rise to the challenge.

The changes to Part L1A and Part F are not finalised, and nor is the SAP software, but if you have not yet started to consider the practical effect of the imminent changes to Part L1A and Part F on your product design/system solution, then the advice is you should start now! This is a complex challenge and one that will need to be addressed head on.

COGENT CONSULTING Cogent Consulting is a leading multi-disciplinary consultancy specialising in the field of offsite construction and manufacturing - offering independent advice on successfully exploiting innovative construction processes. Through our unparalleled range of skills, we can help you to manage practical issues of developing and deploying offsite construction systems and processes to dramatically improve project delivery performance.

If you would like to find out how the offsite experts at Cogent Consulting can assist with the proposed Building Regulation changes to Part L1A and Part F then visit: www.cogent-consulting.co.uk or call 01743 290010.

Images: 01. Courtesy Stewart Milne Timber Systems 02. Courtesy Ilke Homes

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M&E SERVICES

A PARADIGM SHIFT ON QUALITY AND DECARBONISATION

Offsite advanced manufacturing specialist, Merit, is starting a quiet revolution in the construction sector with a unique approach that challenges traditional procurement models to deliver cost-effective zero carbon buildings.

Merit also designs and constructs controlled environment solutions for the bioscience, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, aerospace and nuclear sectors, specialising in complex clean room construction and M&E services that require stringent regulatory approvals. In all cases, Merit acts only as the principal contractor and only delivers projects through bespoke pre-assembled multi-service modules (PAM) strategies.

1 paradigm shift and has turned itself into a ‘technology company delivering construction projects through a manufacturing process.’

2 Recognising that without a transformation to the traditional contractor model of procurement, the ambitions of the Government’s Construction Sector Deal were unlikely to be realised, Merit has adopted a new approach. By implementing a programme of innovation and new thinking across all of its operations, it is now reaping the rewards of that

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This has removed Tier 2 contractors and their associated costs entirely from its projects, while at the same time adopting zero carbon designs and total offsite module manufacturing to deliver sustainable cost-efficient solutions. This ‘product’ approach to construction is at the heart of Merit’s increased productivity drive and it’s a strategy that has achieved significant growth for the company, putting it at the heart of UK Government’s major initiatives for curable disease therapies and next generation battery technology.

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Using this innovative approach, the company operates with a vertically integrated in-house team from BIM modelling, PAM manufacturing at Merit’s design for manufacture (DfM) factory, through to onsite assembly and validation. To augment their self-delivery approach, embedded supply chain partners are used to complement the service offering. The company’s in house specialist design team supports the manufacturing process and in early 2018 introduced its DfM strategy, establishing the capability to produce bespoke PAMs for most of its projects at its manufacturing facility. The PAMs are precision-engineered and tested in a controlled environment before installation on site reducing the construction programme and associated costs while ensuring consistent high quality.

Tony Wells, Managing Director at Merit, says: “While we’ve seen a public commitment to construction productivity and step change improvements through offsite manufacturing from government, the industry has had little or no productivity improvements in the last 50 years because very little has actually changed in the way projects

M&E SERVICES environments, helping clients address the challenges of climate change.

3

4 are procured and executed. The efficiencies and savings targets set out in the Construction Sector Deal are realistic and deliverable, but only if clients recognise the opportunities and adapt their processes. They need to stop doing the same things ‘because we’ve always done it that way’ and look beyond lowest price and properly understand that real value comes from a process that encourages innovation from the market.”

Merit aims to manufacture 90% of a construction project and ship it to site, saving time and money while at the same time increasing precision, quality and safety in a controlled manufacturing environment.

“Our supply chain is made up of a small number of partners who have all worked with each other before and engender a strong sense of trust and understanding,’’ adds Tony Wells. “This collaborative approach ensures the focus is on delivering the best win-win solution for all. The DfM approach typically means that construction layout drawings are entirely un-

necessary as PAMs are modelled in an entirely different manner with standard designs. This saves our clients future time and costs in our drive to achieve a 50% reduction for a project ‘time to use’ compared to the traditional approach, achieving improved quality, reliability and certainty of validation.

“Further innovation integrated into the PAM design has led to a Zero Carbon 2020 strategy where we can eliminate fossil fuels from our projects and achieve significant OPEX reductions for no additional CAPEX. We combine the advantage of design and build and single point of responsibility for design and cost risk, with self-execution of the technical parts of the project to reduce project schedule and cost.”

Merits’ focus on new thinking and innovation also takes on the challenges the traditional approach to climate change and delivering zero carbon solutions. The company has applied the intelligent use of new technologies, renewables, heat pumps and heat recovery systems to create zero carbon solutions in industrial

This approach, in parallel with its offsite solution, entirely eliminates the use of fossil fuels from the buildings it constructs. Its application has already seen one client achieve carbon zero status for a facility designed and built by Merit, reducing energy consumption revenue costs for them by over £1.6 million over ten years. According to Tony Wells, the achievement of climate change targets requires different thinking: “All too often the industry sees carbon reduction as something that will cost more money. But we adopted a starting position of ‘carbon zero’ that made our design teams think differently. The result is invariably the opposite – a carbon neutral environment that adds value by delivering savings over the lifetime of the building.

“We know that offsite manufacturing can reduce carbon within a building, using efficient, repeatable designs and more efficient production.

Onsite waste accounts for 15% of the embodied energy of a building and research shows that offsite manufacture can reduce this by at least 50%. Wherever possible we buy from UK manufacturers, which as well as allowing a faster response, reduces the carbon footprint associated with material supply.”

Merit’s approach combines innovative thinking with zero carbon commitment to deliver significant capital and running cost savings and is at the heart of the company’s continued success across the UK, with clients including: the NHS, Rolls Royce, GSK, Lifescan and Cell Gene Therapy Catapult.

Merit is applying a new design and build strategy which achieves the ambitions of the Construction Sector Deal, by delivering efficiencies, cost savings and carbon neutral solutions, while developing its in-house skilled workforce to improve quality and safety.

For more information visit: www.merit.co.uk Images: 01-04. An innovative offsite approach is providing a range of construction and M&E facilities for the bioscience, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, aerospace and nuclear sectors

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STEEL

OFFSITE PIONEERS TO PRESENT LATEST ADVANCEMENTS IN LIGHT STEEL FRAMING

Following the success of the Focus on Framing Seminar in January – the event will return on Thursday 12 November 2020 in Manchester to bring together light steel frame (LSF) manufacturers and industry professionals.

Focus on Framing has been created for specifiers, engineers, architects, contractors, housebuilders, developers and manufacturers looking to explore the latest technological advancements and solutions to overcome the challenges presented by new building regulations. The seminar will explore LSF as a pivotal solution within offsite construction and its use across numerous sectors.

CALL FOR PAPERS

In the fiercely competitive world of construction, gaining market share can be tough – Focus on Framing will explore the unprecedented opportunities within the offsite sector which is why this is an essential event for industry professionals.

jodie.giblin@radar-communications.co.uk

Event sponsor and host, the Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA), are on a mission to emphasise the benefits of steel as a rigid and robust noncombustible offsite solution. The LSFA provide a unified voice within the industry to promote the levels of sophistication, innovation and technical expertise within the sector.

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Are you an industry leader in the light steel frame sector? Then we want to hear from you!

If you are involved in ground-breaking projects, creating innovative LSF solutions or developing pioneering strategies then to get involved email your name, company and proposed presentation title and description to:

Why should you speak at events such as Focus on Framing?

• Increase industry recognition •

• •

Demonstrate thought leadership and expertise Generate industry leads Gain networking opportunities.

Deadline for Call for Papers: 30 June 2020

BOOK YOUR PLACE To secure your place at this informative event go to www.focusonframing.co.uk and book your delegate ticket today.

FOCUS ON

FRAMING

Tickets cost just £95.00 + VAT with discounted rates for LSFA members and include: entry into the seminar and exhibition, lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

For all general enquiries please contact, Jodie Giblin, Event Coordinator on 01743 290001 or email jodie.giblin@radar-communications.co.uk

WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MARCH/APRIL 2020

FOCUS ON

FRAMING

SEMINAR

Displaying ground breaking innovation through light steel framing solutions.

The use of Light Steel Frame is fundamental as a construction material within a wide range of building types and applications in the offsite sector.

FOCUS ON FRAMING provides the opportunity to hear insightful case studies from those who are designing and

12.11.2020 MANCHESTER

FOCUS ON FRAMING provides positive return-on-investment and is one of the only events of its kind.

• Strengthen your brand positioning • Generate sales leads

developing the industry’s ground-breaking projects. The

• Build relationships with prospects

seminar will be complimented by an exhibition of leading

• Launch new products

businesses across the sector, and provide networking

• Survey attendees about new product ideas

prospects with those who are shaping the future of the Light Steel Frame industry.

• Research competitors’ products and messaging • Keep up on industry trends • Meet with key clients

FOCUS ON FRAMING is delivered in partnership with the LIGHT STEEL FRAME ASSOCIATION, which has been established to support the overall objectives and growth of the light steel framing sector.

BOOK NOW Tickets to FOCUS ON FRAMING cost £95 plus VAT or £65 plus VAT for LSFA members, which includes entry into the seminar, lunch and refreshments throughout.

To find out more or book your ticket please go to www.focusonframing.co.uk or call 01743 290001

STEEL

THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF MODULAR HOUSING

We are currently in an environment where we have reduced tradespeople, coupled with housing shortage, together with the need to reduce our wet trades on-site. Hadley Group believe the future for modular housing is a bright one and has many of the answers.

1 ensure that the quality control and entire manufacture process becomes simpler. Working collaboratively, innovatively and in partnership is key to the success for all the parties involved.

With modular housing, a house can be built in a factory within very short timescales, making use of dry trades, whilst also delivering the modular solution on-site with minimal waste.

This is not an exaggeration, however the route to the final delivered product is challenging from many aspects, whether it be funding, accreditation, the supply chain link, or the pull and push that exists within this complex process.

Trends within Modular Housing The government aims to build 300,000 homes per year by the mid-2020’s.

Due to the flexible nature of steel framing for housing, modular houses can be built in a short turnaround.

As such, steel framing is becoming a rising trend within the residential sector and modular housing is perfectly placed as the perfect choice for homes of the future. This provides a wide scope for delivery and many market opportunities, however for offsite to be successful, the process requires all detail communicated and cascaded down through the supply chain at an early stage to ensure manufacturing efficiency.

There will never be the complete removal of on-site skills as the site, foundations and groundwork activity will always need to be completed.

Modular and offsite housing are growing and gradually solving many real world challenges. Gradually these solutions will be commonplace to

Accreditation and most importantly, testing and validation of homes, are essential as they prove the homes are liveable and comfortable environments. This is critical to the long-term success of our products.

There are significant projects and work already being undertaken and

3

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2 delivered using steel frame modular, with the careful timing and alignment of multiple projects creating pull and demand on manufacturing resources.

When you combine projects, products and competing timescales it is critical to ensure that you have the right team working on the right projects at the right time – and with the correct data – this is key to success across the entire modular and offsite sector.

Hadley Group’s Steel Framing Solutions Our steel framing solutions contain less carbon and are supplied as cut-to-length, we recycle any hole punchings, slots and cut-out aperture details. We ensure that products are supplied to optimised thicknesses and with all details created within our advanced manufacturing process. As the engineering detail is carried out ‘up front’ in the factory, this leads to less work on-site and minimises any adjustments on-site.

For more information visit: www.hadleygroup.com Images: 01-03. Steel framed modular homes could solve

the UK’s future housing problems

Hadley Steel Framing’s all in one solution Hadley Steel Framing provides high quality, light gauge galvanised steel structural framing systems for use in a wide range of applications across the construction industry.

Why Hadley Steel Framing?

Our pre-panelised, standalone steel frame structures (SFS) are a lighter alternative which is also easier to erect compared to other steel and concrete primary frames. This is particularly ideal for medium rise buildings across the health, education, residential, leisure, commercial and retail sectors. Our structures are also bolted together off-site then delivered to site, lifted and fixed into place.

Hadley Steel Framing roll to tight tolerances and cut to bespoke lengths, accommodating short, dedicated delivery times, offering a robust modular solution with a high strength-to-weight ratio, whilst also eliminating the risk of contraction.

Lighter

by Design

t +44 (0) 121 555 1300 e ask.hadley@hadleygroup.com www.hadleygroup.com

CASE STUDY

STEEL

HIGH SCORES FOR FIRE TESTS

1 As part of its ongoing review of modern methods of construction (MMC), the NHBC has accepted Fusion Building Systems light steel frame solutions for residential buildings up to and over 18m in height.

Fusion Building Systems has recently undergone a new series of fire performance tests to demonstrate how its bespoke offsite manufactured light steel frame solutions can be used in buildings up to 18m. The offsite manufacturer has also introduced a new product, called FusionX which excludes the use of combustible materials, to extend the height to 30m. These systems have both been accepted by the NHBC. Since April 2019, Fusion has been working closely with the NHBC. Independent fire test data has been submitted to meet new criteria for both its Thermashield 162 external wall solution for buildings up to 18m in height, and its new high performance FusionX system for buildings up to the height specified and over 18m. The process also assessed Fusion’s system for situations where the use is not restricted to the loads imposed during fire testing – including an approved method to extrapolate loads, beyond fire testing requirements.

“The cladding ban has seen significant changes throughout the construction industry and we have all had a responsibility to review our systems and materials to meet the new

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2 standards,” says Mike Fairey, Fusion Director. “The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has set relevant new criteria for residential buildings and we’ve worked hard to prove the performance of our existing systems, as well as placing significant investment in new products. We’ve worked with the NHBC for many years and they understand the Fusion system. I hope their confirmation of the system acceptance, will lead to housebuilders opting for Fusion as a tried and tested offsite method of construction.”

Richard Lankshear, NHBC’s Innovation Manager added: “Our review of MMC is designed to give confidence to homeowners in the quality of homes built with MMC. We frequently reappraise MMC systems and our review of the Fusion Building Systems has included the structure, performance in fire, durability and factory production controls. Only systems that are rigorously and

3 frequently reviewed are listed on the MMC Hub.” Independent fire testing of Fusion’s Thermashield 162 external wall solution passed 60 minutes for fire from inside of a building, below 18m in height. Its new FusionX system has passed both the 90-minute and 120-minute test for fire from the inside with 3 x 12.5mm fire boards – as well as 90 and 120-minute tests for fire from the outside with 100mm mineral wool slab and a 12mm sheathing board.

For further information visit: www.fusionbuild.com www.nhbc.co.uk/mmchub Images: 01. The NHBC has accepted Fusion Building System’s new FusionX product, which excludes the use of combustible materials in buildings over 18m in height 02-03. Thermashield wall panels at Fusion's manufacturing facility are insulated using its patented system before being transported to site and installed

Fusion Building Systems works with some of the UK’s largest developers on both commercial and residential projects and is a member of the Light Steel Frame Association (LSFA). The LSFA works with light steel framing members to raise awareness of the performance and productivity benefits of steel frames and is the representative body for forward-thinking light steel frame manufacturers, providing access to industry contacts, technical expertise and market knowledge.

For more details in how to join visit: www.lsf-association.co.uk

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As the united voice representing the sector, the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) offers valuable industry insight, guidance and ongoing research to significantly improve the volumetric modular building process.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP Raising Industry Profile Through Strategic Marketing Quality Training and Knowledge Transfer Access to Learning Hub FREE Health & Safety Guidance and Support FREE Technical Advice FREE Employment and Law Services FREE Industry and Legislative Updates

For more information: Call: 0870 241 7687 Email: mpba@mpba.biz Visit: www.mpba.biz

STEEL

STEEL FRAMES BUILT OFFSITE DELIVERS MIXED-USE SITE IN WEMBLEY For the next generation of housebuilder, steel frame construction is a cost effective and efficient way to build upwards. Built offsite in its modular lightweight steel factory, Intelligent Steel is providing a modern construction solution for London developer Henley Homes’ Brent House scheme in Wembley.

