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FLEET STREET ULTRA LOW EMISSION VEHICLES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

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WELCOME to the latest edition of UK Construction Excellence - celebrating the very best in British building.

And so autumn has arrived, bringing with it some of the industry’s most notable events. With UK Construction Week and Digital Construction Week on the horizon, we preview both shows to give you the best possible overview on what to expect.

Elsewhere, our very own Abigail

Burr speaks with Mike Burroughs CFOA member and Fire Consultant to the Structural Timber Association - about the perils of timber frame construction, while John Adams Head of BIM Services for BIM Strategy Ltd - considers the many challenges facing the newly-minted UK BIM Alliance.

All this and more can be found inside, along with contributions from guest commentators and breaking news from Great Britain and beyond.

Robert Atherton Publications Editor

Our ongoing fleet focus also continues with a look at ultra-low emission vehicles, and a full and frank appraisal

34 The Homes of the Future The smart homes concept explained.

of the Department for Transport’s commitment to sustainability.

38 Fire Safety in Construction Mike Burroughs talks timber frame construction.

74 In Short Supply Are data centres causing a global water crisis?

Publications Editor Robert Atherton

General Manager Ian Parker

Designer James Ormerod

Head of Operations Gareth Trevor-Jones

Publications Officer Abigail Burr

Product Development Seamus Norton

Support Team Beka Patterson Sarah Livesley

Display Advertising Sales T: 01257 231900 admin@ukconstructionmedia.co.uk ISSN 1461-1279

Follow us on...

UK Construction Media, Stirling House, Ackhurst Business Park, Chorley, PR7 1NY 01257 231900 • admin@ukconstructionmedia.co.uk • www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk © Copyright Pro-Mark. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of Pro-Mark. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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New Adelphi Arts Centre opens to students at the University of Salford A £55M building has been opened by the University of Salford, which will house many of the University’s School of Arts and Media Courses - art, design, fashion, photography, music, performance and dance - as well as the School of the Built Environment’s new architecture programme.

The New Adelphi Arts Centre includes cutting edge facilities such as a 350-seat theatre equipped with the latest lighting, PA equipment, and a high-powered projector for student performance and community use.

There is also a professional quality TV studio, featuring HD cameras, five professional recording studios, a band room large enough to record an orchestra, and 600sq m of specialist art and design workshops.

The building will enhance the University’s existing relationships with industry collaborators including Home, The Lowry, Hotel Football, Islington Mill, the Daily Telegraph, and media organisations including ITV and the BBC. Professor Allan Walker, Dean of the School of Arts and Media, said: “New Adelphi is designed to provide our

students with a comprehensive and cutting edge environment of creative studios and performance spaces which will support the development of their professional experience and training.

“It will enhance our working relationships with a wide range of organisations - an approach to learning which is at the heart of the University’s Industry Collaboration Zone (ICZ) strategy and which is central to our commitment that all students will benefit from engaging with industry professionals during the course of their degree programmes.

“We expect New Adelphi will soon be recognised as one of the UK’s most advanced creative production and training facilities for all forms of performance, plastic arts and for design combined with media and digital technologies.

“The building will not only provide an artistic hub for our students, but a programme of events will make it a mainstay of Greater Manchester’s cultural landscape.”

The Salford Television Workshop will be the first of many community

organisations to get involved with the new centre.

The building was built by BAM Construction, using 1,000 tonnes of structural steel and 5,500sq m of reinforced concrete. It has a cafe, bar, rooftop terrace and a wildlife attracting green roof. A distinctive large walkway cuts through the centre of the building, which will lead visitors into the heart of the Universities Peel Park campus.

During the construction, BAM Construction conducted lectures and presentations, hosted sessions to prepare students for employment, provided work experience to 21 young people, employed 47 apprentices, and helped nine students with research and dissertation support.

BAM Construction Director Tony Grindrod said: “This building has involved some real challenges with the amount of structural steelwork required and the huge number of specialist facilities to fit inside, but the team has pulled together to deliver an impressive facility while still making time to benefit students and local people with a huge amount of learning and employment opportunities.”

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Mace latest to warn Pokémon Go players The construction company behind The Shard has warned Pokémon Go players not to enter its building sites as they hunt for virtual creatures to capture.

The signs have been placed on site hoardings warning: “Wild Pokémon not permitted on this site” and “No playing Pokémon Go beyond this point”.

Birmingham to invest £1Bn in HS2 redevelopment BIRMINGHAM is to invest close to £1Bn into the regeneration of an area of the city that will be transformed by the arrival of HS2.

The 141 hectares of land around the planned HS2 Curzon Street Station will be regenerated through the Curzon Investment Plan - a 30 year scheme that will enable the creation of 4,000 new homes, 36,000 new employment opportunities, and 600,000sq m of commercial floor space.

The creation of public places such as the Curzon Promenade and Curzon Square will also incorporate the original Curzon Station, a Grade I listed building.

The plan is being led by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP (GBSLEP) and Birmingham City Council, and marks the first significant financial investment by any local area in the country to use HS2 as a catalyst for regeneration.

It is envisaged that the Curzon Investment Plan could be worth up to £1.4Bn to the local economy.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “I’m delighted that Greater Birmingham is making this investment in the future, working to maximise the potential of

HS2 by investing in jobs and housing – and encouraging more business investment. It was in Birmingham where I outlined my plan to build an economy that works for all, with a proper industrial strategy that delivers prosperity, job creation and higher wages across the country, not just in London.

“That’s what the Curzon Investment Plan aims to do in Greater Birmingham, and my Government is right behind them.”

A total of £907M is being distributed to a wide range of projects, and is made up of £586.8M from the GBSLEP, which draws funds from business rates within the Enterprise Zone, and £137.2M from the newly formed devolved government, West Midlands Combined Authority.

Councillor John Clancy, Leader of Birmingham City Council, described HS2 as a “unique opportunity” that must be seized upon.

He commented: “Birmingham is at the heart of the HS2 network and the Curzon Investment Plan shows how we intend to use this position to create sustained economic growth and a legacy of new homes, jobs and neighbourhoods for our city.”

Since the augmented reality game, which sees players attempt to catch rare virtual creatures to train and battle, was launched in July there have been a numerous incidents of players trespassing into construction sites - putting themselves at risk.

The creatures randomly appear within the real world in all manner of locations including construction sites and railway stations, with Network Rail reminding Pokémon Go playing commuters that it is “illegal and very dangerous” to trespass on railway lines. The UK coastguard also warned players to be aware of their surroundings and not to wonder into open water.

Members of Build UK reported players attempting to gain unauthorised access to their sites in order to catch the creatures generated within the site boundaries.

Build UK advised construction firms that “security measures to prevent players from gaining unauthorised access to construction sites should be no different from those in place to prevent any other trespasser attempting to illegally enter a site.

Site boundaries should be safe and secure, and signage sufficient and clear.”

The game’s developer, Niantic, provide an option to request the removal of a specific site or location by submitting an online removal request on the Pokémon GO support website.

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CURRENT APPLICATION PROCESSES ARE A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO PAYMENT ISSUES IN THE UK CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY – HOW TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM In the UK construction industry, payment administration is the number one issue that leads to formal disputes.

Late payment and payment disputes have always been a common and somewhat accepted part of our industry, when a construction project goes into dispute resolving and defending the issues can be extremely costly and far reaching for all concerned. Having mismatched applications, poor supporting information and oversight into project status often drives disputes and mistrust, in some instances this can affect the overall quality and scope of the project itself.

Clearly the risks involved in poor practices are significant, and are increased in an industry where legislation surrounding payment practices is becoming increasingly onerous for all involved.

Poor processes, islands of information, disparate systems and processes have all contributed to the huge cost of processing, increased disputes and mistrust in the industry. When trying to achieve improvements to the subcontractor payment process, it is all too common for contractors to face inward at their own internal processes. The contractors that make the biggest improvements, achieve significant cost savings and the highest

level of payment legislation compliance are those that dress the process between themselves and their subcontractors.

Evidence from contractors show that there is little or no consistency of monthly applications being submitted across its subcontractor community.

Hundreds of applications across many projects ranging from verbal requests to complex spreadsheets are received, re-keyed into back office systems, processes/managed, and approved on a monthly basis. It is estimated that to process a single straight forward application can cost a minimum of £600 per application.

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New Chair of Environment Agency appointed EMMA Howard Boyd has been appointed the new Chair of the Environment Agency after receiving official approval from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

London Bridge station concourse partially opens TWO-THIRDS of the new concourse at London Bridge railway station is now open as work continues on the redevelopment project.

Passengers at London Bridge will be able to access all platforms from one level for the first time.

Once the £1Bn project is completed in January 2018, it will be larger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium.

Network Rail Chief Executive Mark Carne said the redevelopment of the station would bring big improvements for northsouth travel through the capital.

He said: “We are rebuilding Britain’s fourth busiest station – the tracks, the platforms and the infrastructure which enables trains to run – all the while keeping the station open and doing our best to keep passengers moving.”

Since work began in 2012, the station has had numerous incidents of overcrowding and severe delays such as the closure of Kings Cross Station over the Christmas period in 2014.

Mr Carne addressed these issues and apologised for the impact the redevelopment work had caused.

He said: “I am extremely sorry that while doing this work there have been

times when passengers have suffered frustrating delays. I know that the promises about tomorrow are of little consolation when performance isn’t good enough today.

“I am pleased that, finally, some of the benefits of this project will be much more visible.”

At the opening of London Bridge, Network Rail’s Chief Executive took the opportunity to warn that without significant investment, he couldn’t be sure that the demands of rail passengers could be met as numbers continue to rise.

Mr Carne told the Press Association: “There’s no doubt at all that this is not going to meet the demand for 50 years.

“As the passenger demand continues to grow, we will need to continue to invest and there will need to be significant investment in the railways over the next 20 years just to keep pace.

“Since this project was originally approved, the passenger numbers have grown by 35%. So it’s a constant challenge to keep pace with demand but that’s a problem of success and I think Britain’s railways are a huge success story.”

Mrs Howard Boyd was confirmed as Chair on a permanent basis following her stint as Acting Chair of the Environment Agency.

She has enjoyed 25 years working in financial services - starting out in corporate finance before moving on to fund management, and specialising in sustainable investment and corporate governance - and has been on the Environment Agency board since 2009.

Responding to her appointment, Mrs Howard Boyd said: “It’s an honour to be appointed Chair of the Environment Agency. It is a fantastic organisation making a real difference to the environment, wildlife and local communities.

“There are big challenges ahead - ensuring the country is more resilient to extreme weather, protecting and enhancing the environment, and promoting sustainable growth - I look forward to playing my part.”

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom also welcomed the appointment, commenting: “Emma brings unrivalled experience, leadership and enthusiasm to the Environment Agency and I very much look forward to working with her.”

Howard Boyd will be hoping for kinder weather this winter than in 2015, as the Agency continues to strive to improve flood defence around the country.

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MediaCityUK set to double in size SALFORD City Council planners have given the go-ahead to plans that will see MediaCityUK double in size.

Up to ten new buildings will be erected as part of the £1Bn extension, creating over 1,400 new households and hundreds of employment opportunities.

the second phase which will see MediaCityUK double in size.

MediaCityUK is already home to the BBC, ITV, The Lowry, dock10 studios, apartments and hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars, the University of Salford, Salford City College and the UTC.

Plans for this second phase of redevelopment include:

This phase forms part of a 20 year transformation plan to regenerate Salford’s docklands, by way of a joint venture between ‘Peel Land and Property’ and ‘Legal and General Capital’.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett commented: “Back in 2006, Salford City Council granted planning permission for 15.1 hectares of development. Phase I has successfully been completed and now we are moving towards

“This phase will focus on creating welcoming neighbourhoods where people can live and work, socialise and enjoy events. It’s a very exciting development for Salford.”

• The Arcade - a retail and leisure offering sited around a pedestrian arcade with offices above.

• Studio Square - office accommodation & a pocket park.

• Georgian Square - a new public courtyard, a six-storey podium on top of which two slender buildings will sit, and 18 three-storey live work units with separate commercial office space.

• Market Square - a contemporary ‘village hall’ with seating for dining and a square for markets and events.

• London Square - 14 three-storey town houses with 460 apartments

on the upper floors.

