Construction industry and trades still able to work

Government confirms the construction industry and trades still able to work

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the UK, tradespeople are among those who have been advised they are still able to work under the national restrictions that came into effect on 5 November, including working in and around people’s homes.

The news is certainly positive for the construction industry and homeowners in England, as it means people can take advantage of the new Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, which will see the Government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of energy-efficient home improvements.

The scheme is a key part of the UK’s green economic recovery following the pandemic.

However, only TrustMark Registered Businesses can do work under the Government’s new scheme, meaning tradespeople and businesses who are not registered could be missing out on work.

Simon Ayers, Chief Executive of TrustMark, explains, “There are certain steps that must be completed in order to become a Green Homes Grant installer. Firstly, the businesses must hold a PAS 2030 certification and/or MCS certification for low carbon installations, which can be achieved through UKAS accredited certification bodies.

“They must also register with TrustMark which in turn, will allow them to register with the Government’s scheme administrator as a Green Homes Grant installer.

“There are thousands of UK customers looking for someone to carry out work under the scheme right now, so it’s most certainly worth businesses getting involved.” The levels of work that will be created over the next decade to improve the homes we live in means a sustainable and growth driven market for businesses to operate within, an investment with rewards.

To communicate this message, TrustMark has created a number of assets to make it easier for businesses to become Green Homes Grant installers, outlining the steps in more detail at: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp Since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, the Government and industry have worked hard to ensure written safety guidelines are in place.

To keep everyone safe, TrustMark, has created Work Safe Safe Work: a three-part guide to help customers know what to do before, while and after they have tradespeople working for them.

“We know that many people have reservations about what is expected of them and what they need to do while the work is taking place to ensure it’s safe. That’s why we would recommend tradespeople send out the Work Safe Safe Work guide to their customers at least 48 hours prior to the work being done”, says Simon Ayers. “In providing such clear and simple information, the guide will keep both tradespeople and customers safe, while giving them confidence in this new reality we are finding ourselves in.” For further information, please visit TrustMark’s dedicated Green Homes Grant page for trades: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp

Sto helps create striking appearance for new university building

The centre-piece of a £90m redevelopment scheme on Merseyside has been given a striking appearance thanks to a comprehensive façade solution supplied by Sto. The Roscoe building in the Greenbank Student Village at the University of Liverpool was completed with the installation of 5,500m2 of StoVentec R ventilated rainscreen cladding, and finished with the unique Sto Lotusan external render.

The site contains a rich mix of significant and interesting buildings, such as Derby Old Court which opened as the first hall of residence on the site in 1939. The Sto materials chosen for this project had to perform reliably and effectively, but also be sympathetic to these surroundings, to the construction method, and a and to the fact that the site sits in a layer of StoArmat Classic cementconservation area. The StoVentec free base coat was applied to the system has a fire classification of exterior surface of the StoVentec A2-s1, d0 and was able to meet all boards, providing the final surface the required performance standards, with outstanding crack-resistance while also permitting the creation of characteristics. The installation was the visually striking, smooth exterior completed with StoLotusan, Stolit and surfaces which harmonize with the StoSilco external renders in different surroundings and give the building its colours, to provide outstanding distinctive new appearance. protection and enhance the design The StoVentec R ventilated rainscreen superhydrophobic render finish with a cladding system allowed the creation patented Lotus-Effect® microstructure of these façades thanks to its surface, similar to that found on easily-adjustable stainless steel and the lotus leaf. This render offers aluminium sub-construction, to which unbeatable water and dirt repellence StoVentec carrier boards are fixed. by causing rainwater simply to roll off This is partially filled with mineral fibre the façade, taking dirt particles and insulation to provide highly effective grit with it as it goes. With high levels thermal insulation and excellent fire of vapour diffusion and low water protection, while still protecting the permeability, StoLotusan ensures that wall by keeping it dry and allowing the façades of the University buildings it to breathe. The StoVentec boards will remain clean for far longer are made of 96% recycled expanded than they would with conventional glass granulate, and reinforced on alternatives. both sides with glass fibre mesh for of the façades. StoLotusan is a superior impact resistance. These “We have completed dozens of boards do not expand or contract with projects using Sto products over very temperature change and induce far many years, but this has to be the less stress in the screws, enabling the most successful and best-looking of boards to be butt-jointed with no risk them all,” says Steve McGowan of of cracking – crucial for producing Precision Façades who installed the large-area façades. Sto system. “Right from the design stage, the whole supply chain worked For this university project, special really closely together, including profiles and jointing pieces were used the University’s own construction to overcome large joints due company, ULCCO (Special Projects) 10 | Creative Build Magazine

Ltd. This helped eliminate any problems before work began, and allowed us to integrate the StoVentec R system with a series of coloured aluminium pods that enhance the window surrounds which we were also installing. The installation process progressed extremely smoothly and efficiently.

“Sto Ltd performed extremely well. They provided all the necessary calculations and managed their staged deliveries to site according to a very demanding schedule. As ever, we had absolutely no problems with the quality of the Sto products either.”

When complete, the 5-year, twophase redevelopment project will see the demolition and replacement of the University’s Derby, Rathbone and Roscoe student accommodation buildings, plus the refurbishment of the existing Annex Building and Derby Old Court properties. The project will increase the University’s student accommodation capacity by 40% and also provide a wide range of new social spaces, sports facilities, and administration areas.