By having steel frame manufacturing within the group, Henley Homes is ahead of the curve and able to cut the supply chain for its clients. At Brent House the developer is working with Notting Hill Genesis to provide a mixed-use development of 248 new homes including affordable and London Living Rent homes alongside substantial commercial space.

The design and manufacture of the panels was carried out in the Intelligent Steel factory for the development’s two linear buildings of five principle blocks ranging in height from seven to 10 storeys high. Henley Homes’ construction arm then used two shades of brick to add visual interest to the external facades defining the variation in height.

By controlling up to 40% of its supply chain, Henley Homes can offer modular steel frames for all its clients, including Housing Association builds at a more efficient cost to a tighter delivery programme, without compromising on design, quality and sustainability. Tariq Usmani, CEO of Henley Homes, comments: “Thanks to significant time and cost efficiencies due to our in-house manufacturing capability, we are able to deliver precision engineered, high quality housing of varying tenures at scale and pace both for our own developments and our partners such as Notting Hill Genesis. This ultimately reflects our ethos that everyone deserves quality housing, regardless of whether they are renting or buying.”

For more information visit: www.intelligentsteel.com

Lighter, stronger and quicker to lay.

It’s simple.

Egger OSB HDX. www.egger.com/hdx

Around 20% lighter than 38 mm chipboard!

EGGER OSB HDX is a new 30 mm heavy duty, load bearing panel, suitable for mezzanine flooring. Being wider, yet lighter, than 38 mm chipboard means that it is quicker and easier to lay. Whilst it’s superior strength provides higher point loads and UDL’s.

For technical benefits and samples contact us on the Building Products Hotline t 0845 602 4444 or email building.uk@egger.com.

TIMBER

TIME TO BUILD AND THINK DIFFERENTLY

The timber industry has long embraced offsite manufacture and is perfectly placed to capitalise on the need for low carbon design and build. David Hopkins, CEO of the UK Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and board member of the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) explains further.

1 It is time for the UK construction industry to level up. The past four decades are evidence that business as usual will not deliver the number of homes which the UK needs, or the high quality, low carbon solutions which we must embrace to reach net zero by 2050. Low productivity, a lack of investment, an ageing workforce and poor planning have all contributed to the average house costing almost eight times what the average Briton earns, and these forces are set to increase the pressure on the traditional model of housebuilding.

Of course, readers of this magazine are aware there are alternatives to timber.

Modern methods of construction (MMC) are widely accepted as essential to creating a construction industry and deliver more housing quicker, with a reduced carbon-

40

footprint. The timber industry has long embraced offsite with timber frame construction. It is past time that the effectiveness of offsite is being fully recognised by the government, housing associations, local councils and developers.

Timber should have a natural advantage in this new policy environment. An emphasis on speed creates a preference for offsite, and emphasis on offsite creates a preference for timber. It is a light, versatile material which lends itself to manufacturing processes. However, the UK construction industry remains slow to change. Entrenched practices, low levels of investment into research and development, lobbying by competitors and low productivity have created an industry which is slow to embrace innovation.

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As voiced recently by Governmentappointed MMC champion Mark Farmer, the volume builder world still views MMC and offsite as unknowns.

There is a perception of financial risk, with MMC considered ‘unproven’, and the upfront costs off-putting. I would like to make the point that we can say in the timber industry this is not the case. Structural timber technology is proven, and already accounts for 83% off homes in Scotland, where a healthy, profitable house building industry has thrived for decades.

In England the timber frame accounts for 23% of newbuild homes, a number which grows every year thanks to the many examples of timber frame projects across the UK delivering high quality houses on time and on budget.

We listed some in our report with the APPG for the Timber Industries last

TIMBER

3

2 year on ‘How the timber industries can help solve the housing crisis’.

This included an example from the Commonwealth Games, where CCG delivered 700 homes in just 700 days using offsite timber frame construction.

A Fabric First approach to construction helped these homes offer top of the line operational efficiency.

It included Accord, one of the largest not-for-profit housing organisations in the Midlands, built its own offsite manufacturing factory in 2011. This factory has grown to the point it now manufactures 1,000 homes per year on a single eight-hour shift per day, while producing less than 3% waste.

The report also included Goldsmith Street, a timber frame social housing project in Norwich which won the RIBA Stirling Prize 2019, showcasing how timber frame can create sustainable, affordable, and beautiful housing. This was the largest Passivhaus project in the UK to date.

Each example ties together the benefits of building with timber and using offsite construction. However, the point stands that there are thousands of high-quality homes built using timber frame every year, and the Structural Timber Association (STA) says the capacity already exists to double output.

The greatest beneficiary of a UK-wide switch to timber will be the environment.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide before being harvested with many more planted in their place. This carbon is then stored for the duration of the life of this building product, and beyond that if the wood is reused. The timber bio-economy is currently the only viable means of carbon capture and storage, and the Commission of Climate Change (CCC) in the UK has called for the growth of timber construction in place of energy intensive materials as a key means of reducing carbon emissions in construction.

The Biocomposite Centre has found that timber frame homes on average have 20% lower embodied carbon emissions than traditional masonry.

Embodied carbon emissions are from construction and materials. This benefit extends to a 60% reduction when cross laminated timber (CLT) is used.

We have been discussing many of these benefits with councils, housing associations and architects. For these organisations the writing on the wall is clear, with many making pledges to reduce their carbon emissions. Many councils and architects have pledged to be net zero by 2030.

The demand is there. Clients are calling out for more sustainable, quick construction. It will be up to everyone in the offsite industry to make sure that the solution is obvious. The issues are global, and if we can create a rapid

4 uptake in sustainable materials this industry could become world leading.

Evidence can be seen in the World Green Building Council’s report ‘Bringing Embodied Carbon’, which highlighted the importance of including embodied carbon in sustainable construction, with material and construction causing 11% of global emissions. A similar proportion is echoed in the UK. As the Confederation of Timber Industries we are working to showcase the potential of timber and offsite to industry and policy makers, and we encourage any interested in the low carbon solutions offered by timber to get in touch with us, and to share our news and resources.

For more information visit: www.ttf.co.uk www.cti-timber.org Images: 01. A Fabric First approach to construction helped CCG make these homes offer top of the line operational efficiency. Courtesy CCG 02. Goldsmith Street: a timber frame social housing project in Norwich which won the RIBA Stirling Prize 2019. Courtesy Cygnum 03. Structural timber technology provides a healthy, profitable housebuilding industry.

Courtesy SMTS 04. The greatest beneficiary of a UK-wide switch to timber will be the environment.

Courtesy Kingspan

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CASE STUDY

TIMBER

THE PERFECT PERFORMANCE

1 A solid timber extension for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, used cross laminated timber (CLT) to provide a new building providing rehearsal, catering and administration space.

In 2018, Reed Watts Architects, brought Eurban on board to deliver a new twostorey building located on a sensitive site in a Royal Park and Conservation area. To secure planning permission for a building in this context it was necessary for the architects to steer the project through an extensive consultation process with Westminster Council, the Royal Parks and other stakeholders.

The specification of solid timber as the superstructure was a key part of the success of the design. CLT was specified not only for its environmental credentials, its aesthetic potential and its light weight, but also for its speed of assembly. Reed Watts Architects designed this project with the intention to use CLT for the superstructure from the outset. Price and Myers engineers provided the initial engineering advice for the solid timber superstructure up to RIBA stage 3 and Eurban were brought on board to be part of the design team taking on the design, supply and installation of the project from RIBA stages 3/4 to 5. For the main contractor, GPF Lewis ,this was the first

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project in CLT so Eurban were able to provide the assurances they required for this significant element of the build.

For this building the CLT was manufactured in Austria by Stora Enso using spruce grown in sustainably managed forests. The glulam was manufactured by Pabst in a factory located close to Stora Enso in Austria.

All the material is PEFC-certified and a total of 130m3 of solid timber was used in the walls, floors and roof of the building. It takes only seven minutes for this volume of timber to be replenished by the sustainably managed Austrian forests. 95 tonnes of CO2 was removed from the atmosphere when the trees were growing and will be stored in the structure over its lifetime.

Eurban used advanced BIM processes to deliver the building, even though there was no BIM execution plan within the brief of this project, but Eurban produced a 3D model to quantify and design the structure. This is an essential part of Eurban’s design process. After an intensive iterative drawing approvals process between Eurban and the architects, the GA plans, sections and elevations are ‘signed off’ for fabrication. At this stage Eurban are in close communication with the factories and a CAD/CAM model compatible with the CNC machines is sent to them for interpretation and another

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2 series of cross checks of CAD files and information is embarked upon. This process is a prime example of design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) in action.

For the duration of the assembly of the solid timber structure a crane was used to offload and distribute the materials around the site. CLT and glulam were offloaded directly from the articulated lorries into position and just-in-time delivery is one of the selling points of this type of construction. With fewer deliveries coming to site there is improved safety at the site access, as well as reduced pollution in the surrounding roads which is another key benefit of this ‘offsite’ method of construction. High profile projects located in central London such as this prove how successful the use of CLT and offsite manufacture can be and are landmark examples of the benefits of designing and building solid timber structures.

For further information visit: www.eurban.co.uk Images: 01-02. The use of CLT and black stained larch boards has created a striking building for an historic London park.

Courtesy Eurban/Simon Kennedy

OFFSITE AND MODULAR TESTING. PROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF PRODUCTS, SYSTEMS AND BUILDINGS.

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ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, CARBON FOOTPRINT & DURABILITY. STRUCTURAL VERIFICATION OF SYSTEMS.

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INSIDE OFFSITE KINGSPAN

ENERGY EFFICIENT TO THE CORE

As part of the Inside Offsite factory tour programme, timber building specialists Kingspan invited delegates from across the built environment to its North Yorkshire manufacturing facility to showcase its innovative Kingspan TEK® Building System and Passivhaus.

1

2 With a focus on the offsite and construction arm of the business, Kingspan hosted a two-day, factory tour explaining to delegates from across the construction industry the background to the TEK® panel and the production process and how SIPS fits into low carbon, energy efficient, sustainable construction.

The TEK® panels have been produced at the Selby site since 2011, where the facility is also home to the largest refurbishment rooftop solar PV array in the UK, further boosting the low carbon aspects of the panel production.

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SIP technology has long been the quiet success story of timber construction, coupling an easily managed building method with high levels of thermal efficiency. The TEK® composite panels produced at Selby are 142mm or 172mm thick, with a high-performance fibre-free rigid urethane insulation core. This is all sandwiched between two layers of Oriented Strand Board Type 3. Highly energy efficient and with superb U-values, the panels can be used for walls, roofs and intermediate floors using I-beams or open web joists and are suitable for buildings up to four storeys. The 142mm thick panels can achieve whole wall and roof U–values of 0.20 W/m2.K or better with no additional insulation, with the 172mm thick panels able to achieve whole wall and roof U–values of 0.17 W/m2.K or better with no additional insulation.

TEK® panels are suitable for use with most façade systems and can also

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be used with traditional masonry rainscreens and can be used as a ‘In board’ – as an infill panel in the apertures of the structural frame or as a ‘Out board’ – sheathing the structural frame. The panels are lightweight compared with masonry construction, at a maximum of 24 kg/m2 (excluding any additional timber), making them ideal for situations where ‘heavy’ construction is not possible.

An essential part of all building’s thermal efficiency is the levels of airtightness and the TEK® panels can achieve air leakage rates as good as 0.08 air changes per hour at normal pressures (approximately 1m3/hour/m2 at 50 Pa).

SIP panels provide a range of overall project and productivity benefits.

Defects are vastly reduced due to the factory controlled manufacturing process and precise engineering. This method also creates minimal waste.

INSIDE OFFSITE KINGSPAN

3

4 Furthermore, all the components for a typical Kingspan TEK® Building System kit are supplied in one delivery from one single source, meaning fewer deliveries and less transport and logistical issues.

Environmental issues are increasingly at the forefront of construction considerations, with project design and delivery expected to minimise climate impact. The TEK® wall and roof elements in a 142mm panel thickness, correspond to generic elements with 2008 BRE Global Green Guide Summary Ratings of A+ or A. Plus the insulation core is manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and low global warming potential (GWP).

The TEK® panels produced at Kingspan’s Selby facility are certified to BES 6001 (Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products) `Very Good’. Plus the timber

used for the panels are responsibly sourced and certified with FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. As standard, the OSB facing of the TEK® panels is PEFC-certified. This Chain of Custody certification verifies that the timber used is from a legal and sustainable forest.

The session finished with an indepth presentation on the use of the Kingspan TEK® Building System at the Rayne Park development in Norfolk.

Euan Jenkins, Associate at architects Hamson Barron Smith, alongside the team from Carter Homes, spoke about the first Phase of the scheme being delivered for the Norwich Regeneration Company, where 153 mixed tenure homes are being built with 95 built to the Passivhaus standard.

Over 120 delegates attended three sessions over two days and were given a tour of the Selby facility to

understand better the way SIP panels and the Kingspan TEK® Building System is created – from input of raw material to the precision manufacture of the panels, to the final product sent to the customer being of the highest quality. “The event proved to be a resounding success,” said Mark Jenkins, Product Manager, Kingspan TEK. “The event demonstrated how the Kingspan TEK® Building System can help to quickly and efficiently deliver quality structures, with high levels of thermal performance and excellent U-values, using an offsite method of construction. The system also ensures minimal thermal bridging, and robust levels of airtightness, which traditional methods of construction would find harder to meet competitively.

“A particular benefit is that the system has a suite of pre-calculated Psi values, based on standard details downloadable on the Kingspan website, to assist with the growing emphasis on calculating the heat loss around apertures and non-repeat junctions. Feedback from delegates is that they will seriously consider using the Kingspan TEK® Building System as a method of construction going forward, especially in light of the forthcoming changes to Building Regulations and SAP 10.”

For more information visit: www.kingspantek.co.uk

WATCH THE JOURNEY The Kingspan TEK® Building System is recognised by major building warranty providers such as NHBC, Building Life Plans, Premier, Build Zone Homebond and HAPM. You can discover the manufacturing process, testing, quality control and design service behind the technology in a special YouTube video showing the various steps in the factory production of this low carbon, timber-based offsite system: http://bit.ly/398SbAn

Images: 01-02. Mark Jenkins, Product Manager,

Kingspan TEK® explains the benefits of

the SIP-based system 03-04. Offsite methods and the Kingspan TEK®

Building System in progress

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PROJECT OF THE YEAR

TIMBER

LEAN AND GREEN: THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Andy Goodwin, Managing Director of B&K Structures, considers the action needed now if the construction industry is to have a safe, strong and sustainable future.

1 As the UK grapples with climate change and the urgent need for more sustainable construction approaches – many developers are in a state of confusion about how to meet the proposed Building Regulation changes to further reduce the combustible restriction on external walls to 11m and achieve sustainability targets.

At times like these it calls for a considered approach and not kneejerk reactions. Across all manufacturing

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industries the goal posts are constantly shifting, we only have to look to the automotive industry and the ban on new diesel and petrol cars in just 15 years to witness the impact of changing regulations.

Quality, safety and sustainability are at the heart of our operation.