• Northern Edge - a new ‘gateway’ to MediaCityUK comprising three buildings with 632 apartments, six two-storey live/work units, office space, retail and leisure uses, a cycle hub and three multi-storey car parks.

Stephen Wild, Managing Director, MediaCityUK added: “We’re delighted to have received the support of the planning panel for the next stage in the delivery of a vision for MediaCityUK that is shared by all our partners both public and private. Phase II will provide a unique opportunity for a new generation of designs to complement what is already a thriving and vibrant destination.

“Like any city, we continue to grow in line with the needs of businesses, and our ambition to create more exciting experiences for visitors and residents.

The plans approved today show the huge potential for the MediaCityUK of 2026.”

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Telecoms Forum Conference 2016 Guiding you through the latest policies, market opportunities and future trends

24 November 2016 Jarvis Hall, RIBA, London The Digital Economy Bill, currently going through parliament, has a specific section which focuses on reforming the Electronic Communications Code in order to meet the changing needs of the market in this digital era. Against this backdrop, this conference comes at the perfect time to give you a crucial update on where matters stand with regards to the Code, future challenges and opportunities, how the sector is evolving and how you can be better prepared to mitigate risks and maximise opportunities for your clients.

Highlights for 2016: • Hear more on the much awaited reforms to the Electronic Communications Code and how this will impact key stakeholders.

• Understand how the next business rates revaluation, which takes place on 1st April 2017, is likely to affect you and what you should be aware of when advising clients.

• John Lillistone from Arqiva covers small cells, DAS and their differences in terms of functionality as well as how the cost of coverage is changing.

Network with industry colleagues and speakers who are involved in one of the world’s fastest moving sectors.

Book your place online today at: rics.org/telecomsconference

Housing crisis “driving young and old apart” The Foundation, which aims to protect the rights of younger generations in policy making, used small-area population estimates from the last three Census years - 1991, 2001, 2011 - plus data from 2014, to investigate how agesegregation has changed over time.

Data from the Office for National Statistics on rural-urban classification from 2011 was also considered.

ACCORDING to the Intergeneration Foundation (IF), young families are being “ghettoised” in inner city areas by the housing crisis, while older homeowners are becoming isolated in the suburbs of England and Wales.

The rise in “age segregation” has seen under 30s move to regenerated city centres, while the middle-aged dominate coastal regions. The report states that the lack of affordable housing has separated generations, weakening the bonds between age groups.

According to Angus Hanton, IF’s cofounder, only 5% of people living in the same neighbourhood as someone under 18 are over 65, compared to 15% in 1991.

Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive of Legal & General, which supported the research, said: “We have created an inter-generationally unfair society. We need to take bold steps to reverse the negative trends of the last 30 years.

“This will involve not only an increase in housing supply of 100,000 a year for all tenures but also a step up in investment in modern infrastructure and modern industries to create the jobs of the future.”

£35M boost to Midlands automotive sector BUSINESS and Energy Secretary Greg Clark has announced that an expanded automotive business zone in Whitley, near Coventry, is set to house close to 3,000 highly-skilled engineering and advanced manufacturing jobs, following £35M in government investment.

CWLEP has also announced it will publish its updated Strategic Economic Plan, which includes ‘Unlocking our Growth Potential’ and ‘Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering’ as its core priorities, as well as underscoring the importance of funding the Whitley South Infrastructure Project.

The new site will be known as the Whitley South Infrastructure Project.

Covering 24 hectares, it will generate new growth opportunities for local manufacturers and businesses in the supply chain.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Coventrybased advanced manufacturing company AMT Expert, Business Minister Margot James said: “The resurgence of advanced manufacturing and the automotive industry in the West Midlands is a real success story.

The site is being developed with support from Coventry and Warwickshire LEP (CWLEP), Warwick District Council and Coventry City Council, who have secured a further £10M in local contributions to ensure the project comes to fruition.

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“It’s vital we maintain this momentum and keep creating high-skilled jobs and don’t let any opportunity slip through our fingers. Today’s £35M investment unlocks land that will help to cement the region as a leading destination for

investment.”

Industrial transport links on the A45 will also be improved, while a new bridge will connect Whitley South to the existing Jaguar Land Rover engineering centre and global HQ. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “Our world-class auto sector is leading the way and this new development will create thousands more skilled jobs. It shows how private and public sector can work together to make a difference to the economy.

“That’s why every member of my ministerial team has been appointed as a local growth champion - to work with local enterprise partnerships like CWLEP to support key opportunities and increase prosperity.”

Join us at the UK’s Leading Education Buildings Event Whether you are looking at adding new buildings, considering refurbishing existing buildings or ongoing maintenance work, Education Estates is here to help source information, solutions and ideas.

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CIOB use Minecraft to attract new construction generation THE Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has developed a construction game targeted at 12 - 14 year olds that takes place within the world of Minecraft.

‘Craft your Future’ enables young learners to discover the methods and skills to become a construction manager, introducing them to a career in construction.

As over 400,000 workers within the construction industry are due to retire between 2018 and 2023, the skills shortage may become more acute and the need to attract a new generation into the sector even more vital.

In a series of four freely available Minecraft Education Lessons, that can be downloaded by teachers anywhere and accessed via the Minecraft Education Platform, students confront a range of issues that reflect construction challenges in cities today.

The lessons take place in Newtown,

a specially created virtual city in Minecraft, to design, plan, collaborate and build solutions that develop a sustainable future for all its citizens.

Exercises also include real life scenarios like the challenge of restoring Battersea Power Station.

Bridget Bartlett, Deputy Chief Executive at the CIOB said: “Combining Minecraft and a thorough curriculum for the teacher makes for a unique and immersive experience, and will help reveal why the industry is important and why a career in construction can be so rewarding. There are 70 million people playing Minecraft and just like Lego it has the capacity to inspire and attract a new wave of construction managers into an ever-increasing digital industry.

“What is exciting is that these young learners will not only have fun but also develop their communication, team working and mathematics skills; skills that construction has a high demand for. The lessons are designed

to be teacher friendly and we hope construction employers will also want to use them in schools as they bid to switch the next generation onto a career in construction.”

Jennifer Macdonald, BIM Researcher, Consultant and Lecturer in Construction Project Management at the University of Technology Sydney told UK Construction Excellence that the use of Minecraft could play a key role in encouraging children into thinking about a career in construction.

She said: “Minecraft is a very interesting game and it seems to attract girls as well as boys; it’s not seen as a boy’s game or a girl’s game and I think that’s something that’s really positive about it.

“Minecraft is great because it encourages children to play around with virtual worlds and build things from their imagination. Any game that encourages children to think about the world around them and how they can make a positive difference has to be a good thing.”

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UK “ill-prepared” for growing risk of flooding The UK is severely underprepared to combat the increasing risk of flooding, a leading water industry training and consultancy firm has claimed.

Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI released for August THE construction industry appears to be edging towards stability, according to the latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI figures.

Although output in August fell for the third consecutive month and remained below the 50.0 threshold of no change, the construction PMI reading was up to 49.2 from July’s 85 month low figure of 45.9. This figure was much higher than the 46.3 numerous economic experts were predicting.

The housing and commercial sectors both saw much slower reductions than in July. Both sectors experienced their slowest rate of contraction in three months, but there was stability in the civil engineering sector following a fall in July.

Respondents felt that the uncertainty surrounding Brexit was still holding back the construction industry, particularly in terms of house building and commercial activity. Some companies also reported that sales volumes were stronger than expected, while there was a more upbeat outlook reported in client confidence after it took a hit earlier in the summer.

More signs of stability came with a slight increase in employment.

However, the use of sub-contractors continued to fall as the rates charged increased at the second-slowest level since June 2013.

August also saw a reduction in purchasing activity for the third consecutive month. Business confidence improved to its highest level since May but was still amongst the lowest recorded in the last three years.

Tim Moore, Senior Economist at Markit commented: “The downturn in UK construction activity has eased considerably since July, primarily helped by a much slower decline in commercial building. Construction firms cited a nascent recovery in client confidence since the EU referendum result and a relatively steady flow of invitations to tender in August.

“However, the latest survey indicates only a partial move towards stabilisation, rather than a return to business as usual across the construction sector. There were still widespread reports that Brexit uncertainty had dampened demand and slowed progress on planned developments, especially in relation to large projects."

Mr Moore said that despite reduced output, the latest figures could be seen as “welcome news” after the difficulties experienced over the summer.

Develop Training Ltd (DTL) has called for a new standard of quality and capacity to be implemented to prevent the UK from suffering serious and disruptive incidents in future. This will require local authorities and organisations to invest heavily in training.

The warning comes as council leaders press Theresa May over the delayed National Flood Resilience Review, established to assess how the country can better protect itself from flooding and extreme weather events. The report, due in July, has now been delayed.

Effective training can play a significant role in cutting risk through flood prevention and management. It enables those responsible to coordinate flood responses, safely deploy relevant staff members and report on the effectiveness of defences.

DTL’s Steve Braund commented: “As with most risks, prevention is key and therefore we feel it is vital for councils and organisations to employ suitable and realistic training solutions now, instead of waiting for another flood situation to impact them.

“It is important that those involved in flood defences are correctly trained to work safely and effectively, in order to minimise the risks from the increasing incidents of flooding.”

He said: “The move towards stabilisation chimes with the more upbeat UK manufacturing PMI data for August, and provides hope that the near-term fallout from Brexit uncertainty will prove less severe than feared.”

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Mayor of London makes first Elizabeth line journey Half of the permanent track on the line has now been laid, and nearly all of the platform structures, which will give stepfree access to 200m long trains at each of the ten new stations, have also been built.

Sadiq Khan described the opening of the Elizabeth line as “a landmark moment for London”.

He said: “It will help us deliver a modern, truly world-class transport system that allows us to deal with the growth in London’s population over the coming decades.

MAYOR of London, Sadiq Khan, has made the inaugural journey from the new Elizabeth line station at Custom House to Canary Wharf, marking the 75% completion milestone of Crossrail’s construction programme.

“I visited the Canary Wharf station site as Transport Minister in 2010 when construction had just got underway. The fact that the project is now 75% complete, and being delivered on time and within

budget is testament to the hard work of the thousands of men and women who have worked on the project.

“It is vital for the future prosperity of our city that progress continues apace and we deliver this wonderful project on time. With brand new trains and all the stations being step-free, the opening of the Elizabeth line will improve the quality of life for millions of people across London and the South East, and provide a huge boost to our economy.”

Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive added: “The remaining 25% of the programme will present a new set of challenges as we finish installing the critical components that will transform this major infrastructure project into an operating railway.”

HS2 “needs realistic timetable” say MPs THE Public Accounts Committee has commented that it is “not convinced” by the schedule for HS2; particularly that the first phase of the railway linking London and Birmingham - will open at the end of 2026 as planned.

In June, the National Audit Office said HS2’s first phase could potentially be delayed by up to 12 months.

The committee has also urged the Government to confirm the route for the second phase linking Manchester to Leeds, and the cost, with fears that Phase II could exceed the available funding by £7Bn. Last year, following a Cabinet Officeled review of the estimated cost of Phase II, the Department for Transport

and HS2 Ltd identified up to £9Bn in potential savings, but MPs have said that this could not be achieved without having an adverse effect on the project.

According to the report, “a great deal of work is still required” to integrate plans for HS2 with other rail investment programmes and the existing network.

Adding: “Furthermore, greater assurance about sources of funding and finance for regeneration and growth is required to ensure that the promised regional benefits from High Speed 2 materialise.”

The committee’s Chair, Meg Hillier, said: “Parliament and the public are still in the dark about crucial details - not least when the railway will open, how much it is expected to cost and precisely

where it will go.

“The public must be confident the grand vision for HS2 does not blind the Government to the finer points, which have implications for many people’s lives now and in the decades to come.”

However, in its report, the committee acknowledged there has been considerable progress on HS3 since its first report on the project in 2013.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said the project was “on time and on budget”.

“We are keeping a tough grip on costs, and pressing ahead with plans for Phase II - with further details due to be announced this autumn.”

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OPENING THE DOOR TO RECOVERY OF INTER-PARTY COSTS IN ADJUDICATION? Some time ago I wrote two articles on the various ways in which a party could recover its costs in adjudication.

The articles, which were published in May and June 2014, are still relevant today and are still available to read on our web site at Putting the EU Cat amongst the UK Pigeons and Adjudication and Back Door Cost Recovery.

Back then I speculated that it might become popular for Referring Parties to start

claiming costs incurred in adjudication under The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 ("the Act") where the Parties' contract failed to include an adequate remedy to recover interest, and both interest and costs were being claimed by the Referring Party under the Act. Sections 1(1) and 5A (3) of The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 entitle a creditor to claim interest (1(1)) and

fixed compensation sums of £40, £70 or £100 depending on the size of the debt (5A (3)). The right to recover your additional reasonable debt recovery costs arises out of the amended section 2A which states: “(2A) If the reasonable costs of the supplier in recovering the debt are not met by the fixed sum, the supplier shall also be entitled to a sum equivalent to the difference between the fixed sum and those costs.”

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204362808 tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

For a time this prediction came to pass and myself and my fellow adjudicators were regularly asked to decide that costs should be awarded as part of a Decision. This created consternation as, despite the apparently clear wording of the Act referred to above, many adjudicators, and I include myself in this, felt it was counter-intuitive to be able to award costs to a claiming party where no such remedy was available to a Responding Party. Could that be fair and how would the Court deal with such an application? We (adjudicators) needed some guidance from the Courts and we now have our first glimpse of how the Courts may deal with this issue through the handing down of a judgement in Lulu Construction Ltd v Mulalley & Co Ltd [2016] EWHC 1852 (TCC) (“Lulu�).

In this case Lulu applied for summary judgement to enforce the balance of an adjudicator's decision in its favour for interest and costs incurred in an adjudication that had actually been referred by Mulalley in order to obtain a decision on the value of Lulu's final account.

Interestingly, Lulu didn't actually raise the claim

for its costs until it issued its Rejoinder. Two issues arose in the proceedings.

Firstly, did the lack of a reference to costs in the Notice of Adjudication mean that the Adjudicator lacked jurisdiction to deal with the cost recovery claim?

Secondly, could the costs be awarded in any event?

In what is a relatively short judgement, Mr ActonDavis QC decided that "debt recovery costs" were connected with and ancillary to the referred dispute and considered to be part of the dispute. Secondly, the failure to refer to costs in the Notice was not fatal to Lulu's claim, made for the first time in the Rejoinder, because it was Mulalley's Notice that had started the adjudication and not Lulu's.

Although we now have the start of some judicial guidance on the recovery of inter-party costs in adjudication courtesy of Lulu, it should be said that the decision isn’t a binding statement of the law on the issue and we are still awaiting a final statement of the correct legal position from the Courts.

been waiting for a judgement to be handed down and for the door to be opened to all for the recovery of costs.

Lulu might just be the start of something and it will be interesting to see how many Parties will now try to bring claims which include an element for cost recovery where the underlying contract has failed to include an adequate remedy for dealing with the recovery of interest, and both interest and costs recovery are claimed under The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

Peter Vinden is a practising Arbitrator, Adjudicator, Mediator and Expert. He is Managing Director of The Vinden Partnership and can be contacted by email at pvinden@vinden.co.uk. For similar articles please visit www.vinden.co.uk.

Potential claimants have

Regent House, Folds Point, Folds Road, Bolton BL1 2RZ t. 01204 362888 f. 01204362808 tvp@vinden.co.uk www.vinden.co.uk

Collateral Warranty and Adjudication IT It is normal under the terms of a construction contract for the contractor to be under an obligation to the employer to procure collateral warranties from its sub-contractors, and sub-consultants where the contractor has design and build obligations. The collateral warranties required are likely to be in favour of the employer and also other interested parties, such as a tenant or funder. The question may then arise as to what happens if the contractor does not provide the collateral warranties.

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the warranty has effectively been included in the sub-contract, so that the party providing the warranty has the obligation to the contractor to provide the warranty, just as the contractor has the obligation to the employer to procure it.

From the contractor’s point of view, it should include in its sub-contracts provision which ensures that collateral warranties are provided at an early stage, for example making payment conditional on receipt of the warranties and making failure to provide the warranties a ground for termination of the contract.

If the sub-contractor or sub-consultant has design responsibility, then it is important for the employer/beneficiary to check that the sub-contractor/ subconsultant has professional indemnity insurance. Again, effective provision is needed that flows down into the sub-contract that not only requires the insurance to be in place but requires evidence of it to be supplied. Again, this should be linked to payment to ensure compliance. Frequently companies go into liquidation without having complied, by which time there is no effective remedy for the breach (not having the insurance).

An employer and other beneficiary of a warranty will also have an interest in seeing these types of provision in the sub-contracts. It is of course also essential for the employer/beneficiary to check that the obligation to provide

If a contractor is obliged to but fails to procure a collateral warranty, an employer may apply to the court for an order for specific performance. This is a discretionary remedy whereby the court orders compliance with the

obligation rather than damages for breach of it. It is therefore a remedy that is normally available only where damages would not be an adequate remedy.

This situation arose in Liberty Mercian Ltd v Cuddy Civil Engineering Ltd (2014). Damages against the contractor was not an adequate remedy, as it had no assets. Specific performance would offer an effective remedy and was ordered, as there was evidence that the party providing the warranty had professional indemnity insurance. The employer had terminated the contract with the contractor in this case, but the contractor still had the obligation to provide the warranty.

Specific performance will not be ordered if it serves no useful purpose.

For example, in the Liberty Mercian case it would not have been ordered if the party providing the warranty were insolvent and not insured. Hence the importance of checking these matters at an early stage.

By Peter Sheridan, Partner, Sheridan Gold LLP

Simple steps prevent costly falls THE tendering process followed by a contract award is a well-trodden path. It sounds too simple to be true. A tender enquiry is issued, tenders are returned, tender meetings take place, agreement is reached and the contract is entered into. Oh that it were so simple!

The reality is that tendering is a complicated time consuming process, timescales are tight, tendering submittal requirements are voluminous and when you think all is in order, work starts whilst the final paperwork is being agreed and the written contract put into place.

That is all well and good, unless, having gone through the initial steps and having informed a contractor they have been selected as the successful tenderer, negotiations around the terms and conditions prevent the final paperwork being agreed and work starts nonetheless to keep the project on programme. Sounds familiar?

Unfortunately, when payment disputes arise the ground is frequently fertile for arguing over the basis of the contract that was entered into, or not entered into as the case may be. This was played out in the recent case of Ground Developments Ltd (GDL) against the entity which refers to itself as Merseylink Civil Contractors JV (Joint Venture) when involved in The Mersey Gateway Project which

is a new six lane toll bridge to be constructed over the River Mersey.

Having purchased specialist equipment and mobilised whilst negotiations were underway, GDL received an email from the Joint Venture confirming the start date. Two days before the start date GDL sent Joint Venture a letter to the effect that although they had not finally agreed to enter into the proposed NEC3 Sub-Contract, they had been instructed to carry out the works. They then commenced work.

All well and good, until Joint Venture failed to issue statutory withholding notices for several payments totalling approximately £207,000. To get paid, GDL started an adjudication. Realising the uncertainty surrounding the formation of the contract and as a consequence, the terms and conditions that applied, they covered the options in the adjudication paperwork.

Being on the back-foot, having not issued the requisite notices, Joint Venture rehearsed what have become familiar arguments linked to the jurisdiction of the Adjudicator to decide the dispute, in order to de-rail the adjudication process.

The Adjudicator agreed with GDL. Joint Venture still refused to pay.

Unsurprisingly, GDL then commenced enforcement proceedings. They wanted

their money plus VAT and interest!

Joint Venture put up seven lines of defence. Uncertainty of the contractual relationship was their main line of defence to resist enforcement.

Amongst these, given the history of what took place before the start onsite, Joint Venture contended that a contract did not come into existence (a technical legal argument) or if there was a contract, it was not created by the GDL letter. They resisted nailing their colours to the mast as to when the contract was formed until given a little ‘encouragement’ by the judge.

The judge decided Joint Venture failed on all accounts and enforced the Adjudicator’s decision.

The £55,000 collective costs of both parties arguing over the enforceability of the Adjudicator’s decision attracted comment from the judge. He considered the fact that the monies are potentially repayable in any event because of the temporarily binding nature of adjudication.

So, for those facing similar situations, make sure you are clear as to the terms and conditions works are starting under, even if they have not been fully agreed.

By Mike Plews, Solicitor, Irwin Mitchell

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Navigating the pitfalls of the new public and utilities procurement rules IT’S a familiar scenario: a contract subject to the procurement rules has been advertised, you have assessed the tenders, the standstill period has passed and a contract has been awarded. Home and dry? Unfortunately that's not always the case, as the concluded contract frequently requires further refinement.

permissible modification of contracts have broadly been welcomed as an improvement on the previous position. These updated rules on contract modification set out a series of potential safe harbours - the premise being that if you fall within one, you can be confident that the contract change will not be problematic.

For years, the position has been that material amendments to a concluded contract would amount to the award of a new contract. This has been a grey area and the million dollar question of “what's a material change?" has been notoriously difficult to answer.

One such permitted change relates to review clauses. Where contract changes may be required it’s clear that resorting to any old review clause will fall far short of the required standard.

Several cumulative conditions apply and, importantly, the change must have been provided for in the initial procurement documents. In reality, this could mean bringing it to the attention of bidders as early as the OJEU notice.

With the 2014 public sector, utilities and concessions directives now all in effect, the revised provisions relating to

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For years, the position has been that material amendments to a concluded contract would amount to the award of a new contract.

The review clause must also be clear precise and unequivocal, as well as set out the scope and nature of possible modifications or options. Additionally, the conditions for use of the clause must be explained.

Seemingly generous, as long as these requirements are met, there is no limitation on the monetary value of the changes allowed. However, modifications are not permitted to alter the overall nature of the contract.

Lawyers might say these aspects of the test are potentially difficult to reconcile, while others would say it's walking a tightrope.

For a set of legislative changes intended to clarify the law, aspects of this might well strike you as, well,

For a set of legislative changes intended to clarify the law, aspects of this might well strike you as, well, not being terribly helpful...

contract, which uses a priced activity schedule. Your first intimation to the market as to what's involved will often be the OJEU contract notice. Here, it's very important to pay attention to what is being described to the market as the value of the contract. Ensure you clearly set out the scope and avoid limiting this too tightly, in a way you might later come to regret.

not being terribly helpful… You’d be in good company. We are already in the difficult position where the Supreme Court has effectively said that the law is as clear as mud. The exact phrase used

by Lord Hodge, in the case of Edenred (UK Group) Limited v HM Treasury, was that he, ”...was not persuaded that the nature of the review clauses is ‘acte clair’” – that is, the position is not even reasonably clear and free from doubt.

Addressing National Savings & Investments’ decision to use a preexisting outsourcing contract with Atos to deliver new services, the Supreme Court concluded that changes to the contract were not substantial. In arriving at its conclusion, the Court placed particular importance on the original procurement process, including the contract description and value set out in the OJEU Notice, as well as the fact that the contract allowed for the instruction of additional services of the same type, in line with pre-determined payment mechanisms.

What does this mean if you are using one of the widely used construction standard form contracts for a project in the UK? Take for example the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A (NEC3 Contract), a lump sum

Consider using a range and explain that the upper end of the range includes options. At this point, in general terms, also set out what the nature of those options might be.

Ideally, a specific review clause will be contained within the contract documents as a new ‘Z’ clause, making it easier to pass the ’clear precise and unequivocal’ test. If not, the contract document must include an appropriate variations clause and any allowable adjustment to the scope of works must be set out in the OJEU contract notice or subsequent tender documents.

Thought must be given to whether any additional scope instructed should be treated as a separate section to the works, which is particularly important where KPIs, target cost and completion date separate from the initial works, have been set.

Under the NEC3 Contract, changes to the scope of works are dealt with as compensation events. Where an instruction is given to a contractor changing the scope of works, the contractor is also instructed to submit a quotation for dealing with that compensation event. The quotation deals with any changes to the lump sum and changes to the completion date for the works and any other key

dates. The employer, through the project manager, can either accept or reject that quotation or request a revised quotation. Assessment of compensation is on the basis of the cost of the components in a Schedule of Cost Components plus a pre-agreed fee. Alternatively, if the project manager and the contractor agree, rates and lump sums may be used to assess a compensation event.