Buildings are the sum of many parts and by carefully considering every element – the proposed new Building Regulations can be achieved together

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with sustainability targets. Many, including me, are claiming it is entirely wrong for the MHCLG to include cross laminated timber (CLT) in the same category as highly combustible panelised facade systems and there are robust arguments to support this.

However, we can only deal with the current situation and as a great advocate of engineered timber technology, we must find a way forward. When it comes to carbon

TIMBER sequestration, CLT is a clear and obvious winner over other building materials, especially concrete and steel, and together with the drive toward 2050 zero carbon targets – CLT is a formidable contender in the battle for lower carbon emissions.

Rather than a challenge we see this as an opportunity for B&K Structures.

We started out as a specialist steel contractor and this experience combined with our expert knowledge in engineered timber technology means we are well placed to design hybrid structures that maximise the benefits of CLT panels, glulam beams and steel framing systems.

Building physics is complex but there is one simple equation – through CLT and the obvious weight advantages over steel and concrete, lighter equals more sustainable. Reducing the weight of a building lessens the amount of concrete required in the foundations.

Using lightweight unitised panelised steel framing systems complete with A1 non-combustible boards for external walls, will reduce weight and remain within the Building Regulations.

Internal walls and floors can then be developed from lightweight sustainable and robust cross laminated timber panels. This lean and green approach meets the criteria laid out in the proposed new Building Regulations and achieves sustainability targets.

As the world learns how to deal with extreme weather events I believe that it is essential to take preventative steps to reduce the carbon emissions that we all know contribute to this climate emergency, as well as making sure that buildings can stand up to the rigors of extreme weather events.

I am confident that CLT, as the most sustainable of structural solutions, has a role to play in creating buildings that are both safe and sustainable. It is worth mentioning that CLT has not been involved in any of the recent tragic fires, which we are now learning were as a result of multiple failings of incorrect specification of materials and poor build quality.

2 According to the European Energy Centre, existing buildings use around 40% of global energy, whilst they produce approximately 33% of carbon emissions. As much as 40% of landfill waste comes from unused building materials. So, we are at a tipping point – unprecedented action is needed now if the construction industry is to have a sustainable future. Carbon sequestration is our ally in the battle to overcome the environmental impact of construction. Trees and well-managed woodlands play an important role in the removal of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. Through the biochemical process of photosynthesis carbon dioxide is taken in by trees and stored as carbon which remains ‘locked’ in the timber after processing for use in construction.

Only now are we truly realising the full capabilities of this strong, sustainable and technically advanced

structural solution and the new regulations will not stifle innovation.

The UK has a magnificent heritage of timber architecture dating back to the thirteenth century – we are now building on this legacy using groundbreaking engineered timber systems.

We develop high quality, low carbon projects for a wide range of clients throughout the UK and through our robust, integrated supply-chain, we are dedicated to finding the best sustainable solution.

For more information visit: www.bkstructures.co.uk Images: 01-02. When procured from well managed and legally compliant sources, structural timber elements are extremely sustainable, reducing carbon emissions during the construction phase and throughout the lifecycle of the building.

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ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

MODELLING THE FUTURE FOR REAL

Launched at Offsite Expo 2019, the Construction Futures Research Centre (CFRC) is part of the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton and is part of a new wave of centres of excellence offering expertise in how best to deliver offsite construction.

1 Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) CFRC offers bespoke, fully-funded support to small medium enterprises (SMEs) to achieve high standards of delivery in offsite methods. The aim of CFRC is to improve the efficiency of the construction sector, using the latest techniques and advanced technology.

The entire manufacturing process can be simulated and modelled in 3D to offer SMEs a better understanding of their processes and a method/pathway to improve the efficiency of their manufacturing.

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Industry 4.0 is the latest innovation in the industrial revolution, combining traditional manufacturing practices and the latest smart technologies.

This includes Machine to Machine communication (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) deployments to improve analysis and problem solving without human intervention. Industry 4.0 allows manufacturers to become increasingly automated, allowing employees to be deployed in other areas. It connects the physical world with the digital world and allows for better collaboration between all

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stakeholders. Instant access to data allows business to increase efficiency and boost profitability.

The CFRC team is fully equipped with advanced software and hardware tools to collaborate with SMEs within the offsite construction sector, applying design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) principles. The term ‘lean’ is used in many ways but at its core it is essentially concerned with the elimination of waste in all forms. We provide advice in product design to ensure ease of assembly

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

2

4 and manufacturing. Our approach is to work on lean management which enables the identification, quantification and eliminate of waste or improve efficiency in product design. DfMA takes several forms, but the common factor is the application of factory (or factory-like) conditions to construction projects. This is critical for many reasons including: health and safety, cost, productivity and sustainability.

We are already working with SMEs on DfMA analysis of their products.

With one company we are designing for assembly (DFA) using building information modelling (BIM). BIM is a digital representation of the physical world, used as a shared resource containing information about a building and many of the assets within the building. BIM is the process of procuring a built asset using a collaborative working process supplied by digital data: using the

3 philosophy ‘build it twice’ – digitally and physically. Ironing out the problems in the digital model saves time and money. The BIM modelling process starts at inception through to handover and the management phase covers handover to demolition. During the life of a building 75% of the costs are on operation and having access to a BIM model can help cut costs. At CFRC we can offer support to SMEs by creating BIM models of products using Autodesk Revit modelling software.

CFRC supports the implementation of lean thinking to reduce the inefficiency within manufacturing processes.

The procedure involves business process modelling (BPM) which leads to discrete event simulation (DES).

DES is the process of arranging the behaviour of a complex system as an order sequence of well-defined events using the specific DES software. CFRC focuses on the processes in a system at a medium level of abstraction. We are currently working with two companies: one manufactures and supplies coldrolled sections light gauged steel frames and the other designs and supplies bespoke hot-rolled steel frame lattice beams and steel trusses.

Alongside DES and DfMA we provide 3D laser scanning of production sites.

The 3D scanner helps professionals with surveying, mapping and inspecting sites. The scanning benefits SMEs in improving staff safety, creating faster and more accurate building surveys, streamlining the creation of

3D models, safeguarding data and enabling fast, complete topology surveys. In addition to these the 3D scanner is capable of consolidating and sharing 3D images and videos in one location which contains all the captured data, size, design and dimensions. CFRC will eventually form a platform which will provide SMEs with tools, processes and equipment for collaboration and greater efficiency.

“The CFRC is a fantastic opportunity for SMEs to engage with the latest offsite technologies, at no cost to them,” says Matt Mellors, Project Manager at CFRC. “We are looking for businesses to work with and support who are either already part of the offsite supply chain or looking to enter that market. I would encourage any businesses who are looking to innovate and interested in improving their efficiency to contact us to take advantage of the services CFRC offer.”

For more information visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/cfrc or email: cfrc@wlv.ac.uk

Images: 01.

The CFRC is part funded by the European

Regional Development Fund and will

help bring a new technological mindset to

construction 02.

Matt Mellors, CFRC Project Manager 03-04. Offsite methods are in a huge state of

development and can radically change the

way we think about building

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ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

CREATING IMPACT IN TIMES OF TRANSFORMATION

With the construction sector set for profound change, Trudi Sully at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), predicts exciting times ahead with the Construction Innovation Hub set to change the way the industry thinks and performs.

1 I write this article during a time of transition in my own role from Associate Director for Construction and Infrastructure at the MTC to Impact Director for Manufacturing at the Construction Innovation Hub (CIH).

My hat change was borne out of demand and necessity during a time when the appetite and support for transformation in the construction sector has never been so great. R&D project work at MTC continues to flourish across the built environment areas in which they are now wellestablished innovation partners. With the announcement of the recent UKRI competition winning projects imminent, I hope to see even more key projects with their industry partners announced.

Meanwhile, the CIH’s profile and the ambition to maximise the impact on the sector during this programme has also grown beyond expectation over our first full year in business.

Whereas we started this journey as

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three organisations – the MTC, BRE and Centre for Digital Build Britain (CDBB) – we have recognised that the CIH’s programme is neither contained within each centre or even within the wider Hub and so we are shifting the balance to reinforce our engagement with government and industry to ensure we deliver the impact we have committed to demonstrate. And hence my new hat!

We have also recognised that greater clarity of purpose comes from aligning our programme to four core themes: Value, Manufacturing, Assurance and Digital. From the new work year in April all of our output focused activities will fall within these themes as outlined here: Manufacturing Our Platform Design Programme is central to this theme. This two-year workstream builds on the IPA’s call for evidence on a P-DfMA approach and supports the 2017 Budget announcement of departments

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adopting presumption in favour of offsite as further described in the Transforming Infrastructure Performance report.

We are working with over 40 industry partners from Tier 1 contractors to offsite manufacturers and through to supply chain SME’s to develop a prototype platform-based, manufacturing solution for buildings.

This will include development of integrated assembly systems, interface standards and rules that enable kits of parts to be designed which can be configured into manufactured buildings. These standards and rules will be published and open to allow others to adopt this approach.

This programme is about process standardisation rather than physical standardisation. Therefore this isn’t constrained to creating a particular physical approach, such as a modular solution, (though is still applicable to one), but rather offers a flexibility of approach, with consideration of

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

2 parameters and constraints, and through the use of a configurator, will determine the best value system.

Our output will be a physical demonstrator of the products and processes, with the intended outcome being a proven approach that Government departments can specify for future projects.

The industry partners who have signed up to the programme have committed time, material and resource which is recognised as contribution to the industry’s match funding as pledged to in the Industrial Strategy’s Construction Sector Deal. We are delighted to have just announced the partners who will be collaborating as the ‘Integrator’ Team: BAM, PCE, MID Group, Kier/ Vinci, Mace, Skanska and Mott MacDonald. The remaining partners will work in smaller teams providing design, specialist consultancy services, sub-assemblies, components and materials. We will be announcing them shortly and regularly posting updates

about progress via our website.

As exciting as this work is, a technical solution for platform-based manufacture is only part of what is needed to deliver real impact and support transformation. Hence the three other key themes: Value We are developing a Value Framework for government, clients and industry to inform investment decisions, procurement and incentivisation.

This will be backed by consistent benchmarks, metrics and data.

This, critically, will refocus decision making away from capital cost, and on to whole-life value that includes consideration of carbon, social impact, user satisfaction, design quality, UK content and much more.

We are already working with Ann Bentley and the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) Procuring for Value working group on the development of a new tool, which will provide clients with a structured approach to the definition,

optimisation and measurement of value throughout the lifecycle of a project or programme.

Further vital work is being done with the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and academic partners to identify the commercial strategies and underlying business models required to enable a value-based approach, while work on skills, capacity and capability will ensure we have the right people in the right roles to support the future environment we create.

Assurance The Assurance Framework will provide the confidence that products, materials, sub-assemblies and components meet performance and safety criteria through both physical and digital testing and that suppliers

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ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

4 As such, the Hub’s Impact Team are fully focused on working with our industry and government partners to provide critical insight, and to influence and shape the strategic delivery of the programme to ensure the realisation of impact, value for money, and ultimately, transformation at scale.

3 have the capability, quality systems and certification requirements to deliver to expectations. As part of wider programme, we are also working with financial institutions to ensure that access to finance, guarantees and insurance-based products supports wider roll out.

Digital The Digital Framework in development will set out what data is required to support decision making and performance measurement and how it should be structured, shared and secured consistent with the Gemini Principles.

This theme will also include developing the next phase of BIM standards, driving an already successful international programme and work with government and the NIC to drive adoption of a National Digital Twin. This framework will inform data required for measuring against our Value Framework and demonstrating compliance with our Assurance Framework.

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The Value, Assurance and Digital frameworks will be equally applicable to traditionally delivered projects as to future states of manufactured delivery, but to truly realise the benefits of transformation - i.e. higher quality, safer delivery, cost and time savings, reduced energy demand, less waste and more – we see the adoption of manufacturing methodologies as vital. However, as implied above, we cannot succeed in our ambitions without government department buy-in or industry engagement. We cannot deliver transformation through instruction. We must do it through codevelopment and co-delivery.

During a conversation at Futurebuild earlier in the year, a delegate told me he was envious of my position.

He commented on how lucky I was to be in the middle of something so significant that really is going to impact the way the industry works and delivers our vital infrastructure – something he’s been trying to influence for much of his 40 years in the industry. What could I do but agree? I am indeed lucky to be embedded in this programme and working with such inspiring partners who are all so driven to create better social, environmental and economic benefits for us and our future generations.

For more information visit: www.constructioninnovationhub.org.uk or follow on Twitter @CIH_HUB Images: 01. Representation of the Construction Innovation Hub programme 02-04. The Hub is exploring the robotisation of yellow goods and engineers are getting to grips with new equipment

THE CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION HUB The Construction Innovation Hub brings together world-class expertise from the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) working with Government and Industry to support transformation in the UK construction industry. With £72million from UK Research and Innovation’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, we are a catalyst for change in the way buildings and infrastructure are designed, manufactured, integrated and connected within our built environment.

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EMERGING REALITIES CONFERENCE

INTERROGATING THE PRACTICAL POTENTIAL OF EVOLVING TECHNOLOGIES

Responding to the pressing need to ditch outmoded methods and take a lead from more dynamic industrial sectors, the Emerging Realities conference and exhibition will assess the breakthroughs that are set to revolutionise the construction arena.

In partnership with: with In partnership

Focusing on the future of evolving construction technologies, tools, processes and materials, the Emerging Realities Conference, taking place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry on 07 & 08 July 2020 – will bring together those with the insight to evaluate transformative innovations and explore how they can be used in a real-world context to radically advance how buildings are designed, developed and delivered.

Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution The latest onsite advances and sophisticated interconnected offsite manufacturing approaches have the capability to improve profitability and efficiency to create a smarter and more diverse industry. Expert speakers will reveal how emerging innovations can be assessed and selected to improve construction practices and the actions required to embrace the fourth industrial revolution.

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Under the banners of Technological, Productivity & Application – expert speakers will reveal how emerging advancements can be assessed and selected to improve construction practices and how to implement change.

Emerging Realities Conference will focus on the following speaker sessions: • Augment Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) • Artificial Intelligence (AI) • BIM Technologies • Drones & Production Robotics • Advanced Building Materials • 3D Scanning, Printing and Photogrammetry • Big Data & Predictive Analytics • Real Time Collaboration & Project Management Systems • Wireless Monitoring & Connected Equipment • Internet of Things & Blockchain Technologies

WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MARCH/APRIL 2020

Secure Your Delegate Place Emerging Realities will reveal how advancements can be assessed and selected to improve construction practices together with outlining the industry evolution required to implement change and embrace the fourth industrial revolution.

To network with like-minded industry professionals and gain valuable intelligence from those who are instrumental in driving change, visit: www.emergingrealities.co.uk

GET INVOLVED Choose from the range of Emerging Realities exhibition and sponsorship packages to secure exposure for your latest innovation. Packages can also offer networking, thought leadership, speaker and lead generation opportunities. To book an Emerging Realities exhibition or sponsorship package and align your business with those who are inspiring the evolution of the construction industry, contact: Stuart Maunder E: stuart.maunder@ radar-communications.co.uk T: 01743 290050

Speaker programme available online, visit: www.emergingrealities.co.uk

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THERMAL IMAGING

DEMONSTRATING EFFECTIVENESS

Joe Mazzon, Research Engineer at BSRIA outlines some of the ways that thermal imaging can improve energy efficiency in building design.

1 It is well known that buildings account for approximately 40% of the total energy we use. Based on this statistic, even a small improvement in energy efficiency in our buildings could have a huge impact on the environment.

A reduction in the amount of heat that escapes through a building envelope is one of the most important aspects of energy-efficient building design.

Keeping the heat within the confines of the conditioned area removes the necessity to supply more energy to the space.

On the flip side, the problem of overheating suggests that heat, and energy production, within a lightweight structure needs to be carefully managed for fear of increasing the internal temperatures to uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous levels. As is well known, the cost of cooling a space far exceeds the equivalent cost to heat a space.

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In an effort to keep the heat inside the building, a strategy to ensure attention to the airtightness and insulation detail throughout the construction process should be incorporated at the design stage. Consequently, to ensure that any negative effects associated with possible overheating and moisture ingress due to such an airtight structure are kept to a minimum, the construction must be designed with an appropriate ventilation strategy.

Challenges of Construction Methodology Each construction method faces individual challenges when considering the design of an energyefficient example of its product.

The design and construction of volumetric modules, for example, have huge efficiency benefits when considering the increased production and uniformity of manufacturing on an

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assembly line. However, the transport of each module and the assembly of multiple modules on-site can introduce areas of weakness in the overall building fabric that would not be apparent in the factory.

When considering timber frame, the junctions between frame elements can be subject to unexpected stresses and movement as the natural timbers settle into their new environment. These movements, no matter how small, can introduce significant air leakage paths into the building fabric and therefore have a negative contribution to the thermal performance of the finished building. In both of these examples, rigorous quality testing should be performed to ensure the quality of the end product, to ensure that it has been built and assembled to the designed specification.

THERMAL IMAGING

2 The Limitations of Airtightness Testing Airtightness testing demonstrates the ability of a building to hold air. The test generally involves using a fan to measure how much air needs to be blown into a building to achieve a certain pressure, a building with a more airtight building fabric will require less air through the fan. The value of the result, which is referred to as the permeability of the building fabric, is required by Building Regulations to have a maximum value of 10 m3h-1m2, although most buildings are specified lower than this at the design stage to achieve a lower EPC. The government stipulates that all new buildings must be airtightness tested before handover to ensure quality control.

Airtightness testing is a very good way to verify the quality of the building fabric. However it can only quantify how much air is coming through your building fabric, it cannot tell you where the air leakage paths are. In contrast, thermal imaging can tell you where the air is leaking but it cannot quantify how bad the air leakage is.

How Can Thermal Imaging Lead to Improved Energy Efficiency Thermal imaging of the building fabric is the use of a thermal imaging camera to observe and assess the thermal performance of building fabric elements. It allows us to ‘see’ the effects of the heat generated by the things around us, and also to ‘see’ the areas of the fabric that have the lowest thermal performance.

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When used to survey the building fabric, the camera shows temperature variations on the surfaces of the construction elements that suggest locations of air leakage, areas of thermal bridging and locations where the insulation continuity is broken and each of these issues will have a detrimental effect on the thermal performance of the building. The anomalies found often represent an area of the building that has not been built to specification, highlighting these areas allows the rectification and subsequent improvement works to take place before they become a problem to the occupier.

the building is occupied. If no anomalies are found then the building has documented proof that it has been built to the specified standard. This should mitigate overall disruption and occupier dissatisfaction.

The use of airtightness testing and thermal imaging is a relatively quick and cost-effective way to verify the performance of the building fabric of the end product, be it an assembly of volumetric modules or a ‘completed and wrapped’ timber frame.

For more information visit: www.bsria.com

Any thermal anomalies found during these surveys can be rectified before

The information collected during the survey can be fed back into the design process and further improvements can be made in future iterations of the product. In this way, these diagnostic tools can be used not only to maximise the energy efficiency of the current building but can also be used to improve the design and construction process of future projects as well.

Images: 01-04. Thermal imaging can be used to assess

the thermal performance of a new home

and the results can deliver huge lessons

in building design

MARCH/APRIL 2020 | WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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FUTURE HOMES STANDARD

THE ROUTE TO ZERO CARBON?

Consultation is closed on the Future Homes Standard (FHS). Its shape and recommendations for a more energy efficient and built environment are set for publication later this year and are no doubt set for controversy.

1 As published by the Government last year, the consultation sets out plans to increase the energy efficiency requirements for new homes. The FHS will require newbuild homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency – it will be introduced by 2025. The document is the first stage of a two-part consultation about proposed changes to the Building Regulations. It also covers the wider impacts of Part L for new homes, including changes to Part F, its associated Approved Document guidance, airtightness and improving as-built performance of the constructed home.

In many respects the FHS is a rehash of the Zero Carbon Homes standard that was set for introduction in 2016 but was unceremoniously binned a year before coming into force. With the FHS, new Parts L and F of the Building Regulations are set for a huge changes plus additional improvements in the rules to enforce them.

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Although renewable technology will play a key part – air and heat pumps, triple glazing and wastewater heat recovery systems – the main and long lasting changes will surround construction methods and the building fabric. Improvement to building fabric standards could result in a 20% reduction in carbon emissions with a 31% reduction recouped through fabric standards and renewable technologies. But as Julian Brooks, Network and Programme Manager at the Good Homes Alliance, has said: “It is best to make the building as energy efficient as you can before stuffing renewables on – you don’t want to be retrofitting houses in 20 years.”

Heavyweight pressure on the possible outcomes proposed by Government came recently from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), and the influential CCC Chair Lord Deben and Chair of the adaption committee Baroness Brown, whom in a letter addressed to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) welcomed the FHS and the proposals to tighten Part L of the Building Regulations but warned: “they do not go far enough.”

The CCC letter outlined a number of key recommendations and specific proposals including: a full definition of the FHS being set now and legislated ahead of 2024 to give market certainty and considering bringing forward the date for introducing the FHS plus FHS setting a framework for assessing the significant emissions in buildings materials. “By 2025 if not before, ultra-energy efficient homes are both achievable and highly beneficial (equivalent to close to Passivhaus standards), but it requires setting out the ambition now rapidly to upskill the workforce.”

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The CCC also points out that local authorities and cities to be able to set more stringent or earlier carbon targets if they can. The UKGBC and leaders of local authorities and city regions across England, including London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, have also been urging Government, to ‘bring forward the necessary strategies, policies and partnerships that will enable us to deliver against those commitments’ of the FHS. In an open letter to Robert Jenrick, they state: “New building standards are undoubtedly needed – but they must level us up collectively, rather than levelling down. We urge you to allow local authorities to retain the power to set higher requirements than national standards where this is demonstrably viable. We hope you agree that local leadership is absolutely central to achieving the Government’s commitment to net zero carbon. Restricting local powers would be entirely out of keeping with this.”

It is a national imperative to strive for an energy efficient, zero carbon future, but for many operating within the construction industry and offsite sector, the UK’s Building Regulations and national Standards need overhauling from top to bottom to keep up with technological advances and changing ways of delivering zero carbon homes, for now and for future generations.

For more information visit: www.theccc.org.uk

Images: 01. Energy and fabric efficiency are at the centre of future changes. Courtesy Project Etopia

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2020 OFFSITE HOUSING

HOW MODERN ARE YOUR METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION?

As with any industry, keeping on top of emerging trends and market intelligence is crucial to success. With so many advances in building technology, new entrants to the industry and updates to building regulations – construction professionals operating in the residential sector need to stay up to date if they want to remain competitive.

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1 Taking place at the NEC Gallery Suites, Birmingham on 30 June – 01 July, 2020 Offsite Housing is an excellent opportunity to gain industry insight and market intelligence. The conference and exhibition will bring together those who have the inside track on this rapidly changing sector and reveal how to tap into this lucrative market.

Taking Centre Stage Gain insight from those who are shaping the future of the offsite housing sector. The 2020 Offsite Conference brings together forwardthinking industry leaders to discuss the innovations and opportunities in the sector, including:

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Joseph Daniels – Project Etopia Offsite and eco cities of the future Joseph founded Project Etopia in 2015 at 23 and is CEO of Etopia Group. His ambition for the company was fuelled by the lack of security he faced as a young man, leading Joseph on a path to really drive change.

Etopia represents an idealism of an economic and environmental utopia. To be economic it must be scalable and affordable, to be environmental it must be sustainable and socially acceptable. Joseph began developing off the shelf smart and energy+ buildings that combine energy, construction and intelligent technologies to build the highest performing buildings that can truly

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create the smart, connected eco-cities of the future. A disruptive approach to the stagnant real estate industry in solving the housing crisis. Joseph will be discussing how offsite construction can enable technologies and eco cities of the future.

James Turner – Mikhail Riches Designing Passivhaus at Scale James is the Associate in charge of Goldsmith St, Hackney Small Sites and St Andrew’s Riverside using his experience of working with local authorities to deliver quality housing at scale. James has a general overview of all projects in the practice offering technical advice and experience to the team and mentoring Part 3 students in practice and contract management.

2020 OFFSITE HOUSING James led the completion of the Stirling prize winning Goldsmith St for Norwich City Council the largest 100% Passivhaus, 100% Social Housing scheme in the UK. He will be discussing how Passivhaus works at scale and how he aims to encourage more local authorities and developers to build to this standard at the scale and quality achieved at Goldsmith St. David Sheridan – ilke Homes ilke Homes Case Studies Including Bolton at Home with Engie and Victoria Park with St Modwen As Executive Chairman, David is responsible for leading ilke Homes’ executive team. Since launching in 2017, his vision is to grow the company into a top ten housebuilder, delivering 10,000 homes a year. David will be discussing various projects including the new development by Bolton at Home which will provide 15 threebedroom houses and 7 two-bedroom houses. They are the first modular houses to be installed in the Bolton area using offsite manufacturing; minimising disruption to local neighbours by easing congestion caused by construction traffic.

Valerie Owen – Swan Housing and NU Living Swan Housing, NU Living and the Watts Grove Development, London Valerie's career was recognised in 2015 with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the prestigious National Women in Construction Awards. In 2016, the Confederation of British Industry recognised her as the 'First Women' in the Build Environment Sector.

Swan Housing Association announced that the first of its precision engineered modular homes have been delivered to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets – making Watts Grove the UK’s first mid-rise CLT modular scheme.

Replacing an electrical substation, this scheme delivered by NU Living, is a design-led, innovative developer with an ethical stance, committed to putting customers first with homes that reflect 21st Century expectations and lifestyles.

3 30 June Speakers Include:

• Charlotte Taylor-Philip - Team Leader, Housebuilding Skills & MMC, MHCLG • Chris Pincher - Housing Minister (Invited) • Daniel Shea - Project Co-Ordinator, Barratt Development PLC • Darren Richards - Managing Director, Cogent Consulting • David Sheridan – Executive Chairman, ilke Homes • Gwen Beeken - Managing Director, Osco Homes • James Turner – Associate, Mikhail Riches • Renee Puusepp - CEO, Creatomus Solutions • Ryan Simmonds - Key Account Director, Sigmat • Simon Bayliss – Managing Partner, HTA Design • Stewart Dalgarno - Director of Product Development, Stewart Milne Group • Valerie Owen – Chair, Swan Housing • A representative from NHBC to be confirmed

4 01 July Speakers Include:

• Adam Challis - Executive Director, EMEA Capital Markets Research & Strategy, JLL • Ben Treleaven – Co-Founder and Managing Director, ISO Spaces • Darren Jones - Associate, shedkm • Joseph Daniels - CEO and Founder, Project Etopia • Julie Alexander - Director of Technology and Innovation, Places for People • Nathan Annand - Group Product Manager – Industrial Products, Hadley Group • Peter Burchill - LBS Business Development Manager, EOS Group • Richard Whittaker - Director of Development, Citizen Housing • Yasmin Ali-Ani Spence - Director, WilkinsonEyre Images: 01-04. Speakers from all four corners of the housing sector will talk about future challenges

GET INVOLVED

HOUSING

The two-day event will demonstrate how migrating construction from the building site to a quality-controlled factory environment will accelerate the building process, increase productivity and create a new generation of high-quality housing stock. The event format provides a dynamic and interactive learning experience for all visitors through presentations and a wide array of exhibitors.

Tickets are £125 + VAT for one day and £225 + VAT for the full two-day event which includes parking, lunch and refreshments.

50% Discount for Registered Social Landlords and Social Housing Providers, contact yvonne.beach@radar-communications.co.uk for discount code.

Exhibition and Sponsorship Packages The conference and exhibition will provide an excellent marketing opportunity for companies who want to tap into the huge prospects in the lucrative offsite housing sector.

For more information call: Julie Williams on 01743 290 001 or email: julie.williams@radar-communications.co.uk

MARCH/APRIL 2020 | WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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HOUSING

ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE

Chris Coxon, Head of Marketing at Eurocell – one of the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U window and door systems – illustrates how offsite construction can solve the social housing shortfall. systems can be connected to the cavity barrier within the factory and then the whole assembly is taken to the building site in one piece and inserted directly into the building’s frame.

1 The good-fast-cheap Venn diagram says that you can only ever have two out of these three. However, the pressures being placed on today’s construction industry makes it feel like all three of these things have to be achieved while simultaneously being packaged in with sustainability, longevity, aesthetics, safety and security.

This is especially true for social housing developments, which need to be built quickly and in large numbers to meet a national shortfall, while simultaneously complying with strict regulatory guidelines. Increasing the provision of housing was a key theme in the government’s recent budget, which promised £12billion to extend the Affordable Homes Programme.

This drive for more social housing is not just a government requirement but is also a demand coming from the country’s tenants. Indeed, when we asked 1,000 consumers about their priorities for the homes of tomorrow, over one-in-four said that social housing should be a significant priority within the UK’s housing mix.

Offsite construction provides some key advantages to the social housing sector. By embracing standardised factory processes and modularisation it’s possible to make sure that large quantities of high-quality building materials can be created, transported

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2 and installed quickly without sacrificing on functionality or performance. By utilising economies of scale this also means that savings can be achieved – therefore completing the third wheel in the impossible Venn diagram.

The ability to combine longevity with low-cost, easy installation is a particular asset for developments that require long-term payback rather than quick turn-around sales, which again feeds into the suitability of offsite construction methods for social housing.

This focus on maximising value without cutting on quality was a key theme in the Chancellor’s newly announced plans. In the recent budget, an interest rate cut was announced for lending on social housing in order to make more than £1billion of discounted loans available for local infrastructure.

The timescale advantages of offsite construction methods also make it all the more relevant, as a target of nearly 70,000 new homes has been set for high-demand areas across the country.

Without increasing productivity and speeding up the building schedule, it’s going to be very difficult to meet this goal.

At Eurocell, we know that the window and surrounding framework is a good example of how offsite construction methods can benefit building projects.

Fully glazed and finished window

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By packaging multiple building components together into one system, specifiers can reduce the amount of time they spend shopping around from different sources. In addition, suppliers can guarantee that whole chunks of the building conform to building regulations, as they know exactly what’s gone into it and what it’s certified for. Proving that not only one product, but also the several dozen other products connected to it, will deliver on the project’s long-term needs, takes away a lot of the uncertainty and risk during the purchasing decision. This means that offsite methods not only speed up the building process, but also make the design and planning stages move at a quicker pace.

We are seeing all these factors combine to make offsite solutions increasingly popular within the specification of building materials for newbuild and refurbishment social housing projects. Moving forward, it’s important that the construction industry innovates to provide the offsite building materials that developers will need to make sure that the next generation of social housing sits in the middle of the government’s timeline, standards and budget Venn diagram.