However, the standard compensation event provisions could raise a number of issues. The Schedule of Cost Components and rates and lumps sums in the Activity Schedule will not necessarily cover all works in the varied scope or the contractor’s risk allowances. This could allow the contractor to give an inflated premium price, as the time to go through a further procurement process is not available. A significant enough change could conceivably alter the contract’s overall nature.

Under the revised procurement rules, it is risky to treat any construction contract, even a well-used standard form, as off-the-shelf and ready to use. However, with comprehensive project planning, intimation to the market and often with some very minor contractual adjustments, review clauses can be used to give public bodies considerably greater comfort and certainty that changes made during the lifetime of a contract will be permissible.

By Mark Macaulay - Partner and Head of Department for Construction & Engineering - and David McGowan - Director of the EU, Competition & Regulatory Team at Maclay Murray & Spens LLP.

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Risk beyond your comfort zone THERE is a lot of talk about Health and Safety in the trade world but most businesses don’t get into difficulty because of H&S issues. Benjamin Dyer looks at other factors which also present major risks to the business.

It’s hard to get injured at work if you’re a lawyer, apart from maybe being punched by a client’s previous husband! Most desk jobs are pretty safe but that’s not true of the trades, and particularly construction. This all helps to explain why the health and safety laws exist, even if they can be irritating and sometimes downright ridiculous.

But thinking that business risks are restricted to accidents is itself dangerous. When you run a business, there are many more risks than an on-site accident. Many of these have the potential to put you and any employees out of a job. Here we try to look at some of them together with mitigating actions that can be taken.

• A recession can be a big problem.

I remember talking to a guy in the building trade who was asked how he was doing and said: “Never had it so good, and you know what, in three years I will never have had it so bad”. When asked to explain he said that he had been in the building trade for 40 years and the biggest lesson was that every

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boom was followed by an equal bust.

Anticipating this and reacting quickly to cut costs meant that you would be one of the survivors.

• Overtrading is about the worst thing that can ever hit any business.

This happens to successful and profitable companies where fast growth leads to more work in progress and this eats up cash. So despite a full order book you can run out of money and can’t meet your bills, resulting in going bust.

You can avoid this with realistic cash flow forecasting and your accountant should be able to help.

It’s worth it if you are growing fast.

one disaster: “I was concerned about one job I was offered. The person was far too gushing about my company and swallowed a high price I quoted without comment. When I insisted on an up-front deposit, he bailed out. It was a narrow escape; the company that took the job never saw a penny.”

• There’s a saying that one bad apple makes the whole bunch look bad.

When you are a small business, if one poor employee that does second rate work or upsets customers can have a disastrous impact. When you see that things are going badly wrong, act fast or everyone will suffer.

Without any risk, life would be dull. If you have started your own business, you are certainly up for some risk.

However, that doesn’t mean all risk is good and it is never great to take unnecessary gambles. My hope is that some of the thoughts will help you to manage your risks and that life will be calmer as a result.

• A quick rule of thumb says that no customer should generate more than 10% of your revenue. It’s designed to protect you from rogue customers that pay late or not at all, or even go bust. If you smell a rat, beware. Gerald Trankell, MD of Nevada Construction avoided

By Benjamin Dyer, CEO and cofounder of Powered Now

• There are some people you can’t afford to upset and that includes the tax man. If they start suspecting you of cooking the books it will take lots of your time and money to challenge their assessment. So stay on their right side and do your returns on time.

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Migraine Awareness in the Construction Industry ACCORDING to the WHO, migraine is the sixth highest cause of work absenteeism worldwide. In the UK, an estimated eight million people (one in seven) are affected by migraine.

Figures from the Migraine Trust show that there are over 190,000 migraine attacks every day in the UK. The condition is more common than asthma, diabetes and epilepsy combined, and is most common among adults of working age.

Migraine Awareness Week, which is run every year by the charity Migraine Action, took place last month.

Migraine Action has helped support those affected by migraines for over

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50 years. The charity's mission is to provide information, advice, support and research to improve the lives of sufferers.

communication empowers companies to defend against the silent health and safety risks posed by undeclared and unmanaged migraine conditions.

MIGRAINE IN THE WORKPLACE

Migraine-related risks are particularly acute in the construction industry, where there is both a greater danger of serious injury following a health and safety breach and, according to a recent survey, a workplace culture that stigmatises illness.

Employers are required to provide a healthy working environment.

This includes advisory measures on helping prevent migraine. Many reported migraine “trigger factors” are particularly hard to avoid on building sites - even when the employer meets all of their PPE obligations.

The Awareness Week gives employers and employees a chance to open dialogue about the condition. Better

HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS In more serious cases, a migraine attack can cause brief periods of blindness or vision changes, hearing loss, and seizure. Even if a worker’s

Of the 20 industries included in a recent survey, the construction industry was ranked among the highest for respondents seeing time off work as a “weakness”.

migraine is less severe, they may still experience fatigue and chronic pain.

Additionally, migraine medication side effects include drowsiness, nausea and difficulty thinking.

Theories about the causes of migraines include emotional, physical, dietary, environmental and medicinal factors.

Building sites expose workers to a disproportionately high number of these triggers including: • Noise • Toxic substances and fumes e.g. volatile organic compounds found in most paints and solvents • Sick building syndrome • Light extremes • Temperature and humidity extremes • Carbon monoxide from working in and around plant and machinery • Poor posture - for many trades this is unavoidable • Neck and shoulder tension • Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) • Dehydration MANAGING TRIGGERS With open communication and planning, the impact of migraine triggers can be managed, reducing health and safety risks both to an affected worker and to others.

Commenting on behalf of Quittance Personal Injury, Operations Director Chris Salmon said: “Every month, we are contacted by workers injured in accidents on building sites. It is not uncommon for the circumstances

leading up to an accident to include tiredness, stress and a level of distraction brought on by existing illness or health conditions.

“Migraine Action’s campaign is a great opportunity for companies to address workers’ existing conditions in an open and constructive way, to prevent these accidents from ever occurring.”

A PROBLEM CULTURE Migraine attracts a degree of prejudice and is often seen by non-sufferers as ‘just a headache’ - something to power on through. Of the 20 industries included in a recent survey, the construction industry was ranked among the highest for respondents seeing time off work as a “weakness”.

the risk, but also it because offers little legal protection should an accident occur.”

One test for negligence considers whether an employer knew about, or reasonably should have known about, a health and safety risk. This puts the onus on the employer to do what they can to facilitate the identification of health conditions that may affect an employee’s safety.

If an employee is injured as a result of their condition, injures another worker or site visitor, or their condition worsens as a result of the employer’s failure to act, the employer may well face both court action from the injured party, and a fine issued by the HSE. TACKLING THE PROBLEM

Close to half of respondents also said that when they needed to take time off, they did not feel that they could do so, and that their manager would not understand. A similar percentage said that they felt “guilty” for taking time off for illness or injury.

WHEN IS AN EMPLOYER NEGLIGENT? According to Quittance, “an employer may believe that being unaware a site worker’s conditio n means that the employer cannot be held liable, should a migraine attack result in injury to the employee or another worker.

“This is a dangerous position to take, not least because it fails to manage

Given the prejudice that migraine sufferers sometimes face, a worker may be reluctant to come forward.

It is therefore the employer’s duty to challenge the stigma and foster a culture where workers feel that they can discuss health issues with management without putting their livelihoods at risk.

The Migraine Trust offer advice to employers and employees to debunk myths about the condition, and help reduce the impact of trigger factors.

The NHS also publish guide on managing migraines in the workplace: www.nhs.uk/ipgmedia/national/ migraine%20action/assets/ migraineintheworkplace.pdf

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The Homes of the Future: TECHNOLOGY is changing every facet of modern life, whether it’s the mobile phones in our pockets, in-car connectivity, or building information modelling in the construction industry.

But are we set to finally see our home life revolutionised?

your house without the need to install separate music players, Blu-ray’s or satellite boxes in each room. Different music or video can played in every room of the house or if you prefer, the same in all rooms - particularly handy if you’re a regular party host.

You may have heard the terms ‘Smart Home’ or ‘Internet of Things’ bandied about in terms of technology that will make life easier at home, but what exactly does it mean for the ordinary family? There are a number of gadgets on the market that allow you to control aspects of your home life - from entertainment systems to laundry and bedtime.

Internet radio can also be streamed along with other online music services.

Regardless of what room you are in or what angle you are from the speaker, the high quality sound will remain the same.

Smart home technology can change the way we watch television or listen to our favourite music. With a single home entertainment system, audio and/or video can be delivered to any room in

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Missed deliveries could also be a thing of the past, as you will be able to monitor and speak to visitors - opening the door for them with your smart device. For the concerned parent, notifications can be sent to mobile phones when children arrive back home.

Laundry is another aspect of everyday life that is being revolutionised.

New generations of smart washing machines allow you to set your washing machine remotely using your phone. Progress of the wash can be monitored via a smart app allowing you to see how much time is left and what part of the wash cycle the machine is currently up to. Wash programs can also be paused and alerts sent once the machine is ready to be emptied.

Smart beds can monitor your sleeping patterns by sensing your position and make automatic real-time adjustments to give your body more support where needed.

Connected technology in the shape of ‘Smart Energy’ can also change the way we manage heating at hot water in our home. British Gas’ Hive technology or its rival Nest - are smart thermostats that lets you control your

What is a Smart Home? heating and hot water from your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Separate hot water tanks can be controlled remotely so schedules can be set, and you can boost your supply should a long hot bath be in order.

The technology doesn’t stop with controlling heating and hot water; lighting around the home can also be controlled. Schedules can be set for periods away such as the family holiday, so that lights can come on and off just as they would if you were at home.

How many of us have wondered if we have left the iron on at some point?

Perhaps concerned that hair straighteners haven’t been unplugged? Through Active Plugs, electrical appliances can be switched on or off remotely.

The technology also makes it possible to attach sensors to windows and

doors, allowing you to check via your phone whether they are closed. If a window was to open while you were out of the house, an alert would sent to your smart phone.

Recently, we heard from the new Executive Director of the National Grid, Nicola Shaw, who claimed that these advancements in technology could lead to less conventional power stations in the UK. Ms Shaw told BBC news: “We are at a moment of real change in the energy industry. From an historic perspective we created energy in big generating organisations that sent power to houses and their businesses. Now we are producing energy in those places – mostly with solar power.”

People’s changing attitudes to energy consumption, such as using power at its cheapest rate, is being driven by

technology.

Ms Smith described it as: “A real revolution - a smart energy revolution that’s changing the way we think about energy across the country.”

Uptake has been a little slower than many in the industry were predicting however, with the expense of buying connected technology putting off people taking the plunge.

Experts in the technology expect numbers to increase when the price begins to drop or when such advanced features begin to be included in appliances as standard. An example of this would be new televisions available on the market coming with internet connectivity, meaning more consumers are taking advantage of this feature to subscribe to streaming services or view catch-up TV.

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INNOVATIVE HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATION DESIGN DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING WINDOW INTEGRATED HRV UNITS AND INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC FILTER EXCHANGE BOX THE DANISH COMPANY ECOVENT HAS DEVELOPED NEW BUILDING INTEGRATED HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATION (HRV) DESIGNED BOTH FOR HOUSING AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND IS AT PRESENT AN IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THE NORDIC BUILT ACTIVE ROOF AND FACADES PROJECT, WITH CENERGIA AS COORDINATOR.

Building integrated Heat Recovery Ventilation systems

Ecovent window or wall integrated HRV unit in situ

Decentralised HRV system from Ecovent mounted at Gl. Kongevej in Copenhagen.

ECOVENT HRV SYSTEMS IN TEST CLASSROOM AT GRØNDALSVÆNGE SCHOOL IN COPENHAGEN

New windows with integrated fresh air intakes and exhaust outlet in window frame

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Fire Safety in Construction: An Exclusive Interview with Mike Burroughs MIKE Burroughs - a member of the Chief Fire Officers Association - speaks exclusively to Abigail Burr about the dangers of timber frame construction sites.

Mike has been a member of the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) Structural Timber Working Group since 2010. He left Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service in 2015, having enjoyed a career of over 30 years, and is now a Forensic Fire Investigator with

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Fire Investigations (UK) LLP, and Fire Consultant to the Structural Timber Association. Mike continues to sit on the CFOA Working Group.