For more information visit: www.eurocell.co.uk Images: 01. The classic Good Fast Cheap Venn diagram 02. Modular building has a big role to play in future urban PRS developments

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WASTE REDUCTION

OFFSITE AND THE ROUTE TO ZERO WASTE

The Green Construction Board have worked with Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Defra to develop an interpretation of zero avoidable waste in construction and subsequently to develop a route map of how it might be delivered.

1 The result of this partnership is a new industry report, published in February 2020 – ‘Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction: what do we mean by it and how best to interpret it.’ As the report points out: ‘Zero Avoidable Waste’ in construction means preventing waste being generated at every stage of a project’s lifecycle, from the manufacture of materials and products, the design, specification, procurement and assembly of buildings and infrastructure through to deconstruction. At the end of life, products, components and materials should be recovered at the highest possible level of the waste hierarchy, i.e. reused before being recycled, whilst ensuring minimal environmental impact.

The role offsite manufacture plays in reducing waste across the construction sector is therefore huge. From the minimisation of waste material and recycling rates in the factory right

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2 through to the reduced time and less material waste on-site. Buildings can also be deconstructed at end of life for recycling or reuse – contributing to the circular economy.

“Going forward, the construction sector is changing as digitalisation and offsite manufacturing take greater prominence,” say Robert Pearce and Jane Thornback, CoChairs of the Green Construction Board Resources & Waste Task Group. “The Construction Sector Deal developed under the Industrial Strategy and agreed between industry and government seeks to develop a construction industry fit for the future using the most advanced techniques and delivering goals of greater productivity, new skills, lower carbon, and greater business opportunities.

“These new technologies will have a key role to play in helping to deliver a more resourceful and less wasteful

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industry, one that is able to design from the outset for more durable and adaptable buildings and structures and which help create a digital memory of what has gone into a structure, how it has been maintained, repaired or replaced and thus at end of life what materials are available for reuse, recycling or recovery.”

The construction sector is the largest user of materials in the UK and produces the biggest waste stream in terms of tonnage. Waste statistics collated by Defra show that in 2016, 63% (120 million tonnes) of the total waste stream in England (189 million tonnes) was attributed to construction, demolition and excavation waste. So understanding the ‘interplay between material choices’, carbon reduction, durability and adaptability must be underpinned by life-cycle assessment across the whole construction lifecycle.

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WASTE REDUCTION

3 At every stage of the construction process there are different opportunities for different professions in construction to reduce waste, and reuse or recycle products, components and buildings, and for materials to move up the ‘waste hierarchy’ so that ultimately material resources can continue to flow around a circular economy. These opportunities are available to clients, designers, material suppliers, product manufacturers, distributors and contractors.

Avoidable construction waste is interpreted as materials, products or components that can be prevented from becoming waste. Examples include designing out waste for new buildings by designing for better resource efficiency and for deconstruction and disassembly, efficient manufacturing processes, extending the life of buildings, disassembly for reuse and reducing surplus materials.

A key point is that the expected increase in offsite manufacturing could mean that more waste is recorded in statistics as being generated from manufacturing rather than classified in statistics as construction sector waste.

The waste from each life cycle stage of the construction process is considered separately in terms of the waste types, the activity generating it, the ability for it to be avoided and/or recovered, along with the role of offsite delivery.

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Waste from manufacturing activities will depend on the processes used, as it is often reused back into the manufacturing process and often not ever classified as a waste. This will include waste generated from offsite manufacture. With the move to more offsite manufacture, there is a need to understand the waste generated at the plant versus generated onsite. There may be more end of life issues for offsite systems, as they may have more complex materials/products combined that are harder to separate.

The Construction Sector Deal sets out an ambitious partnership between the industry and the government that aims to transform the sector’s productivity through innovative technologies and a more highly skilled workforce. The Sector Deal builds on Construction 2025, published by the government and the Construction Leadership Council in 2013, and provides the framework for a sector that delivers: • 33% reduction in the cost of construction and the whole-life cost of assets • 50% reduction in the time taken from inception to completion of newbuild • 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment –supporting the Industrial Strategy’s Clean Growth Grand Challenge • 50% reduction in the trade gap between total exports and total imports of construction products and materials .

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4 These goals will be met by focusing on three areas: digital techniques, offsite manufacturing and whole-life asset performance. The government and the sector are investing in the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) Transforming Construction programme, as well as supporting training and infrastructure projects.

The report includes an in-depth discussion of the factors that have been considered to arrive at an interpretation of zero avoidable waste in construction and is set to inform a subsequent route map to be prepared by the end of 2020 to identifying recommendations and timescales for industry and government. Offsite manufacture is perfectly placed to capitalise on the central tenets of the circular economy and the natural reduction in waste via the efficient factory environment, Kanban system and component standardisation.

The Green Construction Board (GCB) is the sustainability workstream of the Construction Leadership Council.

For more information and to download a copy of the report: ‘Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction: What do we mean by it and how best to interpret it,’ visit: http://bit.ly/38RenxV Images: 01.

Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction

report 02-04. Factory controlled manufacture is a key

route to minimising construction waste

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PRECAST KING AT KINGSTON

1 With a mission statement of ‘purpose beyond profit’, Willmott Dixon has long adopted innovative techniques to improve the built environment. Using offsite construction, they are improving productivity and quality with Town House at Kingston University.

From addressing the climate emergency to tackling labour shortages, the construction industry has its fair share of challenges to confront to ensure it’s suitably equipped to handle our growing population and meet the associated infrastructure demands.

Advances in technology in recent years have meant that offsite construction are paving the way for solving these issues. As well as Building Information Modelling (BIM), offsite construction has become increasingly popular.

Although currently it only accounts for 12 to 15% of new construction activity, it is expected to see a 30% year-onyear increase.

Willmott Dixon has extensive experience in offsite manufacturing having used it in most sectors including housing, healthcare, offices, retail and leisure. This has included lightweight

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steel and timber frame, factoryassembled bathrooms or pods, cross laminated timber (CLT) and precast concrete. To date, it has successfully delivered over 7,000 light gauge steel frame and timber frame units.

These have included projects being programmed and built around 20 to 30% faster than traditional construction, a reduction in heating bills thanks to high thermal performance and airtightness and high quality internal finishes due to the accuracy of the factory assembly process.

However, housing is just one area where it has seen a positive impact from utilising offsite construction methods. ‘Bespoke designs’ are also receiving Willmott Dixon’s offsite construction treatment. One such project where it has paid dividends for the company was its recently completed project for Kingston University – Town House. The vision was to create a front door to the community and replace Kingston University’s old, 3000sq m pre-fabricated temporary meeting and office space on Penrhyn Road with a 9400sq m bespoke, landmark building that complemented nearby architecture and was entirely sympathetic to its surroundings.

Utilising a precast concrete frame,

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the design, which is reflective of the external cloisters seen in Northern European architecture, features open spaces and high ceilings with more than 50% of the accommodation open plan.

“The precast concrete frame is integral to Town House’s design,” says Tony Mingoia, Senior Operations Manager at Willmott Dixon, and Project Director.

“Exposed concrete runs throughout the entirety of the building and there are no surface fixings meaning it is open to close scrutiny. Precision and perfection were paramount – there was no room for blemishes or air pockets, which would have ruined the sleek finish. This was one of the reasons behind using precast concrete rather than cast in-situ reinforced concrete.

“Initially we looked at how we could work around the design. There were a lot of constraints on site as it is quite a small plot. We recognised quite early on that using precast concrete was the best way forward for the frame.

Normally, one of the factors that helps sway the decision to use precast concrete is the amount of repetition through the design. Aside from the beam and column section size, there is very little repetition at Town House.

CONCRETE

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“Ductwork for services, pipes, cables and communications is cast within each structural member. There are hardly any two sections that are exactly the same. The goodwill of our neighbours, avoiding disturbing residents and the day-to-day working of the University, as well as the speed of erection, were also attractive benefits of the precast solution.”

Effective collaboration with the supply chain is a huge contributing factor to a successful outcome for offsite construction methods. “BIM was a key component to creating Town House,” adds Tony. “We wanted this project to be BIM Level 2 and fortunately our supply chain really embraced this to great benefit. Fortnightly design meetings were held between precast frame supplier PCE and mechanical and electrical specialists DES Group and CMB Engineering. Together the team was able to incorporate the completed M&E design within the frame immediately. These meetings continued throughout construction to manage clash detection.”

Willmott Dixon’s trusted supply chain partners are key to its drive to continue using offsite construction as much as possible. It works closely

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with manufacturers which fabricate the product components in factories, as well as specialist contractors with the expertise to assemble them on site.

of construction, accurate costs, higher quality, better safety and, ultimately, a more sustainable approach to construction across the industry.”

“We have the expertise in house to advise on project feasibility, design, and potential cost, plus all relevant regulations and standards involving offsite manufacturing but the whole supply chain has to be on board for it to work,” says Tony.

“This one team approach is essential to reaping the rewards that offsite manufacturing brings, including speed

For further information visit: www.willmottdixon.co.uk/expertise/ off-site-manufacturing Images: 01-05. The Town House project has seen the exemplary use of offsite methods using precast concrete

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CASE STUDY

CONCRETE

PRECAST TAKES STARRING ROLE AT DENHAM STUDIOS

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1 Two stunning sweeping helical Kallisto staircase flights form the centrepiece of a prestige residential development at the iconic former film studio.

The two four metre diameter flights, weighing in at over 11 tonnes each, were designed by John Pardey Architects and manufactured by hand by precast specialists Milbank in Essex for the refurbishment of Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire.

In its 1940s and 50s heyday, Denham Studios was a thriving film production studio producing classic British films such as Brief Encounter and Great Expectations. The site has now been lovingly developed to provide 224 conversion and newbuild homes, including 154 one, two and threebedroom apartments and 70 four and five-bedroom family townhouses.

Features within the new development include a cinema with bar and a community hall/fitness space. The cinema – which was originally used to screen movies to Hollywood directors – including Stanley Kubrick, Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and Steven Spielberg – has been refurbished and turned

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into a cinema theatre and club for residents, while the main Grade II listed building has been converted into 49 apartments.

working with architects, engineers and designers to produce stunning, durable precast spiral staircase installations.

In keeping with the high specification of the site, sleek aesthetics were a top priority for the developers Weston Homes, whose watchword for the development was luxury. The spectacular Kallisto staircases, which spiral up through the central lobby with stunning marble clad steps, maintain the bold art deco theme with the clean lines and luxe finish redolent of the original building’s design.

Kallisto – a specialist division of precast concrete specialists Milbank – has been commissioned to produce bespoke precast spiral staircases for some of the most prestigious venues in the UK, working with architects, engineers and designers to bring their design vision to reality. The company manages the entire process from design and manufacture to delivery and installation. From design support through to delivery, Milbank can make any product in concrete that can be visualised. The company’s extensive manufacturing facilities are sited in Essex and backed with a full delivery fleet, crane hire, and a qualified and experienced technical team offering advice and guidance on all aspects of precast concrete construction.

The architects had a clear design vision for the project, an effective balance of modern functionality and old-style glamour, and they turned to the team at Kallisto to help them realise that vision in concrete. The technical and production teams at Kallisto have developed a unique ability to create curved stairs, spiral stairs, and concrete cantilever steps from literally any design an architect or designer can envision. This expertise has been commissioned for bespoke staircase installations in some of the most prestigious venues in the UK,

WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MARCH/APRIL 2020

For more information visit: www.kallistostairs.co.uk Images: 01-03. The stunning precast staircases bring period style to the iconic, refurbished film studio

Offsite Concrete Solutions | Cladding Precast concrete cladding offers opportunities to create high quality facades requiring little maintenance. It provides a weatherproof envelope, while fulfilling architectural, structural and other requirements in terms of fire resistance, thermal performance and sound insulation. Panels can be delivered with windows, insulation, and balcony connections pre-fitted in the factory thus further accelerating the construction programme.

For more information on precast concrete cladding, and other offsite concrete applications for building structures, download the free ‘Offsite Concrete Construction’ publication at www.concretecentre.com/publications @concretecentre Images (clockwise from top): Victoria Gate, Leeds; BBC Wales HQ; Burntwood School, London and V&A Dundee.

CONCRETE

TALL CONSTRUCTION: POWERED BY PRECAST

As the population grows there is a greater demand for homes, particularly in urban areas. One solution to this is building tall with precast concrete and hybrid design providing many of the answers. a fire. Following recent fires, at Grenfell Tower and in Barking, there are now restrictions on using combustible materials for cladding and balconies.

Concrete is non-combustible and continues to be permitted, even for high-risk residential buildings.

Concrete meets the vibration criteria for most buildings without any change to the normal design, this saves cost and programme.

1 To realise its full potential, a tall building must satisfy many varying objectives, including efficient layout, minimal circulation space and structural footprint, density of use, efficient services provision, speed of construction, cost, appearance and safety.

Offsite concrete solutions can provide everything from whole building and structural systems, to precast construction components, including walls, stairs and floors, that are essential to meeting the need for multi-storey construction. Thorough consideration of construction options at an early design stage is critical to optimising the speed of construction, structural performance and delivery of

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the most economical frame for each project. It is not necessary to take an ‘all precast or no precast approach’ to design. The most economical solution might well be a hybrid concrete solution, using a mix of cast, in situ and factory-produced precast units.

When building tall, there are some key performance characteristics to consider including fire performance, thermal mass and vibration. Concrete has inherent fire resistance – it does not burn and has low heat conductivity and therefore does not need additional treatments to achieve fire performance standards. Concrete achieves the best fire rating possible under European fire standards and maintains structural capacity longer than other materials in

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A concrete structure has a high thermal mass. By reducing the building's heating and cooling energy load, and potentially avoiding the need for air conditioning, there is a reduction in operational and maintenance carbon emissions and energy costs. Exposed concrete, typically slab soffits, allows the fabric energy storage to regulate temperature swings. The high-quality finish of precast concrete, whether exposed or painted, is an excellent means of providing the internal surfaces of concrete necessary to optimise the use of thermal mass.

Thermal mass is not the only means by which precast concrete can provide excellent thermal performance. Its smooth surfaces offer an excellent solid backing for placing insulation against, either on-site or in the factory, thereby reducing the risk of thermal bridging. Insulated concrete sandwich panels provide a slender, high performance wall construction that can deliver structure, surface finish and thermal performance in one element. Low conductivity connectors and rigid insulation reduce thermal bridging and the concrete provides continuous protection to the insulation from damage during construction and occupation.

Structures up to and including 22 storeys have been completed in the UK using crosswall construction. This efficient method of construction uses

CONCRETE precast floors and load-bearing walls, and is ideal for buildings of a cellular nature, for example hotels, student accommodation and apartments.

Load-bearing walls across the building provide the means of primary vertical support and lateral stability, with longitudinal stability achieved by external wall panels or diaphragm action taken through the slab to the lift cores or staircases. Crosswall construction provides an efficient frame without structural downstands, resulting in a structural floor zone typically of 200 to 250mm, helping to maintain a high degree of sound insulation between floors.

Crosswall construction normally includes staircases and core walls as part of the precast system, allowing safe and easy access to all floors as the construction progresses. The cost savings from these and other benefits should be fully considered when comparing the costs with alternative structures.

Crosswall buildings are quick to erect, offering the client a rapid room occupancy programme. As an indication, six to eight rooms can

be erected in a day and the lead time will be 12 weeks. Generally, the walls are sized to be as thin as possible to increase the net floor area. There may be occasions when a thicker wall is required, such as in tall buildings where there are high compressive loads, or adjacent to long floor spans where there are high bending moments due to the notional eccentricity of the wall.