HOW COMMON ARE CONSTRUCTION SITE FIRES IN THE UK?

all methods of construction. However, it is worth noting that this coincides with the recession, which started in 2008, and the subsequent revival of construction projects over the last few years, as well as an increasing market share for timber frame in England.

Recent statistics for England show that fires in dwellings under construction have declined from 274 in the year 2009/2010 to 171 in 2014/2015 – a reduction of 38%. These figures are for

Provisional figures show that housing starts in the UK have risen by 6% to 175,000 in the last 12 months and timber frame has a 27% share of that market.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF FIRE ON CONSTRUCTION SITES? I believe the biggest causes to be deliberate fires and ‘hot works’.

WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES OF TIMBER FRAME BUILDING SITES AGAINST THEIR VULNERABILITY TO FIRE? Advantages I am aware of include sustainability, low carbon footprint, speed of build, and speed to make weather tight. Various construction techniques are possible, including prefabricated panels which are manufactured in factory controlled conditions and assembled on-site. Fires in cavities and voids are an issue in all construction types.

ARE THERE ANY SAFETY FEATURES ON BUILDINGS TO MAKE THEM MORE RESISTANT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE? There are many different methods of construction that fall under the title ‘timber frame’. Standard Category A is vulnerable during construction but is appropriate in many circumstances.

Once completed there is standard fire resistance within rooms.

Category B has increased fire resistance and Category C is clad with non-combustible boards. Different features apply to other structural timber such as Cross Laminated Timber and GluLam. HOW IS SAFETY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT? Fire safety starts at the design stage and must be maintained throughout the project. In addition, as a condition of membership, members of the Structural Timber Association are required to adhere to the SiteSafe Policy as well as the 16 Steps to Fire Safety.

The requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 apply to construction sites and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.

Once the building is complete the Fire Safety Order is enforced by the local Fire and Rescue Authority.

WHAT IS DONE TO PROMOTE A “FIRE SAFE” WORKING ENVIRONMENT TO ALL WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF PUBLIC? Once the building is complete, the Fire Safety Order is enforced by the local Fire and Rescue Authority. In addition, the Health and Safety Executive has published guidance HSG 168 Fire Safety in Construction. The Structural Timber Association has published guidance for members on Design of Escape Routes during the Construction Process.

WHAT MEASURES ARE IN PLACE IF A FIRE DOES OCCUR ON A TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION SITE? This very much depends on the size and complexity of the site as well as the construction method. As mentioned earlier, the Fire Safety Order applies to construction sites. This requires the ‘responsible person’ to take ‘general fire precautions’. This is defined as measures to reduce the risk of fire and spread of fire, providing sufficient means of escape and ensuring they can be effectively used, measures for fighting fire, measures for detecting and giving warning in case of fire, and measures for training employees and mitigating the effects of fire.

In addition they are required to consider the ‘off-site’ risk. This is where the Separating Distance Guidance published by the STA and recommended by HSE comes in.

Finally, again as a condition of membership, members of the Structural Timber Association are required to register all sites over

600sq m total floor area. This is via a database that is maintained by the Chief Fire Officers Association; entries are forwarded to the relevant fire and rescue service based on postcode.

This makes the Fire and Rescue Service aware of the site and allows them to pre-plan.

Timber Framers and contractors who are not Structural Timber Association members are encouraged, but not required, to notify the local fire service.

WHAT IS THE 35 METRE RULE? Referring to guidance from the Structural Timber Association (previously the UKTFA), this recommends a maximum travel distance of 35m (or 15m if in a dead end) to a fire exit or protected route on structural timber construction sites, provided that enhanced fire warning systems have been installed, and they include strategically placed automatic fire detection to give the earliest warning of fire to occupants. The earlier warning gives slightly more time for escape and to cover the additional travel distance. If the enhanced fire protection is not in place then the standard distance of 25m (12m in dead end) applies.

Provisional figures show that housing starts in the UK have risen by 6% to 175,000 in the last 12 months and timber frame has a 27% share of that market.

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Office Space: The basics of business relocation WHETHER one floor up or two counties over, business relocation is a stressful proposition for any organisation, regardless of size.

Oftentimes, a change in premises promises logistical headaches aplenty, and those ill-prepared may find themselves struggling to maintain business performance. But relocation need not be a chore, and the informed might find it an invaluable opportunity to trim the fat and rationalise their working environment.

To do so, firms must first identify the potential pitfalls. Fred Rademeyer, Chief Executive Officer of commercial infrastructure specialist Nexus PSL, is on-hand to explain: “Firstly, businesses often struggle to recognise what it is they really need. Any form of movement is a good opportunity to get rid of unnecessary baggage, but a lot of organisations are so overweight in terms of storage and poorly used space. There’s a real lack of understanding there.”

By that same token, a puritanical approach to business relocation is not recommended. “Some companies want to travel too light,” Fred continues.

“They’ve read a report or approached a consultant who has told them that removing pedestals increases productivity. But within three months

40

new furniture has to be ordered because everyone is unhappy.”

Knowing what to cart and what not to cart is essential then, though the contemporary office environment is evolving, confounding accepted norms of shabby MDF and sulphurous yellow lighting, as Fred states: “Offices don’t look like offices anymore. They’re agile work spaces that look more like cafes or coffee shops than conventional office accommodation. Having that kind of environment eliminates the need for people to create a habitat at their desk.”

Preparation is of course key, though the planning itself is a managerial tightrope walk, susceptible to even the slightest wrinkle in scheduling. For Fred: “The final stage of any project is absolutely critical. The finishing touches - be it glass partitioning, furniture delivery, or the installation of last-minute cabling - are among the biggest challenges towards the end.”

For example: “Let’s say the furniture is to be delivered on a day determined by the project manager. It arrives as planned but the carpet tiles have been lifted by the guys installing the floor boxes because of a last minute change in positioning. The delivery company isn’t able to fit the furniture and so they

take a photo and charge a variation.

IT is scheduled for later that day, but when they turn up there are no desks.

They take a photo and walk away.

The whole process is out of sync, the client ends up with three or four sets of variations to pay, and everybody needs to be reengaged. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

Its little surprise then that more businesses are turning towards tried and true professionals like Nexus specialists with the plate spinning experience required to effectively manage the movement process end-to-end. In Fred’s words: “What Nexus is able to do is group each of these elements under a single banner, which means that there’s no need for communication between removal companies and IT providers. We look after one best interest, and that’s the client’s.”

Ultimately, whether you hire a specialist or opt instead to do your own dirty work, the fundamentals remain the same. Scrutinize your office space, take the time to identify any unnecessary baggage, and plan ahead. In doing so, you might find yourself in a more efficient and energised working environment.

Sites Continue to Benefit from Wireless CCTV

More and more sites are benefiting from the use of the OnGarde CCTV tower, in fact 2015 saw a 140% growth in the number of sites using this CCTV tower to protect their assets and reduce security costs.

One of the factors in driving this increase in usage was undoubtedly the launch of the OnGarde Duo in the last quarter of 2015. The OnGarde Duo allows users to choose the power and lighting option which best meets their site needs.

Customers can choose Infrared lighting if there is no power available during the night or at weekends or they are operating sites in areas where light pollution could be a problem.

Alternatively they can benefit from the systems original LED lighting which acts as a deterrent and can reduce the need for additional light sources on site.

The benefit of the new duo has already built on the formidable features of the original tower which include: • Verified alarms using smart Video Contents Analytics software, so no false alarms • Highly visible 3m tall deterrent • On alarm verification a live audio warning is sent to the site to warn the intruder that they are being monitored and recorded and that the authorities have been called.

• Rapid installation in around one hour The effectiveness of the OnGarde tower was once again proven over the busy Christmas period. With many sites closed for the festive period there is an increased opportunity for theft and vandalism but OnGarde are pleased to report that for the fourth consecutive year they recorded zero theft and vandalism on sites which it monitors during this key period.

Unfortunately, during the festive period there was a good deal of coverage in the news about the devastating floods which hit many parts of the country, this included some areas where the OnGarde tower was deployed, this included a site in Leeds.

As you can see from the photo the flooding on the site was bad with the base of the OnGarde tower actually underwater, despite this the tower continued to work and even detected and highlight a plank of wood floating by which was obviously verified as being no threat so no audio warning was given.

For more information about the OnGarde CCTV Rapid Deployment Tower and the NEW OnGarde Duo visit ongardecctv.com

A Meeting of Minds: ACFO talk fleet with government bodies THE Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) has discussed some of the driving issues currently impacting its membership with officials from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Highways England.

During a lengthy discourse with HMRC, a raft of tax-related matters were mulled over, including: • Recent consultations on three areas of policy - company car benefit-in-kind tax treatment for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), salary sacrifice schemes, and how new lease accountancy rules will influence the tax treatment of leased assets.

• The publication of Advisory Fuel Rates for plug-in vehicles, in addition to those already produced quarterly for petrol, diesel and LPG fuelled company cars.

• Making fleet managers more aware of the possibility for employees to amend online the car and fuel benefits that affect their tax codes.

This means that PAYE employees who drive company cars no longer have to wait for HMRC to update their information.

• The ramifications of this year’s Finance Bill clarification concerning the so-called ‘fair bargain’ loophole, after the taxman lost a longstanding legal battle with Sheffield-based Apollo Fuels and 20 of its employees.

ACFO was represented by Chairman John Pryor and Deputy Chairman Caroline Sandall, and joined by Jay Parmar - Director of Policy and Membership at the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).

High on the Association’s agenda was the newly-published ‘Consultation on Salary Sacrifice for the Provision of Benefits-in-Kind’ report, which assesses the potential impact to businesses and personnel should the Government decide to change the way in which the benefit code applies.

According to Mr Pryor: “ACFO considers salary sacrifice as a funding method and is therefore neutral in its viability.” The Government, however, feels that an unprecedented amount of salary sacrifice has resulted in mounting costs for the Exchequer, due in part to the loss of much-needed tax and National Insurance contributions.

The Chairman added: “We have real concerns about introducing a change of this magnitude without mentioning any

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‘grandfathering’ in relation to existing salary sacrifice schemes. It would be unfair on drivers to force cost increases part way through a contract period.

“ACFO is concerned about the timescale of the introduction of any changes if current rules are altered.

Many companies will struggle to make changes for salary sacrifice car schemes by next April.

“What’s more, employers with active salary sacrifice schemes and their employees potentially face unknown risks as vehicles are being ordered now and over the coming months without knowledge of what may happen in the future. There are a lot of issues and companies must assess the potential impact.”

Furthermore, salary sacrifice schemes tend to favour low emission vehicles thus, any movement to stymie demand might also effect departmental measures to further encourage ULEV uptake, meaning that some employees will be forced to drive less efficient privately-owned vehicles.

Mr Pryor continued: “We know that salary sacrifice schemes have been very successful in introducing low CO2 cars to employees - whether they previously had entitlement to a car or cash allowance - and that when no scheme is available, the private car driven typically has higher emissions CO2.”

Simultaneously, the Government’s ‘Company Car Tax for Ultra-Low Emission Cars’ consultation is seeking views on the design of benefit-in-kind tax bands for ULEVs to encourage uptake. The document outlines how existing CO2-based company car benefit-in-kind tax bands could be restructured, with the potential to further differentiate ULEVs by how many zero emission miles they can travel.

Of the consultation, Mr Pryor said: “What the Government is proposing makes logical sense. However, ACFO’s major concern is that just as the current tax system is straight-forward to understand and administer that must be the case with any revisions. If a mileage element is introduced it must be fair and sensible.

“At the meeting HMRC made it clear that it wanted to hear the views of individual fleet managers as well as company car drivers, and not only those of trade associations such as ACFO. We are therefore asking our individual members to respond to the consultation documents.”

Mr Pryor also found time to comment on HMRC’s online service for employees looking to update their company car and fuel benefit details https://www.gov.uk/update-companycar-details: “It is a great service and easy to use. HMRC wants more employees to use the service and we will be encouraging our members to make their drivers aware of the system.”

He concluded: “HMRC made it clear that it wants to have regular - perhaps quarterly meetings - with ACFO to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. We are delighted that HMRC wants to engage with ACFO and we have an ‘open door policy’ with them and would encourage officials to attend our meetings and seminars.”

HIGHWAYS ENGLAND Since November 2014, fleet operators have grumbled about a significant increase in administration following the introduction of the “free flow” Dartford Crossing Charging Scheme.

There have been numerous complaints

from ACFO’s own membership relating to the ‘Dart Charge’, including an inability to access online accounts, vehicles charged in error, and complexity surrounding account administration - all of which has contributed to fines for non-payment running cumulatively into the thousands of pounds.

ACFO Director Debbie Floyde met with Highways England, which oversees ‘Dart Charge’ on behalf of the Government and outsourced its operation to Sanef.

Ms Floyde said: “Highways England made it very clear that it was prepared to engage in conversation with ACFO and was happy to have direct contact with members if they were finding it difficult to resolve issues with the operator.”

A Highways England representative spoke at ACFO’s 2015 autumn seminar and Ms Floyde stated: “The Organisation has been made very aware of our continuing concerns.”

Meanwhile, ACFO continues to call for a single centralised database to hold vehicle data for all road charging schemes, including Dartford Crossing, the controversial London Congestion Charge, Severn River Crossing and the M6 Toll - in addition to any future schemes.

DRIVER AND VEHICLE LICENSING AGENCY ACFO Deputy Chairman Caroline Sandall was again on-hand to meet with DVLA officials and discuss: • Planned changes to Vehicle Excise Duty coming into force next April.

• The need for drivers to inform the DVLA of any ‘notifiable’ medical condition or disability that could affect their ability to drive.

In the 2015 summer Budget, Central Government announced a change to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for cars first registered from 1 April 2017. First year rates of VED will vary according to the CO2 emissions of the vehicle - £0 for zero emission cars and £10 for cars with emissions of 1-50g/km, all the way up to £2,000 for cars with emissions above 255g/km. A flat rate of £140 will apply in subsequent years, excluding zero-emission cars. Additionally, vehicles with a list price in excess of £40,000 will attract a supplemental £310 fee on top of the standard rate for the first five years in which the standard rate is paid.

Those cars first registered before 1 April 2017 will remain in the current VED system, which will not change.

Ms Sandall said: “DVLA wants ACFO to publicise the changes as the date for their introduction looms and we are happy to oblige.”

Elsewhere, worries concerning employee fitness have intensified following the fatal Glasgow bin lorry crash in December 2014. Investigation found that the driver responsible, Harry Clarke, repeatedly lied to gain and retain jobs and licences. In response, all drivers are being urged to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions or disabilities that might negatively impact their ability to operate a vehicle safety. New road-side drug screening devices have also been introduced, along with new driving limits for a string of prescription drugs.

Ms Sandall said: “The DVLA is reaching out to ACFO to raise awareness of all issues around medication and its impact on the ability to drive. It is a message that ACFO will promote to its members.”

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Everything you need to know about AdBlue

Call: 01472 803725

Email: air1uk@yara.com

Web: www.air1.info

AdBlue, SCR Technology and Legislation What is AdBlue?

Air1 is a non-toxic aqueous urea solution used to chemically reduce NOx emissions from diesel powered vehicles. These need to be SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) equipped.

AdBlue is a 32.5% solution of high-purity urea in demineralized water. Developed as an exhaust treatment chemical used to reduce emissions of NOx, AdBlue is a high purity solution of urea that is a clear colourless liquid with a faint ammonia smell and is perfectly safe to handle.

AdBlue is classified under the minimum risk category of transportable fluids. It is not a fuel, nor a fuel additive and needs to be used in a dedicated tank on the vehicle. It is replenished in a similar way to refuelling diesel.

AdBlue can be produced in several ways •

By producers of urea from hot melt urea. This is how Yara produces Air1.

•

By dissolvers, who buy urea prills from a producer and then dilute them with demineralised water in a 32.5% solution.

The VDA* will only grant manufacturers of the urea solution a licence to sell a product as AdBlue if they meet the strict manufacturing, quality and logistical standards set out in ISO 22241 and DIN 70070. The regulations that make AdBlue such a high purity product are very tight, and products that do not meet these standards cannot be called AdBlue or make any reference to the name. In essence, products that are not approved by the VDA should be called ‘urea solution’ or something similar. Such substandard products have the potential to cause significant damage to a vehicle’s SCR system, and in the event of a non-AdBlue product being used it will invalidate a manufacturer’s warranty, leaving the vehicle operator with a large bill for repair should damage occur.

Yara’s expertise in urea production is backed by over a century of experience. With this knowledge, Yara contributed towards setting the high standard specification required for AdBlue, a high purity urea solution. The AdBlue produced comes from a hot melt prime urea solution and product traceability ensures that there is no risk of contamination.

Strict health and safety procedures guarantee that the Air1 product maintains its integrity as all ISO guidelines are adhered to throughout the production and shipping process.

Each batch is verified so customers can rest assured that any vehicle’s catalyst will not be damaged by inconsistent product quality.

SCR Technology SCR requires the use of a reagent called AdBlue to reduce NOx. Competitive technologies offer a less beneficial fuel efficiency and higher CO2 emissions, so SCR is the most cost effective solution to meet NOx emission standards. The main components of the SCR system are the SCR catalyst, the AdBlue injection unit, the AdBlue tank and the AdBlue dosing control unit. AdBlue is injected into the exhaust pipe, in front of the SCR catalyst, downstream of the engine.

Heated in the exhaust it decomposes into ammonia and CO2. When the NOx reacts inside the catalyst with the ammonia, the harmful NOx molecules in the exhaust are converted to harmless nitrogen and water. For the correct functioning of your SCR system, make sure you use only high quality AdBlue. Poor quality reagent that is contaminated with foreign matters risks damaging your catalyst.

Legislation Nitrogen oxide emissions in large-goods vehicles are being reduced further by the introduction of the new emission standards. In Europe the first of these Standards, Euro 0, came into effect in 1990 with NOx limits of 14.4 and PM limits of 1.1, both measured in g/kwh. The 2001 Euro III standard reduced these limits to 5 and 0.1 respectively. The use of AdBlue came with the introduction of Euro IV, V and VI standards. NOx, particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) are the components regulated. Euro IV was implemented from Oct. 2005 to Oct. 2006 and Euro V implementation dates were from Oct. 2008 to Oct. 2009. The Emissions limit for NOx is 3.5 g/ kWh in Euro IV and 2.0 g/kWh in Euro V. On 1st January 2014, Euro VI continued the drive to reduce harmful exhaust emissions, with NOx levels decreasing down 0.4g/kwh.

Since the introduction of the legislation in 1990, levels have reduced the limit for NOx by 95% and for particulates by 97% to the Euro VI levels.

For further information please contact our customer service team, 01472 803725, air1uk@yara.com

Air1® is a registered trademark of Yara International ASA. AdBlue® is a registered trademark of the Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V (VDA)

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IMPROVE SAFETY AND STAY COMPLIANT. Vehicle tracking • Fleet optimisation • Workforce management • Green and safe • Business integration

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CASE and Warwick Ward: Celebrating ten years in partnership CASE Construction Equipment dealer Warwick Ward Machinery has, over the course of a fruitful 46 year period, emerged as one of the UK’s leading construction plant and equipment dealers.

that has paid dividends to both businesses and the firm’s diverse clientbase. Since the partnership first began, Warwick Ward has seen a year-on-year increase in CASE market share, and that growth shows no sign of slowing.

Established in 1970 by namesake Warwick Ward, the family-owned Barnsley-based business is today the largest stockist and supplier of new and used wheel loaders, earthmovers, and waste recycling equipment in Europe.

According to Simon Causier, the reasons for this are quite simple: “CASE is certainly ahead of the curve in terms of innovation. As an industry leader, they are able to invest considerable amounts in R&D and are constantly improving existing machinery in-step with new technology. All of which means that, when we are stood shoulder to shoulder with our competitors, we have absolutely no fear.

Central to this success is the Company’s status as a fully authorised and approved CASE dealer, as Simon Causier - General Manager of Warwick Ward Machinery - explains: “Ten years ago, Warwick Ward was looking to partner up with a premium brand, and there was CASE in nearby Doncaster. It was perfect timing for both businesses as CASE was in the process of reworking its UK-based operations through dealers like ourselves.

“Over the past decade, Warwick Ward has become a major CASE dealer in the country, and we have grown our business on the back of that success.

We stock new and used machinery for sale or hire, offer maintenance packages and service work, and sell a wide variety of components. The partnership has opened up a lot of different avenues for us.”

Offering a full complement of high performance CASE Construction Equipment, Warwick Ward has quickly established itself as one of the brand’s largest dealerships. It’s a collaboration

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“That said, it’s no use having the best product in the world if, in the event of an issue, the dealer is unable to make it out to the customer in a timely fashion or comprehensively solve the problem.

For Warwick Ward that support is as important as the product itself, and this has proven to be the cornerstone of our lasting success.”

It’s an outlook that Tony Hall, Managing Director of Pegasus Grab Hire and Warwick Ward customer, certainly agrees with: “Predominantly, we’re a grab hire company, though a big part of our business is recycling. We process and recycle excavated material to create different products, and that’s where CASE come in. All of the excavators and loaders we now use are CASE. “Because we have a good relationship with another manufacturer it made

us a tough nut for CASE to crack. But the availability of their machines made them a must, and Warwick Ward’s representative was one of the most helpful we’ve dealt with. He was really keen to show us the product and he didn’t mind demoing the machinery.”

Tony concludes: “It all comes down to having a single point of contact - someone who will go above and beyond. When we had a problem with a leaking valve, Warwick Ward were able to come out that same day. It’s a level of support that you don’t often see.”

In recognition, CASE has encouraged Warwick Ward’s expansion into exciting new territories across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands, and Worcestershire.

Simon adds: “CASE has given Warwick Ward the opportunity to take on wider regions across the West Midlands and, in order to do so, we have opened a new depot in Redditch. For 18 months we have strived to replicate the Warwick Ward ethos down south, and we’re beginning to have some real success.

We recently recruited an Operations Manager, so it’s all go at the moment!”

The new venture will be driven by a dedicated sales, parts and service team in Redditch, with support the company’s head office in Barnsley.

Crucially, with CASE and Warwick Ward consolidating their efforts, customers new and existing can look forward to many more great deals and high performance machinery in the months and years to come.

IT’S TIME FOR MORE

3 YEARS - 5,000 HOURS The CASE F Series Wheel Loader warranty now includes 3 years / 5,000 hours powertrain and hydraulics.* * Available on selected heavy line F Series Wheel Loader models whilst stocks last, warranty terms and conditions apply

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL DEALER GO TO: www.casece.com/dealer/uk

www.casece.com

EXPERTS FOR THE REAL WORLD SINCE 1842

‘Sustainability in the Department for Transport’ report “deeply concerning” THE Environmental Audit Committee has published a report stating that the Department for Transport (DfT) needs a clear strategy to increase uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, cut air pollution, and resolve the Volkswagen emissions scandal to meet stringent decarbonisation and air quality standards.

According to the ‘Sustainability in the Department for Transport’ report, the DfT has the opportunity build on its successes in sustainability and to take the lead in encouraging other government departments and local authorities on the use of sustainable transport.

However, in order to do so the DfT must improve how it communicates its commitment and progress updates.

Its ‘Single Departmental Plan’ fails to sufficiently identify the results from the commitments it has made. The Department’s Annual Report should

50

also provide greater understanding of its performance against targets set by the Government and others on decarbonisation and renewable energy use.

The report urges the Department for Transport to show more ambition in its attempts to increase uptake of ultralow emission vehicles (ULEV) in the short-term and also outline its plans for the sector in the post-2020 era.

will be able to achieve a 60% ULEV market share by 2030. It calls on the Department for Transport to create polices that incentivise ULEV uptake: “We recommend the Government set out in its response to this report its assessment of the following proposals: changing light van licensing conditions to take into account the additional weight of a battery and/or hydrogen tank to enable makers to produce such vehicles; supporting ULEV fleet procurement by underwriting risk or guaranteeing buy-back; helping workplaces invest in charging points; and introducing a national grant scheme for ULEV taxis beyond 2020 to reduce their price. It should also produce a timetable, setting out how and when it intends to incentivise further take-up of ULEVs and what targets its commitments are intended to meet.

Damningly, the report concludes that it has “no confidence” that the UK

“A clearer remit should also be given to local government with regards to

The report says this “weakening” of sustainability reporting appears to be a trend amongst all government departments and describes the situation as “deeply concerning”.