Typically, as soon as the ceiling units at roof level are erected, external cladding/brickwork, window installation and internal first fix can commence. It is also possible for following trades to start before the precast erection is complete. Minimal finishing is needed within each room, which reduces the overall construction programme. Exterior walls can be constructed as fully-finished sandwich panels, which removes the need for scaffolding. The wall finishes can include brick, concrete or render, giving a wide range of options to choose from.

There are many advantages to building tall in concrete, from inherent fire resistance to thermal

2 mass. Additionally, precast concrete solutions, such as crosswall, can be used to deliver good quality finishes and faster construction times, meaning the need for high performing homes can be met sooner.

For more information visit: www.concretecentre.com Images: 01. Student accommodation at University Locks, Birmingham. Š Paul Miller Photography.

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CASE STUDY

CONCRETE

A NEW FACE IN TOWN

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1 FP McCann’s architectural cladding panels were specified on a new building at University College Birmingham and brought a speedy and efficient offsite solution to the project.

FP McCann’s structural precast concrete building and architectural facades division has supplied the complete package of architectural precast cladding components on a brand new teaching facility for University College Birmingham (UCB).

The £29million project is the latest phase of the University’s £100million redevelopment of its campus based in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter.

Moss House, the new four-storey undergraduate and postgraduate building covers an area of 8,500m2 and comprises lecture theatres, learning areas and a 35m indoor running track as well as a 160 space multi-storey car park.

Undertaking the building construction on behalf of client UCB, main contractor Kier has completed the project designed by Glenn Howells Architects in conjunction with design engineer Couch Consulting. The Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham is noted for its red brick architecture and

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the design and build project reflects the surrounding warehouse buildings.

Working with an in-situ reinforced concrete frame installed by Thames Formwork, FP McCann was set the design brief for the architectural façade panels consisting of red brick and terracotta-faced cladding panels.

In total 361 individual precast concrete architectural units were supplied from McCann’s Grantham factory and installed in 13 weeks, well within the 15 week programme as scheduled.

Working on behalf of FP McCann, cladding panel installer RLH used a combination of a mobile and tower crane, eliminating the need for any scaffolding on the building. Some 130,000+ individual handmade ‘Burlington Orange’ bricks supplied

by Taylor Maxwell were cast on at the factory and pointed with mortar coloured – Tarmac Yellow Buff – as specified by the architect. The architectural panels also include terracotta cills and lintels as supplied by specialist NBK in Germany and fixed at Grantham to the grey concrete walling panels.

Additionally, FP McCann supplied to the building the corner and ‘L’ shaped precast brick-faced concrete columns.

To allow for fixing of the cladding panels which were secured floor-

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3 by-floor, FP McCann designed and supplied bespoke brackets.

The architectural facade team at FP McCann worked closely with the engineers and architects on the project to ensure all aspects of the build met the exacting client specification.

Commenting on the completed project, John Leo, Senior Project Manager for Kier said: “This method of architectural precast concrete/brickfaced construction demonstrates a number of efficiencies compared with practices associated with a traditional build. The offsite manufacturing of the building components offers significant advantages in terms of product quality and integrity. On-site, speed of construction, minimising waste and the ability to work uninterrupted in all weather conditions are all major benefits. Additionally, the external facade system removes the need for scaffolding and wet trades thereby minimising the health and safety risk factors associated with people working at height.”

For further information visit: www.fpmccann.co.uk Images: 01-03. The panels reflect the red brick architecture of the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham and the surrounding warehouse buildings

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BUILDING PRODUCTS

AHEAD OF THE CONSTRUCTION CURVE

Leading masonry manufacturer Forterra has launched a cuttingedge brick slip system ideal for use in a range of construction and architectural projects, furthering the company’s commitment to developing modern construction methods.

1 SureBrick is the most advanced brick slip system available to date. It offers unparalleled features and benefits without the risks or limitations of previous brick slip systems, combining inbuilt advantages – the system is lightweight, non-combustible and slips are mechanically retained – with practical benefits, including extensive architectural flexibility: simple, flexible installation and cost efficiency.

In terms of its versatility, SureBrick is suitable for use in all newbuild and refurbishment projects, from public or high-rise buildings to volumetric modular construction. It can be fixed

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to a variety of backing wall types, including steel framing systems, timber frame and concrete.

From a design perspective, the system is compatible with any 65mm frost-resistant brick and can easily incorporate traditional brick detailing and brick coursing alignments. Projects that require brick matching with local product types or existing buildings can also be accommodated. These thousands of design variances provide the scope for remarkable flexibility and individuality for architects and design teams.

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When it comes to the system’s technical properties, SureBrick is the result of extensive development and rigorous performance testing, ranging from exposure to thermal and weather cycles, to fire, impact, corrosion and wind load resistance.

SureBrick’s installation process is a remarkably straightforward one.

Firstly, SureBrick Rails are fixed to a secondary supporting structure (subframe) using A2 stainless-steel fixings through pre-punched holes in the rail. SureBrick Rails can be stacked a maximum of five courses high before

BUILDING PRODUCTS

2

3 In terms of SureBrick’s onsite advantages, it is simple to install, removing the need for highlytrained construction workers, and can be adjusted to accommodate site tolerances. The mechanical fix eliminates long-term risks relating to poor installation and weather.

Moreover, the system renders buildings windproof and watertight early in the construction programme, contributing to a faster and more costeffective build process overall.

4 fixings need to be inserted, provided that they are self-supporting and weather conditions permit this. In order to achieve architectural detailing – soldier courses and bonded effects, for example – SureBrick Rails can be installed vertically allowing heights up to a maximum of 675mm.

Once the rails are fixed in place, the brick slips can be inserted. The groove in the top of the brick slip must be slotted carefully into the rail’s upper tab, and the slip rotated so that the bottom rests against the rail’s lower tab. The brick slip can be moved horizontally within the rail if required.

The next step is pointing, in which joints must be fully filled with a traditional mortar blend. If the brick slips have a high-water absorption of more than 10%, joints should be wetted down prior to pointing. The mortar should then be tooled off after it has formed a semi-dry surface skin and lost its initial sheen. Finally, the finishing process involves protecting

the top of the system with an adequate overhang, or by an adequately sealed, purpose-made flashing or trim.

Richard Willetts, Forterra’s Head of Design, Technical Services and MMC, explains the thinking and support behind SureBrick: “SureBrick has been comprehensively researched with the input of architects, specifiers and clients, enabling us to develop a brick slip system fully in line with the requirements of the construction sector today.

“Whilst existing systems are ideal for domestic buildings and architecturally simple constructions, SureBrick goes higher in every sense: tested for extreme exposure and fire safe, its application offers unprecedented flexibility. Alongside the system itself, we provide a dedicated support service from conception to completion, encompassing design assistance, installation training, delivery and a contact for onsite advice.”

Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive of Forterra, says: “SureBrick is an outstanding example of the pioneering work we’re doing at Forterra to develop increasingly sophisticated, modern methods of construction. This system offers an exceptional range of design and implementation options, direct solutions and indirect benefits as standard. Alongside our brick, block and clayware ranges, and with our accompanying technical and support services, SureBrick strengthens our provision of the total product solution for the UK construction market.”

For more information visit: www.forterra.co.uk/surebrick or to find out more about Forterra’s wider product range go to: www.forterra.co.uk Images: 01. SureBrick offers unparalleled features and benefits without the risks or limitations of previous brick slip systems 02-04. Brick slip systems are a popular and precision construction option

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BUILDING PRODUCTS

CHALLENGE & CHANGE

With over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry and a staunch supporter of innovation and offsite construction, Mitch Gee, Director, SPSenvirowall questions why the wider building industry is so slow to adapt. on-site. Complete factory production doesn’t always meet the objectives of fast track construction, and installation of the cladding element on-site may allow for shorter build times and improved aesthetics. By identifying the responsibility for the exterior facade early in the design process, whether this is delivered by the modular provider, client or main contractor, the challenge is easily overcome.

1 With the aim of boosting housing supply, tackling the national housing shortage, and achieving the Government’s 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s is an ambitious one.

Described as the silver bullet solution to the housing crisis, offsite modular construction should be seen as a viable solution given all of its advantages compared to traditional methods – the benefits of are undeniable. It offers quick construction, consistent quality-controlled assembly in a factory environment, greater volume in repetition while relying less on weather, traditional skills and provides a step-change in productivity and efficiency.

Currently, the internal infrastructures for planning and procurement of offsite modular construction are unfit to meet the housing demands.

Not only are there misconceptions surrounding offsite modular, but there are also challenges still left to solve before the wider adoption of this style of construction.

Local Authorities aren’t yet seeing the importance of utilising offsite construction to meet their housing supply targets. Given that offsite is

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2 deemed to be at least 20% more expensive than traditional construction and requires significantly more upfront costs, investment and ultimately commitment from the start. This is partly due to the procurement methodology whereby public-bodied money must first go through a framework or a competitive tendering process.

Quantity surveyors should also begin thinking differently to the conventional tendering process by assessing the overall construction costs, without making direct comparisons with traditional methods, while also considering the value of shorter build programmes and less snagging.

Added value and enhanced revenue will be quickly realised via early delivery prelim costs by taking a holistic view on a commercial contract.

An additional challenge identified is that offsite manufacturers operate differently to each other in terms of their design and approach, when considering the use of an exterior pre-finished product. While some may complete 90% or more within the factory environment, others offer panelised systems or unfinished volumetric boxes for completion

WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MARCH/APRIL 2020

SPSenvirowall understands that the management of risk is always an important consideration. For this reason, we engaged with Building Life Plans (BLP) and Lloyds Register to undertake the Build Offsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS) accreditation, which provides 60-year product and process assurance for RendaClad.

This proprietary façade replaces the need to build a structural masonry outer leaf. The system ensures a fully-ventilated and drained cavity is maintained within the wall structure, meeting the requirements of the NHBC and TRADA. It can be applied to any wall structure, lightweight steel frame or masonry construction. With the application of RendaClad, the highperformance solution reduces overall construction time and costs. The panels, thin coat renders are quicker and more cost-effective than the laying of traditional bricks and application of thick Monocouche renders.

RendaClad can be applied in-factory or on-site, its cost-effective nature ensures enhanced revenue and quick delivery for the developer.

For more information visit: www.spsenvirowall.co.uk Images: 01-02. Identifying the responsibility for the exterior facade early in the design process is essential

High quality bespoke facade solutions for every project...

The SPSenvirowall brick finish range provides the traditional appearance of a brick finished building but with the technology of a lightweight mineral brick slip.

Whatever your needs, we have a wide choice of brick facades to enhance any type of construction.

For more information about our range of cladding and facades or to order a free sample, call us on 01535 661633.

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OFFSITE EXPO

SECURE YOUR PLACE AT THE OFFSITE EVENT OF THE YEAR

In 2019 OFFSITE EXPO exceeded expectations attracting 2,874 unique visitors, over 100 professionals with purchasing power participated in the Offsite Connect Buyers and Specifiers Forum, in excess of 100 exhibiting companies promoted offsite solutions and smart technologies and more than 40 hours of CPD Accredited presentations took place.

The feedback was universal OFFSITE EXPO was a highly focused event - and was acknowledged as featuring the most informative and inspiring content. Plans are now well underway for this year’s event.

OFFSITE EXPO will be taking place on 22-23 September 2020 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

Explore: Offsite Masterclasses With over 100 speakers across the two days, gain insights and learn from the best - meet experts offering in-depth analysis and technical knowhow in an extensive range of CPD Accredited Offsite Masterclasses – all free to attend.

Presented by a host of UK industry pioneers in dedicated theatres, the Explore Offsite Masterclasses will focus on key industry innovations and will provide a comprehensive and balanced perspective on this rapidly emerging and advancing sector.

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Call for Papers The masterclass programme will be announced early-May. If you have a ground-breaking project that you would like to present at OFFSITE EXPO, contact Jodie Giblin on 01743 290024 or email jodie. giblin@radar-communications.co.uk to find out how you can get involved.

Experience: Offsite Connect Buyers & Specifiers Forum The greatest success of the 2019 event for many, were the business development opportunities secured in the Offsite Connect Buyers and Specifiers Forum, which was a hive of activity and open exclusively to exhibitors. With over 100 buyers and specifiers participating from high profile construction companies such as Mace, Willmott Dixon, Kier, Balfour Beatty, Galliford Try and NHS – over 330 business meetings took place and feedback from both the buyers and exhibitors has been outstanding.

Participating buyer, Julian Humphreys,

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Programme Manager at Community Health Partnerships said: ‘Offsite Connect was a very useful forum that enabled contact with organisations associated with the offsite market, and I established a number of new connections. The offsite market is expanding, and the event provided an opportunity to explore new opportunities and new products at a single location, making OFFSITE EXPO a very efficient and cost-effective method of networking.’

If you have influence over procurement or specification decisions and would like to take part in structured, highly effective meetings with new and existing offsite industry suppliers, contact Jessica Holland on 01743 290044 or email jessica. holland@radar-communications.co.uk

BUYERS AND SPECIFIERS FORUM

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To view the free resources, and the publications available visit:

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OFFSITE EXPO SILVER PLUS EXHIBITOR

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OFFSITE EXPO

Expect: Smart Technologies Architects, engineers, specifiers, contractors, developers and clients will be able to view the widest display of new and innovative offsite solutions within the built environment and interact with an extensive range of offsite technologies including: • Framing Solutions in Concrete, Timber and Steel • Modular Volumetric Systems • Bathroom and Kitchen Pods • Pre-engineered MEP Building Services • Prefabricated Building Components • Digital/ BIM/Augmented Reality (AR)/ Virtual Reality (VR) With over 100 exhibitors, features and offsite technology showcases, OFFSITE EXPO will provide practical knowledge for visitors who will be able to interact directly with offsite technology suppliers and full-scale features.

Exposure: Get involved as an exhibitor or sponsor With over 75% of the inaugural exhibitors and sponsors rebooking for the 2020 event, construction businesses are advised not to leave it too late to book promotional packages

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to ensure they maximise this highly targeted business opportunity.

Julie Williams, Business Development Director said: ‘The response to OFFSITE EXPO has been truly astounding, as we enter Q2 the exhibition is close to selling out. It is really inspiring to see the world of offsite gathering to showcase the latest technology options and innovations within the sector. The event’s

positioning, content and timing reflects the mood within the construction sector and the buzz around this show is exceptional.’

For more information on getting involved in OFFSITE EXPO 2020 as an Exhibitor or Sponsor contact Julie Williams on 01743 290042 or email: julie.williams@ radar-communications.co.uk

NEW FOR 2020: OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION AWARDS RELOCATES TO OFFSITE EXPO It is not only the exhibition that has exciting development plans, for the first time OFFSITE EXPO 2020 will host the dynamic and innovative Offsite Construction Awards. After the high demand for tickets last year, this move will give the team behind the Awards room to expand and build the event.

The Awards will be keeping to the tradition of previous years; however, it is not only the venue that is changing with three new categories, the Offsite Awards is expanding its reach and reflecting the wider adoption of offsite technology. These new categories include Building Performance Pioneer Award which focuses on the importance of energy efficiency post build and International Offsite Project of the Year – opening the Awards to worldwide entries. The Housing Project of the Year has also been split into Private Housing and Social Housing.

The deadline for submissions is the 15 May 2020, with the finalists being announced ahead of the Award ceremony which will take place at OFFSITE EXPO on the 22 September 2020. For more information or to enter the Offsite Construction Awards, visit: www.offsiteawards.co.uk

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OFFSITE EXPO SILVER EXHIBITOR

MODULAR APPROACHES ARE REVOLUTIONISING CONSTRUCTION

Volumetric modular construction is at the forefront of offsite techniques.