In light the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, this will take on greater importance, as investors will require more clarity regarding the Government’s environmental policy.

investing in sustainable transport to improve air quality. The report says this can be achieved by “reassessing the weight it accords to sustainability, in terms of NOx emissions in particular, and the emphasis it places on economic benefits.”

It also recommends a more detailed idea of the total impact of its transport projects on sustainability. This would prevent any single justification for environmental impacts such as net biodiversity loss from one project being repeated.

The Government should also put pressure on Volkswagen to speed up its recall programme to replace cheat devices. The report recommends that the Competition and Markets Authority, the Serious Fraud Office and the Transport Secretary accelerate their

investigations into the carmaker to determine whether legal action can be taken against it.

be explored further - subject to demonstrating it would not have a negative effect on safety.

The report also recommends that Network Rail be subject to the Greening Government Commitments to reduce the environmental impact of its operations once it has been set realistic decarbonisation targets.

“The missing piece in the report is heavy duty vehicles. From an engineering and technological point of view it is harder to decarbonise larger road vehicles – electric is not an option. Trials of alternative power sources for lorries were made under the Government’s Low Carbon Truck Trial and a further low emission freight and logistics trial has recently been announced, but more fiscal support will be needed if these new vehicles are to get taken up by purchasers any time soon. Currently alternatively powered vehicles only make up 0.2% of the UK’s HGV fleet.”

The Freight Transport Association welcomed the findings of the report, with FTA’s Head of National and Regional Policy, Christopher Snelling, commenting: “The Committee is right that more support will be needed for the purchasers of ultra-low emission vehicles if they are to take off in the market place as soon as possible. The suggestion of considering reforming weight limitations on alternatively powered vans is welcome and should

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6 6 6 the number of the fleet SEPTEMBER 2016 marked the introduction of the new 66 registration number plate and with it the arrival of Euro 6 for light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Whilst new vehicles may be desirable for your company it’s important to understand the impact the new legislation could have but don’t worry – the omens aren’t all bad!

As construction fleet managers you’ll know the important role that vehicles play when it comes to brand and reputation. Purchasing new ‘66-plate vehicles would be preferable but isn’t financially feasible for most SMEs. John Henry Jnr, Director of leading construction company John Henry Group, turned to Enterprise Flex-ERent when they “needed a better and cleaner image” for their fleet but “the capital outlay” of purchasing was too much. Vehicle acquisition through a trusted rental provider makes a new fleet possible for small, medium and large construction firms whilst leaving business capital intact.

Whilst a new fleet is excellent for image, it also brings a level of uncertainty following the new Euro 6 legislation, which applies to all LCVs and came into effect on the 1st September. One of the new regulations requires vehicle manufacturers to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by more than 55%. To reach this target extra technology has been added to new vehicles. For smaller vans this is a simple trap, for larger vehicles Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) devices have been fitted to inject a reductant called AdBlue into the exhaust stream

52

neutralising much of the harmful NOx emissions. This added technology increases energy efficiency meaning better fuel economy, which is great news for SMEs on a tight budget.

However, the added weight of the SRC system and a full tank of AdBlue could eat into the payload capacity, which is far from ideal for a construction fleet carrying materials and tools to site.

Furthermore, the new LCV Euro 6 regulations differ from their HGV counterpart because they apply to the whole vehicle (as opposed to just the engine for HGVs), potentially increasing maintenance costs to replace specialist parts. This could lead to large maintenance bills for small construction firms where the vehicles are exposed to tough working

environments. Using a specialist commercial vehicle rental company can help to reduce costly maintenance charges, as John Henry points out “the preventative maintenance service” implemented by Enterprise Flex-E-Rent “is both cost effective and reduces downtime”.

The impact of Brexit on the construction industry is still unclear and the same is true for fleets - who knows for instance, if the UK government will set its own rules and regulations or follow the path dictated

by Europe. Whatever changes do come one thing is certain, using a trusted rental provider will help companies to bridge the gap and maintain a professional image with affordable and compliant vehicles.

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Demand for EV Charging Points Continues to Grow THE construction industry continues to face ever increasing demands to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging points to cater for the rapidly growing numbers of EV drivers.

construction projects, from traditional housing developments through to major community projects incorporating residential, retail, office, leisure and hospitality facilities.”

Rolec EV, one of Europe’s leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of EV charging points with over 45,000 sold to date, has highlighted this demand after the UK experienced yet another dramatic increase in sales of EVs throughout the first half of 2016.

Naomi continues: “In many areas of the UK, planning policy now states that the provision of EV charging points are a mandatory part of the new build.

As a company, we at Rolec have been actively involved in manufacturing outdoor charging equipment for 25 years and have been an integral part of the EV charging industry for over eight years - developing Europe’s largest and most diverse range of charging products able to cater for every budget and location.

GROWING NUMBERS OF EV DRIVERS Naomi Nye, Rolec’s EV Corporate Account Manager, comments: “Latest Department for Transport figures show that the number of ULEVs (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) registered in the UK in the last quarter (April to June) increased by 49% on the same period last year and 253% on two years before.

“These growing sales figures emphasise the need to incorporate EV charging points in all types of

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“These range from introductory WallPod charging points, designed for the home, through to sophisticated mobile phone operated EV Charge Online pedestals, designed for public use in both underground and over ground car parks.

“The Rolec EV charging range has been successfully installed on hundreds of construction projects throughout the UK, by many of the UK’s leading construction companies, including Lendlease, Fairview New Homes, CBRE, Barratt Homes, Persimmon Homes, Skanska, Taylor Wimpey, Redrow Homes and many more.

“Some of the recent headline projects which have chosen to install Rolec EV charging points include the Battersea Power Station development, the Elephant & Castle redevelopment programme, and various NHS and Emergency Service locations.”

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Kieron Alsop, Managing Director of Rolec EV, comments: “The Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to reducing C02 emission levels and improving air quality, and sees the automobile industry as a contributing factor. As a result, the Government continues to

introduce a number of multi-million pound initiatives to stimulate the uptake of electric vehicles and expand the UK’s EV charging network.

“Some of these initiatives include subsiding the purchase of an electric vehicle, waiving Road Tax and congestion charges, favourable benefit in kind allowances, and subsidising the installation of a home charging point for the majority of EV drivers.”

Kieron added: “As part of our ongoing commitment to the EV charging industry we have recently launched our new EV Charge Online pedestal, which forms a public facing charging network that enables each and every EV driver to pay on the spot to charge their car via their mobile phone - using Visa, MasterCard, Amex, PayPal, etc.

far as we are aware, the only public facing charging network on the market that EV drivers can use without having to pay any annual membership fees, monthly subscription fees, or connection fees. The EV driver simply pulls up to the charging point and, using their mobile phone, pays there and then to charge - it’s that simple.”

Further information from Rolec: www.rolecserv.com call 01205 724754 or email rolec@rolecserv.co.uk

“The response to our recently launched EV Charge Online system has been phenomenal - it has grabbed the EV industry’s attention due to it being, as

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Think Smart: Motorways for the modern age IN recent past, smart motorways have proven a somewhat contentious addition to the UK transport network. But Highways England is assuring motorists that active traffic management is the way forward.

unconvinced however, and parliamentary figures are beginning to take note. A cross-party committee of MPs recently disclosed that it had “major safety concerns” over the removal of the hard shoulder.

For the uninitiated, smart motorways employ cutting edge technology to effectively manage the ebb and flow of oncoming cars. From its regional traffic control centres, Highways England is able to remotely monitor day-today goings-on and adjust motorway signage and speed limits as necessary.

According to Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Select Committee, the introduction of smart motorways could lead to an astonishing 216% rise in vehicle stoppage on live lanes.

It’s a more flexible and responsive way of working - one that makes sense, though the temporary or, in some cases, permanent removal of the hard shoulder has left some motorists uneasy.

For Highways England, the hard shoulder is fair game - its loss, a costeffective alternative to disruptive road widening works and a means of further increasing vehicle capacity. Drivers can look forward to significant savings in time on less congested roads - 20 to 30 minutes or more in some cases.

In the event of an incident, smart motorists are expected to press on to the nearest emergency refuge area, while more complex traffic mishaps can be managed electronically - speed limits reduced and lanes closed on the fly.

The driving public remains largely

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Industry authorities are equally apprehensive, with Paul Watters - Head of Roads Policy for The AA - recently stating: “There are many things wrong with the way that smart motorways and in particular all-lane running is being implemented. We have warned Highways England about concerns especially when it comes to spacing of refuge areas, which we would like to see being far closer together.”

Clearly, there is a disconnect between Highways England's aspirations and the public’s perception. Worse still, the concept of smart motorways is unfamiliar to many. As such, Highway’s England, together with West Yorkshire Police, has embarked on a new safety initiative to raise awareness and improve driver compliance and safety particularly with regard to the ‘Red X’.

Highways England’s Operations Manager, Rob Beckitt, had this to say: “A Red X above a lane indicates it is closed

because of a breakdown or accident. It is used to keep drivers, our traffic officers and the emergency services safe.

“By ignoring these signs and continuing to drive in the lanes, you are putting yourself and everybody else at risk of danger. Hopefully our initiative will raise awareness of the Red X sign, and protect people driving and working on our motorways.”

Sergeant Gary Roper of West Yorkshire Police also cautioned: “The increasing number of vehicles on the roads combined with the new smart motorways that have recently opened in our region mean that compliance with Red X signals is an important part of road safety.

“This initiative provides the opportunity to educate those drivers who contravene the Red X signals, however it should be noted that prosecution remains an option for those drivers who continue to ignore the Red X sign.”

If smart motorways are to be successfully integrated, this hurdle of education must first be overcome. Yet until Highways England fully engages with the public, the uncertainty looks set to continue.

For guidance, please visit: www.gov. uk/guidance/how-to-drive-on-asmart-motorway

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Digital Construction NOW in its second year, Digital Construction Week will be held 26 - 27 October in London and will be looking to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event. Once again, the impact of technology and innovation in the built environment will be examined with thousands of the most influential thought leaders and decision makers in attendance.

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR’S EVENT, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THOSE WHO ATTENDED? We have had a really fantastic response to the content we put on and the show’s agenda. The most positive reaction was linked to moving the conversation on to the broader idea of technology and innovation in the built environment. Working through and exploring the opportunities associated

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with digitisation and its power to help transform the industry. But also, in helping make sense of and highlighting some of the trends we’re seeing come in to the industry.

The feedback has been that it was really refreshing to see something quite different that’s aimed at helping move the industry forward. We have had a lot of great supporters and certainly the event wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Overall, it’s all been really positive, which is great for a first year event.

Our aim now is to increase our reach and encourage as many people as possible to come and join us. We want the event to be accessible for all, not just the early adopters or the technical experts – although they’re obviously our core audience.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN SPENDING YOUR TIME SINCE LAST OCTOBER? Recovering! Of course, we have been getting everything in place. Last year was the show’s first year, so we encountered the inevitable teething problems. There’s still a little bit of finding our way as far as our identity as a show goes and how we can best help drive the agenda forward, as that’s what we’re really passionate about trying to do.

In particular, we’ve set about streamlining some of our content and making clearer the different elements of our content programme. We have got our main stage conference again which will feature a new line up of high-level speakers, including Paul

Week 2016 Preview Morrell, Anne Kemp (Atkins), Sadie Morgan (dRMM), John Pelton (Crossrail), David Hancock (Cabinet Office) and many more.

We’ve also introduced four new seminar stages: The Innovation Theatre, which is unashamedly focused on all the future technologies and processes. Additive manufacturing, UAVs, robotics, VR, modern methods of construction and everything else along those lines. All the things that are really exciting and stand to make a real impact on the industry but perhaps aren’t quite there yet or aren’t common place at least.

There’s our Digital in Action Theatre, which is very much about practical case studies. If you’re a project manager, an architect or an SME for example, what are the practical steps you can take now to improve the way you deliver projects or work as a business? So that’s case studies and real learning there for the right now.

The BIM Village is back and we’re working closely with the newly formed UK BIM Alliance on the content for this stage. The BIM Village will provide much more practical advice and guidance for BIM. The Level 2 deadline has been and gone but there’s still a lot of questions and the BIM Village will be geared up to help answer them. We won’t get overly technical – it’s more about understanding the process and

the questions you should be asking.