These solutions arguably form a modern method of construction that is experiencing entirely different growth trends to that of other offsite approaches. Here, MPBA Chief Executive Jackie Maginnis discusses the offsite arena and examines the uptake in modular construction. will see Sekisui House partner with Homes England and Urban Splash.

This agreement will also see a £55m investment into Urban Splash but the largest deal by far was revealed by ilke Homes’ involving a £100m agreement with Places for People.

Despite recent reports that suggest government departments are not adopting a presumption in favour of offsite, the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) has research which shows volumetric modular construction is undergoing a period of considerable growth. Over 50% of our membership supplied detailed financial information to support the MPBA’s survey report commissioned through the University of Salford. This market intelligence from 2018 – 2019, provides evidence of a turnover in the modular and portable building sector that exceeds £2,956million.

This figure excludes the turnover from the major players who have recently entered the volumetric modular arena including banking giant Goldman Sachs, investing £75m into modular housing business, TopHat, as well as Japan's biggest housebuilder striking a multi-million-pound deal that

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The modular industry has had a remarkable impact on reducing costs while increasing quality and safety. Having gained considerable momentum over the past few years, advanced modular techniques reduce build times by an impressive 50-60%.

The demand for customisation has led the volumetric modular manufacturing industry to develop methods for adaptation during the mass production process to meet individual requirements.

Module selection is influenced by transportation dimensions and shipping distances. A number of other factors are also holistically considered to achieve optimal design efficiency. Module connection details and quantities, installation and crane costing rates, specific site logistics, all must be considered, together with foundations/transfer decks, volumes of required materials and other service core requirements.

Each individual material can be selected specifically for its performance characteristics, tailoring every inch of a modular build.

Sustainable materials are often specified, and waste is recycled for future projects wherever possible.

Not only this, but components are also available in a range of sizes for expansions whenever necessary.

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As units are factory manufactured, stringent quality control processes can be undertaken within these well-managed environments.

These in-house conditions also prevent weather from inhibiting the construction process, guaranteeing efficiency. In addition, modular construction enables site work and building processes to be completed simultaneously, reducing labour costs and build times.

Modular approaches are revolutionising the construction industry. While traditional build processes are laced with pitfalls, hidden costs and are highly disruptive – volumetric modular buildings are easy to plan, budget, and are quick to install. Modular technology brings a host of benefits to the construction industry, contributing to healthier, safer and more cost-efficient environments.

About MPBA The MPBA plays a key role in the connecting of sectors in the modular and portable building industry.

The association collaborates with specialist technical advisors to enhance innovation in the design and manufacture of modular buildings. These can be designed and manufactured from timber, steel or concrete, in any size and shape to meet individual client needs while ensuring full compliance with building regulations.

To discover how modular building can benefit offsite construction plans or to purchase the MPBA 2019 industry report go to: www.mpba.biz STAND NO: B01

In partnership with:

BUYERS AND SPECIFIERS FORUM

CALLING ALL BUYERS & SPECIFIERS

We know that your time is at a premium - too much work, a busy schedule and not enough time to meet new suppliers. Take part in the OFFSITE CONNECT BUYERS & SPECIFIERS FORUM for an easy and efficient way to do business.

Your busy schedule might result in missing out on meeting with significant key people that could have a huge impact on the future success of your business. The OFFSITE CONNECT BUYERS & SPECIFIERS FORUM – taking place on 22 & 23 September 2020 at OFFSITE EXPO (Ricoh Arena, Coventry) - provides a solution. By facilitating ‘one-to-one’ business meetings with the companies you want to meet – you are in control – OFFSITE CONNECT enables you to have private meetings without leaving the comfort of the Forum lounge.

Do you want a structured, highly effective way to meet with new and existing offsite industry suppliers exhibiting at OFFSITE EXPO? Participants in OFFSITE CONNECT must meet a set of qualification criteria, to ensure that they are genuinely interested in taking part and looking to satisfy a real business need. OFFSITE CONNECT is aimed at senior personnel with an influence over procurement decisions or specifications.

For more information, or to confirm your participation at OFFSITE CONNECT BUYERS & SPECIFIERS FORUM, contact Jessica Holland on 01743 290044 or email jessica.holland@radar-communications.co.uk

WWW.OFFSITE-CONNECT.CO.UK

OFFSITE EXPO BRONZE PLUS EXHIBITORS

NHBC SUPPORT FOR OFFSITE SECTOR NHBC has a long track record of collaboration with housebuilders, developers and manufacturers on MMC systems: providing guidance, reviewing systems and sharing knowledge and research.

In response to the increasing interest in the use of offsite systems from lenders and investors to developers, housing associations and the build-torent sector, we have doubled the size of our Innovation Team.

This team takes responsibility for reviewing MMC systems to determine if they can be accepted for use in homes to be covered by the NHBC Buildmark warranty. There are now 45 volumetric, panelised and onsite systems accepted, with more under review.

We have also introduced a dedicated MMC Hub, an online resource where you can see the latest list of accepted systems, access research and find the latest NHBC technical guidance.

It is an established expectation amongst homeowners, landlords, investors and mortgage companies that new homes will last a very long time (at least 60 years). This means that materials and systems need to be selected and assembled carefully so that the construction of the finished home has the necessary durability.

We review building designs and components from the earliest stages – and certainly before designs are locked down - to identify and mitigate any potential risks. We back this up with our rigorous on-site inspection regime during the construction process, so that we can be confident in providing warranty and insurance against structural defects. We share knowledge and feedback with manufacturers throughout this process.

Please visit: www.nhbc.co.uk/mmchub to find out more about our work.

STAND NO: G13

STAND NO: C14

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OFFSITE EXPO BRONZE EXHIBITORS

PROTECT MEMBRANES & PASSIVENT With product innovation and superior performance at the very heart of our business, Protect Membranes is a leading UK producer of high quality, technically advanced construction and roofing membranes for the offsite manufacturing sector, supporting both new build residential and commercial projects.

Understanding the importance of delivering added value to MMC, Protect Membranes can help ensure key elements of enhanced thermal performance, energy efficiency, airtightness and management of condensation risk are achieved throughout the building fabric. Its comprehensive range of products includes breather membranes, air & vapour control layers, construction membranes for walls, floors & ceilings, membranes for specialist applications and roof underlays & accessories.

Passivent, a sister company to Protect Membranes, is a UK producer of the Hybrid Plus2 Aircool® natural ventilation system. Meeting the requirements of the Facilities Output Specification for Priority Schools Programme Phase 2 (Building

Visit us on Stand E7 at Offsite Expo to find out more about our recent additions to the portfolio and see our extensive range of offsite solutions. www.protectmembranes.com www.passivent.com

Bulletin 93 & 101), interest in this natural ventilation system is growing in popularity, not only within the education sector but also in other commercial sectors where offsite construction is used.

STAND NO: E07

Both companies are divisions of Building Product Design Ltd.

Authorised Developer

Good reasons for hsbcad

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SIPS CLT

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• •

•

Leading edge technology based on AutoCAD® Architecture Seamless workflow from architectural design to production in one 3D model

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BIM compliance through enhanced IFC Export

CUSTOM

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Computer Aided Manufacturing CAM

MAKE

hsbcad Ltd. | Gemini House | Sunrise Parkway | Milton Keynes | MK14 6LQ | United Kingdom +44 (0)20 3384 2008 | www.hsbcad.com STAND NO: A10

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OFFSITE EXPO BRONZE PLUS EXHIBITORS Wraptite® membrane installed on high rise student accommodation in Newcastle Wraptite® airtightness membrane has been successfully installed on an impressive new luxury high-rise student accommodation project in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Main contractor Opto Property Group and sub-contractor Halcyon Cladding & Roofing required a Class B fire rated air tightness membrane, which was able to comply with the requirements for buildings over 18m as specified within Approved Document B: Fire Safety November 2018 and as stipulated by the NHBC. The A. Proctor Group, recognised experts in technically advanced thermal, acoustic and membrane products for the construction industry, were approached to advise the main contractor and cladding contractor on a high-performance solution to comply with the requirements outlined by NHBC and the very latest building regulations.

After in-depth consultation and technical briefings, the Wraptite air barrier system was chosen. Wraptite offers a safer and simplified membrane system, conforms with the required Class B rating, and it provides a fully self-adhered vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA. The membrane bonds back to the substrate, ensuring a simplified design to achieve airtightness and easy installation method.

Unlike internal air barriers, which can be complex and costly to install

due to the need to accommodate building services such as electrical, lighting, heating and drainage systems, Wraptite was applied externally, quickly and easily to the substrate. The membrane will fully bond to virtually any substrate, requiring no mechanical attachment, seals or tapes to suppress air leakage around junctions or penetrations.

Both the sub-contractor and the main contractor were impressed by the ease, speed and quality of the application and installation.

Commenting on behalf of Halcyon Cladding & Roofing, Austin Ford stated, “The self-adhesive nature of the Wraptite membrane ensured a much faster installation process, removing the need for traditional mechanical fixing.

Wraptite also provided effective added protection to the frame of the building during the construction. Given the nature of the exposed location of the building close to the River Tyne the use of mechanical fixing would more than likely have been compromised by the wind factor”.

www.proctorgroup.com

01250 872261

STAND NO: C08 Offsite Half page ad v2.indd 1

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STAND NO: B19

OFFSITE EXPO BRONZE PLUS EXHIBITORS

PREMIUM BATHROOM AND KITCHEN SOLUTIONS FOR THE UK POD MARKET GROHE is a global leader in premium bathroom and kitchen fittings, offering complete bathroom solutions and a diverse range of sinks and taps for the kitchen, alongside an expanding portfolio of digital and professional product offerings. All products are developed with the brand’s core values in mind; innovative technology, sustainable credentials and superior quality and design.

As an award-winning supplier of complete bathroom fittings, GROHE can offer solutions across all touchpoints in the bathroom from brassware, ceramics and accessories to installation frames and fittings for concealed products, all coordinated to look and work harmoniously together.

Delivering standardised products that make specification, procurement and installation a much quicker process makes GROHE the favoured choice for many specifiers worldwide and an ideal solution for the offsite sector too, with suitable products for a variety of different POD projects - from student accommodation to commercial buildings and hotels.

Amidst an array of market-leading innovations within the sanitaryware market, GROHE’s Rapido Smartbox shower rough-in kit and Rapid SL all-purposes installation frame are two of its most compelling solutions for offsite manufacturers. The Rapido Smartbox is compatible with more than 270 GROHE shower trims which can operate up to three different water outlets at once from a singular source, offering significant savings on resource and boosting productivity in the first fix phase of pod manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the Rapid SL range provides pre-assembled frames for the quick yet secure method of installing wall hung basins, bidets, toilets and urinals.

For more information visit: www.grohe.co.uk STAND NO: A02

STAND NO: B05

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OFFSITE EXPO EXHIBITORS Offsite Expo will play host to the leading UK and international offsite manufacturers and component suppliers showcasing a broad spectrum of panelised, volumetric modular solutions, pod and prefabricated MEP solutions.

Here is a sample of companies that will be at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 22 & 23 September 2020...

With 16 years' experience within the Commercial Offsite Fabrication Industry, Alternative Heat have established themselves as a market leader in this sector. We offer a wide range of prefabricated offsite solutions for the commercial, industrial and residential markets, including: - Packaged Plantrooms for various technologies - MEP Utility Cupboards - Plant Skid Modules - Modular M&E Laterals and Risers - Underfloor Heating - Renewable Energy products and services as well as In-house design.

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is a network of world-leading research and innovation centres working with manufacturing companies of any size from around the globe.

For more information visit: www.alternativeheat.co.uk

For more information visit: www.amrc.co.uk

STAND NO: C22

As standardisation and pre-manufactured value come to the fore and the construction sector adopts a manufacturing mindset, the AMRC is uniquely placed in being able to help transform the way buildings and infrastructure of the future are delivered.

STAND NO: A05

Who are Aquarian Cladding?

Aquarian Cladding Systems is the distributor of the Gebrik and MechSlip brick, and Terreal terracotta, cladding systems.

Trading since 2007, our reputation for providing tried and tested natural cladding systems has enabled us to become one of the fastest growing companies in the cladding sector.

Our independence enables us to innovate and think inventively, ensuring we provide the best service and clay cladding solutions for any construction method - on any building, at any height and any type of substrate.

For more information visit: www.aquariancladding.co.uk STAND NO: C18

Britlift are a designer and manufacturer of lifting equipment, specialising in the lifting of modular homes, bathroom pods, commercial modules, containerised structures and precast components. With a wealth of experience in the design and manufacture of lifting frames and lifting systems to the Offsite Construction sector, Britlift are the Offsite sector partner of choice.

For more information visit: www.britlift.com STAND NO: C12

Buteline designs, engineers and manufactures a world acclaimed plumbing system for hot and cold potable water, chilled water, central heating and underfloor heating.

Buteline is one of the UK’s leading plumbing systems for the offsite and modular market, due to its quick and simple pressing process and its space saving, component & ‘O’ Ring free slimline fittings. It creates the most secure leak free joint, completely removing the risk of leaks in confined and inaccessible places.

For more information visit: www.buteline.com/uk STAND NO: Z28

FastClad is a UK manufactured brick slip cladding system, BBA Certified for a 50 year minimum service life. Suitable for both newbuild and refurbishment, FastClad is manufactured using real brick which makes it ideal for use alongside traditional masonry, replicating different bond patterns and various face format sizes. FastClad enables the masonry skin to be taken off the critical path of the build, is up to four times faster to install than brickwork, less weather dependant, a third of the weight and can be installed both on site or in factory conditions.

For more information visit: www.fastclad.co.uk STAND NO: Z60

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OFFSITE EXPO EXHIBITORS

We provide our customers a complete package, not only do we design, manufacture and deliver the timberframe structure, but we also supply the windows, external doors, internal door sets,stairs, architrave, skirtings, finishings insulation, plasterboard and a whole lot more.

www.scotframe.co.uk

Scotframe OfďŹ ces Sales and Manufacturing Inverurie Tel: 01467 624440 Cumbernauld Tel: 01236 861200

Regional Sales OfďŹ ces Inverness Tel: 01463 717328 Dundee Tel: 01382 561772 Swindon Tel: 01793 234503

STAND NO: F22

www.cogent-consulting.co.uk

Delivering efficiency and competitive advantage using offsite construction technology and DfMA principles

We develop and improve:

Business strategies Product & service portfolios Manufacturing operations Supply-chain integration Business processes Management systems

Ask the experts...

01743 290010

@Cogent_Offsite

info@cogent-consulting.co.uk

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OFFSITE EXPO EXHIBITORS

We offer significant benefits from our experience in the structural timber design, manufacture & installation across domestic and commercial sectors and all over the UK. Our offsite solutions include Glulam, cross laminated timber and pre-insulated timber frame, all of which we can integrate to offer the most economical and sustainable structures for our clients. Our dedicated project management ensures the smooth integration with other site trades to deliver projects as diverse as retail, leisure, commercial, education, health and domestic, all to budget and to programme. Engineered timber is manufactured from the only truly renewable construction material, offering aesthetics, structural integrity & exceptional environmental benefits.

For more information visit: www.glulamsolutions.co.uk

HexxHome provides off-site manufactured homes using precast architectural concrete for an efficient and durable housing solution. Using standardised components, we can develop new home configurations extremely quickly. The pre-fabricated panels which are at the heart of the HexxHome concept enable a rapid deployment and building process. A HexxHome has a number of benfits, such as exceptional fire and flood resistance, and our pre-designed layout options cater for affordable mainstream housing requirements as well as more bespoke ‘Grand Designs’.

For more information visit: www.hexxhome.com

Knauf are one of the largest producers of plasterboard in the UK. Knauf has expanded and diversified to deliver building materials and systems based on gypsum, thermal insulating and sound insulation materials, limestone products, chalk and cement related products as well as plant engineering.

Knauf’s technical services team can support you throughout your project whether you are a main contractor, distributor or architect, they are able to give you advice.

For more information visit: www.knauf.co.uk STAND NO: C07

STAND NO: Z22

STAND NO: Z33

IPP is a UK manufacturer of innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly products aimed towards the construction industry, which includes leading brand Magply. With a background in thermal insulation and roofing materials, the company has continuously evolved to where it now creates product lines for Architects and Builders, which are accessible via numerous UK distributors whom can offer technical support to consumers.

Various building applications such as timber frame, loft conversions and new builds can utilize a vast range of IPP’s products into their homes such as Alumaflex, Ballytherm, Natuwool, Magply and Natuhemp.

O’Dwyer Steel is recognised as a leading supplier of Hot Rolled Steel to the off-site construction industry throughout Ireland and the UK.

For more information visit: www.magply.co.uk

For more information visit: www.odwyersteel.ie

STAND NO: F21

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Our reliable and highly experienced team at O Dwyer Steel provide hot rolled steel detailing, manufacture and on time delivery to many of the largest offsite manufacturers. Our reputation for service, quality and capability have allowed us to provide Hot Rolled Steel Solutions to over 100 No offsite projects throughout Ireland and the UK. Driven by our goals and objectives, we blend our service to match your demands.

STAND NO: B15

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The School allows you to access training in 5 different areas Sustainability, Offsite, BIM, Lean and Management and offers you the opportunity to attend our training and networking events, gain CPD points, complete a self-assessment and get a bespoke action plan, complete e-learning modules and various training resources.

The School is an award-winning industry wide collaboration, led by Partners and Members whose Vision for the School is to be “A world class collaboration to enable a sustainable built environment”.

For more information visit: www.supplychainschool.co.uk/topics/ offsite/ STAND NO: G10

OFFSITE EXPO EXHIBITORS

Established over 40 years ago, Quantum Profile Systems Ltd is a leading manufacturer of specialist building products under the Quantum Flooring, Dacatie, Qwood & QLean Supply brand names. All brands combine a strong manufacturing heritage with the latest lean production principles in order to create value as our customers see it.

‘The trusted partner for your bespoke offsite extrusion needs’.

For more information visit: www.quantumprofilesystems.com/en/

For over 40 years, Taplanes has created tailored and bespoke, sustainable modular bathroom solutions which are suitable for all kinds of structures in any location; allowing clients to enjoy the benefits of modular pods with the construction flexibility of traditional build. Combining style and functionality, our precision design pods offer a completely watertight modular solution that is quick and easy to install, reducing project lead times.

Being durable and reliable, Taplanes recyclable bathroom pods are a cost-effective, easy-clean solution requiring minimal maintenance.

For more information visit: www.taplanes.co.uk

STAND NO: Z14

STAND NO: A06

For over 40 years Ureka Global’s (formerly Alansons) innovative approach and products have been solving sticky problems for offsite manufacturers. From manufacturers of septic tanks to security doors, and from washroom furniture to wall cladding, we have been rolling up our sleeves to work with companies like you to tackle your sticky problems.

Our consultative approach ensures a thorough understanding to find a solution which works for you, whether it is for your offsite production line, or an adaptation for on-site installation.

For more information visit: www.thenamethatsticks.com STAND NO: G07

Tenmat’s passive fire protection solutions feature FF109 Intumescent Downlight Fire Hoods, which are designed to reinstate the performance of ceilings when penetrated by recessed downlights. Tenmat products comply with all fire-resistance legislation thanks to frequent and extensive testing to strict standards including EN, BS and UL. Our passive fire protection solutions give superior fire resistance across a wide range of applications. This includes electrical service penetrations, mechanical service penetrations, ventilated cavities, lighting, and ventilation such as ducting and air valves.

For more information visit: www.tenmat.com STAND NO: A08

Whether starting from scratch or looking to create a modular version of a site-built design, wedi can be of assistance with projects of all kinds.

Xidoor is the leading provider of interior doors and door frames.

A third generation Dutch family business with a tradition going back over 87 years. We provide a diverse range of solutions with a broad range of unrivalled products for all market sectors; residential, healthcare, education, retail, leisure, student accommodation and government. Xidoor brings a range of manufacturing brands each with its own qualities, innovation and characteristics. The driving force behind Xidoor is innovation and a constant focus on providing the highest quality.

For more information visit: www.wedi.de/uk/

For more information visit: www.xidooruk.co.uk

wedi offers a wide variety of 100% waterproof, directly tileable products for bathroom, wet room and wellness & spa projects - from shower solutions, through design elements and construction systems to a wide range of accessories – the strength of the brand lies within the floor-to-ceiling full system solution comprising of a multitude of high-quality modular elements that interlock with one another.

STAND NO: G04

STAND NO: Z24

For full details of exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at Offsite Expo contact: Julie Williams - julie.williams@radar-communications.co.uk or call 01743 290042 MARCH/APRIL 2020 | WWW.OFFSITEMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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OFFSITE AWARDS 2020

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

There is nothing to lose and everything to gain, so if you are proud of your talented team, pioneering project or product innovation, there are just five questions to answer to seize the opportunity and take centre stage at the 2020 Offsite Construction Awards.

Since inception in 2015 the Offsite Construction Awards have been on an upward trajectory presenting professionals operating in the sector with outstanding opportunities to showcase excellence. Following this unprecedented success, the stakes will be raised in 2020 as the Offsite Construction Awards will be back at a new high-profile location, taking place at the UK's largest offsite technology event in the construction calendar – Offsite Expo. This move will offer entrants unparalleled opportunities to gain increased publicity from the heightened media interest surrounding the event, together with gaining the attention of prospective clients attending the preceding conference and exhibition.

With the levels of excellence and innovation in the sector, and the deadline approaching, now is the time for those at the cutting-edge of offsite design, engineering, manufacturing and construction to start planning their award submissions.

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Why are the Offsite Construction Awards good for business?

The event is the ideal opportunity for construction professionals to maximise industry exposure by demonstrating what separates them from their competitors. Here are just five compelling reasons why entering the Offsite Construction Awards is good for business development.

Gain Competitive Advantage There are many ways to get a competitive advantage in the sector.

Offsite Construction Awards finalists will be promoted to a national audience, giving entrants the opportunity to make their mark on this economically important market.

Validation and Credibility With the calibre of the expert judging panel, an Offsite Construction Award win, short-listing or nomination can act as an endorsement for your business.

A win can give a seal of approval to

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your activities and is a sign of quality for potential customers. It’s a great way of differentiating your company from competitors.

Motivation and Reward Awards recognise hard work and achievements, so reaching the final or ultimately winning can boost morale, create better working relationships and improve motivation. Shining a spotlight on success, generates feelings of satisfaction and pride to be associated with a talented team and successful business.

PR and Marketing Business awards are one of the most effective marketing tactics. Just being shortlisted can improve brand awareness and promote expertise and innovation to new customers.

Maximising media coverage surrounding the awards will drive traffic to websites and engagement on social media platforms. Awards

OFFSITE AWARDS 2020

celebrate hard work and success and generate great PR opportunities.

Attracting Talent Competition is fierce when attracting the brightest and best to become part of your business and help generate further success. Awards enhance company stature and credentials among new recruits. Pitching your company as the ‘best’ will attract the right talent to push your business forward. Increased employee morale will also help attract and retain new recruits.

Why Get involved?

Entering the Offsite Construction Awards allows the most innovative achievements in offsite to be championed by the industry alongside those considered the nation’s best.

Earning ‘highly commended’ or winning an award will earn entrant’s recognition within the offsite community, leading to an abundance of fresh prospects for each company.

The list of previous winners reads like the who’s who of building technology – but it’s not only the major players and the iconic buildings that pick up trophies – the Awards are renowned for unearthing those projects that may be small in stature but are awe inspiring in terms of innovation. It’s not only projects that receive great acclaim – people are at the forefront of the Offsite Construction Awards – architects, engineers, installers and clients are all recognised for their outstanding achievements.

Entries into the 2019 Offsite Construction Awards were phenomenal and the profile and coverage gained by all finalists and winners has helped to propel the offsite sector to another level.

Reaching the finals of the Awards will earn recognition within the offsite community and the wider const ruction industry – opening doors to securing new business development opportunities.

ENTER TODAY Returning for 2020 at a new high-profile location, the Offsite Construction Awards promises to be the greatest yet with a high calibre of industry leading companies and inspiring projects expected to enter the 25 different categories.

Do you have a project that you think is worthy of winning an Offsite Construction Award? If yes, start your entry today! The closing date for award submissions is the 15 May 2020 – enter any of the 25 categories free of charge by visiting: www.offsiteawards.co.uk For more information about entering, sponsoring or attending the Offsite Construction Awards, contact Yvonne Beach on yvonne.beach@radar-communications.co.uk or 01743 290001.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN 2020 If you are interested in learning more about offsite construction and the associated manufacturing processes then the following industry events may be of interest: 30 June 01 July

HOUSING

07-08 July

2020 Offsite Housing

NEC Gallery Suites, Birmingham

www.2020offsite.co.uk

Taking place on 30 June & 01 July 2020 at the NEC Gallery Suites, Birmingham - the two-day conference & exhibition will demonstrate how migrating construction from the building site to a quality-controlled factory environment will accelerate the building process, increase productivity and create a new generation of high quality housing stock.

Emerging Realities Conference

MTC, Coventry

www.emergingrealities.co.uk

Taking place on the 07 & 08 July at the MTC, Coventry, the Emerging Realities Conference will bring together those with the insight and insider information to evaluate transformative innovations and explore how they can be used in a real-world context to radically advance how buildings are designed, developed and delivered.

15 Sep

Tall Buildings Conference

15 Sep

Tall Buildings Awards

Tall Buildings Awards

22-23 Sept

FFSITE

EXP

2020 Tall Buildings Awards

RICOH ARENA - COVENTRY

22-23 Sept

CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY

INNOVATION

2020 Tall Buildings Awards BUYERS AND SPECIFIERS FORUM

Tall Buildings Awards 2020

www.tallbuildingsconference.co.uk

Back by popular demand, Tall Buildings Conference will take place on 15 September 2020 at 99 City Road, London and will assist engineers in understanding the common challenges associated with transferring standard engineering principles and knowledge from low-rise structures to tall buildings.

By Boldesign for Radar Communications

Tall Buildings Awards 2020

99 City Road, London

22TallSept

Buildings Awards 2020

07 October

99 City Road, London

www.tallbuildingsawards.co.uk

Tall buildings present unique challenges in terms of both design and construction. Their sheer scale demands that particular attention is paid simultaneously to strategic and detailed issues. NEW FOR 2020 - Tall Buildings Awards is taking place on 15 September 2020 at 99 City Road, London and will highlight design and building technology innovation in the UK high-rise sector.

Offsite Expo

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

www.offsite-expo.co.uk

Taking place on 22 & 23 September, Offsite Expo brings together those who are driving change in the construction sector – the event will play host to the leading UK and international offsite manufacturers and component suppliers showcasing a broad spectrum of panelised, volumetric modular solutions, pod and prefabricated MEP solutions, as well as the latest in Digital and BIM technology.

Offsite Connect

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

www.offsite-connect.co.uk

Your busy schedule might result in missing out on meeting with significant key people that could have a huge impact on the future success of your business. Offsite Connect Buyers and Specifiers Forum – taking place on 22 & 23 September at Offsite Expo - provides a solution by facilitating ‘one-to-one’ business meetings with the companies you want to meet.

Offsite Construction Awards

Ricoh Arena, Coventry

www.offsiteawards.co.uk

Relocated as part of Offsite Expo, the Offsite Construction Awards will take place on 22 September 2020 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry and will reward outstanding examples of prefabrication and factory-based methods, products, systems and disciplines that increasingly strive to develop a sustainable, streamlined and cost-effective way to deliver a better built environment. ENTRY DEADLINE: 15.05.20 Structural Timber Awards

NCC, Birmingham

www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk

Returning for its sixth year on 07 October 2020 in Birmingham, there has already been a large amount of attention focused on the 2020 Structural Timber Awards. The Awards once again will reward excellence, celebrate expertise in timber technology and the ways it contributes to an attractive, energy efficient and sustainable built environment. ENTRY DEADLINE: 29.05.20 20 October

Modular Matters

NCC, Birmingham

www.modularmatters.co.uk

Returning to Birmingham on 20 October 2020, Modular Matters – in partnership with Volumetric Homes Group (VHG) - will focus on the latest developments, innovations and investments in the volumetric modular offsite sector and aims to engage with industry pioneers from within the offsite supply-chain, leading designers, specifiers, engineers and ground-breaking clients.

12 Nov

Focus on Framing

FOCUS ON

FRAMING

24 Nov

Manchester

www.focusonframing.co.uk

The Focus on Framing seminar will feature high-profile speakers from market leading companies, discussing the significant role that light steel frame plays in the UK’s major developments. From numerous sectors, residential to commercial, education, retail and leisure delegates will hear about the newest innovations and developments in this fast-changing sector.

Construction Productivity Conference

London

www.constructionproductivity.co.uk

Taking place on 24 November 2020 in London - this event will gather together those who have the skills to define a roadmap to create a climate for change. With statistics finding only 64% of the hours worked deemed to be productive - the event will focus on new technologies, logistics, supply chains and materials management together with developing human resources to establish a workforce that is fit for the future.

All event information and schedules correct at the time of going to print - please check relevant websites for latest details.

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BE PART OF THE UK’S MOST DYNAMIC OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION EVENT

• Unique event developed by industry experts • FREE to visit • 5,000 Construction attendees • Dedicated Offsite Connect Buyers & Specifiers Forum • Custom-built features and live demo’s • Over 100 offsite manufacturers and suppliers available to meet one-on-one • Over 100 speakers in the Explore Offsite CPD Masterclasses • Free consultations with our ‘Ask the Expert’ team • Guided Technical Tours • New home of the renowned Offsite Construction Awards Maximise your business development potential at the UK’s biggest showcase of offsite manufactured construction technology and solutions.

For more information or to book your stand space, contact julie.williams@radar-communications.co.uk or call 01743 290042

WWW.OFFSITE-EXPO.CO.UK

INTRODUCING THRUBUILD® A Faster Way of Specifying and Constructing Your Building Integrated floor and walling systems for loadbearing and non-loadbearing applications. Meeting building performance requirements for fire, thermal, weathering, acoustics and airtightness – our range of Thrubuild® systems deliver a fast-track ‘all in one’ solution providing crucial time and cost benefits.

THRUBUILD® • • • • •

1

Framing:

Min. 100mm x 1.2mm (SS10012) EOS Stud* 2

Fully Tested Systems 30-Year Warranty Meets Building Performance Requirements Achieves a Rapid Installation Process Delivers Cost and Programme Certainty

Part of Etex, EOS offers an unparalleled level of support from our design team.

To learn more about our Thrubuild® systems contact the team today

Sheathing:

2x 12.5mm Weather Defence externally.

3

Internal Boarding:

2x 12.5mm Siniat Frameboard internally.

4

Insulation:

100mm 45kg/m3 Rock Mineral Wool.

www.eosframing.co.uk

Call: 01325 303 030 Email: thrubuild@etexgroup.com