We are also introducing our Tech Stage as well, which will showcase technical expertise and be more product focused and ‘out of the box’. You’ve got your head round the fact that you need to adopt these digital processes but what do they look like when you’re sat at your desk or out on the work site?

Amongst the myriad of other things, we have been setting up some key industry partnerships. We are working very closely with HS2, who are going to take a big pavilion at the exhibition, to look at the next 30 years of procurement and how innovation will play a role. We’re also working with Innovate UK and KTN on our Innovation / Start Up Village. Crossrail, The BIM Task Group, and Cabinet Office teams amongst others have all been really supportive.

The main focus of all of this really is to increase our reach across the industry.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACHIEVE FROM THIS YEAR’S EVENT? Our main goal as a show over the

next two to three years is to really get out across to the entire industry. The digital agenda is one that impacts us all and we want to offer a platform that’s accessible to all. It’s about creating an understanding and awareness, and that’s what I suppose the show is trying to drive.

Some of the trends and themes we’re seeing such as; BIM, IoT, Smart Buildings, Big Data, and their potential impact on things like sustainability, skills, training etc. are incredibly exciting. But they’re big topics that require real expertise and understanding to make them viable.

We’d like to help people learn about and explore these ideas and make them a reality.

All of our conference and seminar sessions are aimed at helping people develop their own strategies, understanding the questions they should be asking themselves, and what outcomes they want to achieve.

Technology is kind of the easy bit really. We want to help people figure out how it applies to their business, their projects and the processes they should be exploring.

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LAST YEAR’S EVENT OBVIOUSLY TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE BIM LEVEL 2 MANDATE. WILL THE FOCUS OF THIS YEAR’S EVENT WILL BE DIFFERENT? In truth, I don’t think we’ll be a million miles away. We always want to strike a balance between being an exciting event looking towards the future of the industry and an event that helps people solve real-time problems and current challenges.

Hopefully, our seminar streams help demonstrate this. The Innovation Theatre is a real future looking piece, whilst the BIM Village and Digital in Action theatre are all about how processes such as BIM can help people right now.

You can see in the creation of the UK BIM Alliance that there’s a need still to help get people up to speed and carry on their journey. We’ll be looking to help do the same.

WHO WILL BE SPEAKING AT THIS YEAR’S EVENT? I’m delighted to say our opening keynote will be from Paul Morrell, the former Chief Government Construction Advisor. Paul will be taking a look at the direction the mandate has gone in a presentation titled ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ He will look at the aims that were set out when the mandate was first put into place and offer his perspective of where it’s going; what the missed markers are; where the successes have been and what could come next.

We’ve got a great panel looking at strategies for innovation, which include John Pelton, who is the Strategic Projects Director at Crossrail, Iain Roche, who is Head of Innovation at HS2, and a host of other speakers.

People talk about innovation a lot. The idea of this session is to help people understand what it really means and how you do it. That will be really interesting presentation. Crossrail in particular have a really interesting story around embracing innovation and technology.

We will also have David Hancock (Cabinet Office) giving an update on the government construction strategy.

Anne Kemp (Atkins) will be introducing the UK BIM Alliance, following its official launch at our Westminster Reception. Sadie Morgan (dRMM) will

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be offering a keynote on the future of architecture and design on major projects. And James Pellatt (Great Portland Estates) will be presenting his views of BIM and Digital Construction from a client’s perspective, which should be really interesting.

There will be the usual mix of TED style presentations as well as panels, so we are really excited.

WHAT CAN VISITORS EXPECT FROM THE EXHIBITION? More of the same hopefully. As was the goal last year, we really want to move away from just pop-up stands and literature and create a much more experiential exhibition.

It’s about having something a bit different to come, see and touch and get involved with rather what you can just find online. Something you might not find anywhere else. We want an exhibition that really offers visitors an experience.

As previously mentioned, we’ve also got a whole host of free seminar content. That will be the real difference between this year and last year. There’s four stages with over 48 hours of free content to come and see.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO WILL EXHIBIT AT THE EVENT? We are always interested in new and innovative ideas and when you scratch the surface we’ve not been short of them. What we really want is people that can tailor their message and make it appropriate and accessible to all.

Really, I think it is just about showcasing everything that is out there – everything that people can start to use and get their heads round. Like I say, 3D printing, robotics, virtual reality like the new Oculus, and Soluis’ new HTC Vive headsets. Last year, we had Leica’s scanning backpack and Faro’s handheld scanner.

Similarly, at the heart of the exhibition are exhibitors that can help visitors right now. Help them become more productive, efficient, and ultimately more profitable. Practical tools that you could apply right now. We want visitors to get excited about the future but primarily we want to help them with practical advice and guidance right now.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD GO OUT AND RESEARCH TO TRY AND FIND THE PRODUCTS OR DO PEOPLE COME TO YOU WITH THEM? A bit of both. This year certainly we have had a greater awareness so a number of people have approached us. We’ve been fortunate in that we are only the show that is doing what we are doing with this broader agenda of digital tech and innovation.

This year has been fantastic. A lot of people are coming to us saying they have got a new bit of kit and they would like to show what it can do. Equally, in putting together the conference and seminar program, you unearth a number of new ideas and concepts.

WHEN UK CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE ATTENDED LAST YEAR’S EVENT SOME OF THE PRODUCTS ON SHOW WERE BREATHTAKING. DO YOU STILL GET THAT FEELING WHEN YOU COME ACROSS INVENTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY? Yes, I’m quite unashamedly a bit of a geek! I have to remember to rein myself in because it is easy to get very excited. There is a company in Japan for instance that is manufacturing exoskeletons, which I believe Bouygues are trying out. Similarly, things like the Daqri Smart Helmet look to have incredible potential.

That is the bit that I love, which is partly what made we want to do the show in the first place. You do have to sit back and think “OK, brilliant. But what are the steps to making that happen?” That’s what we really want to show because it will be a long time before your house builder turns up to build an extension and emerges out the back of his van with an exoskeleton suit and robot helper. What they might have though is a project management tool that may help give you both better sight of the project delivery and costs. Those things are just as exciting in terms of industry change.

What we want to explore is what the business case for these new technologies and ideas is. Because without that, its technology looking for a problem to solve when really it should be the other way round.

WHAT WAS NOTICEABLE ABOUT LAST YEAR WAS THE NUMBER OF SMES EXHIBITING; WILL THIS STILL BE THE CASE THIS YEAR? Switches, and to be honest it wasn’t deliberate. You quite often find though that SME’s are some of the most innovative companies out there. SMEs have the benefit of being able to be very agile, nimble and able to move with the times. We do see quite a lot of small companies with new ideas and new bits of kit that they want to show.

Yes, I think we will see more of that without a doubt.

Equally we’re keen to engage with SME’s as an audience too. We are an SME ourselves, so I feel the pain of having to pay £400 for a conference pass, trains and the time out of the office. We wanted to make the show accessible to as many people as possible which is why there’s so much free content. The conference itself is also just £200 for a two-day ticket, which hopefully is pretty good value!

We have introduced an Innovation Village this year, which is very much a kind of start-up opportunity to anyone with a new product such as an app, software or even hardware that isn’t quite there yet or is from another industry. We are offering a nice easy way for them to access their audience and showcase what they have got. We want to see new ideas and something different.

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When Interserve won the contract to build the £90mManchester Proton Beam Therapy centre (PBT) Unit at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, it knew that such a ground-breaking facility warranted the use of innovative technology and showcased its commitment to BIM at every stage of the development.

The new MPBT facility will enable hundreds of cancer patients access to a relatively new form of treatment capable of targeting hard to reach cancers without damaging surrounding healthy cells. Proton Beam therapy is talked about often but a lack of UK facilities has meant the NHS frequently has to fund treatment overseas. Alongside a new 360,000sqft hospital, near Tottenham Court Road, London, the Manchester facility will ensure far more patients are able to access Proton Beam radiography while also boosting UK research into the treatment.

Work on the five-storey building began in May 2015 and one of the first challenges to overcome was undertaking the MEP lay-

out accurately, efficiently and in accordance with the UK’s Level 2 BIM mandate for publically procured projects, as enforced in April 2016. This challenge was intensified because of the stringent radiation protection requirements essential to building a safe and effective Proton Beam facility.

To Nigel McClarence, Senior Project Manager at Interserve Engineering Services - who has responsibility for the project’s MEP Installation/layout - the Trimble Robotic Total Station (RTS) seemed a sound proposition as a means to meeting the job’s unique challenges. Keen to see how the RTS could help revolutionise layout, McClarence contacted the company’s MEP Engineering Division and requested a demo.

“Chris Quirk, from Trimble MEP, came up and did the demo in a converted cellar in The Christie Charity,” Explained McClarence.

“The RTS was dimensioning Ductwork hanger positions onto the ceiling and I was sold straight away on that with regards to being able to convert the model into real

time hanger positions. One of our base build principles at Interserve Engineering Services is that we use corridor modules so I knew we would have thousands of hangers to mark out on the Project” He said.

“We’ve partnered with Arup on MEP and Civil & Structural, and this model has all the structural in there but it’s also got all the embedded MEP services. You can pick out Corridor modules and the associated hangers are modelled too. We have an 80m long primary corridor. I could see the benefit in using the Trimble RTS purely for marking out.”

However, it soon became clear that the specific requirements dictated by the building’s eventual function meant the Trimble RTS proved priceless elsewhere too.

“There’s approximately 20,000 linear metres of embedded services throughout the project.

Conduit, pipework and an embedded trench which runs down the Beam line where the Proton beam is delivered,” he explained.

One of the complexities is the size of the bunker, and the radiation protection required to the bunker so the walls are at least 2.5 m thick. Consequently, to build that bunker involves around 120 separate pours over more than a 12 month period. Each pour has its own embedded services drawing, so that you can start seeing all the embedded services in the BIM Model,” He said.

“Before we invested in the Trimble RTS I was thinking about using it mostly in terms of ceiling mounted Services/Hangers as per Chris’ demo. However, on this project, there are so many complexities: services in within concrete that are in mid-air that needed to be mm perfect, vertically/ longitudinally etc. This prompted me to ask Trimble MEP whether they’d ever used an RTS to mark out embedded services. When Chris said, yes, he had and sent a couple of snaps over that was the trigger for us to think we could and should give it a try.”

For McClarence of Interserve Engineering Services, one of the key factors in using the RTS successfully was the training and consultation support he received from the Trimble MEP team. At each step of the way, Trimble MEP partnered with Interserve Engineering Services to ensure that obstacles were overcome and opportunities maximised throughout the project. Just one of the many examples of this collaborative relationship proving highly successful was immediately after the first pour, which has the tower crane in it.

McClarence explains: “What Trimble MEP spotted was that the tower crane in the first pour would be a really good starter point for setting out with the Trimble RTS. We also noticed that not every pour would have that same fix point. Using the tower crane as a fixed point was a good start and that initial training was excellent, because it showed us that without these fixed positions you were going to require a totally different solution.

“Later we set out the fourth gantry using the crane base which the Trimble MEP guys had used as their fixed point. Further down those fixed points aren’t there so

Trimble MEP actually drew the points in for us. We went out and tested it and we got the green light from the robot, which really set the wheels rolling for us. We then knew that we were going to be able to use the RTS to set out all these conduits and embedded items,” He said.

Although The Christie Proton Beam, located on the site formerly occupied by the Young Oncology Unit located on Oak Road, is a bit of a one-off in terms of scale and special requirements, McClarence of Interserve Engineering Services knows there will be other projects that have embedded services, albeit probably on a smaller scale.

He also believes the use of the Trimble RTS has set a benchmark for the business.

“Going from thinking we were only going to use the RTS for setting out ceilings to then utilising it for embedding services was a massive leap and, were anyone to ask if we could have done it without, I’d have to say no. Or not in the same time at least.

“In terms of manpower, the RTS also allows us keep the head count down on site because we now only have one/two persons undertaking all the setting out. On the first few occasions/trials, three or four operatives worked together because it was a new system, but this can now often be completed solo. This is very important due to the logistics/complexities of actually getting into a concrete pour to mark out the associated services.

“Trimble MEP helped all the way through sometimes producing a drawing and getting it back to us within half an hour, just because it was beyond our skillset at that point in time. However, it’s only taken us six months to be confident in doing everything entirely solo and now just one person does the drawing/tablet loading too,” He said.

“The whole experience has been great. The support from Trimble MEP was second to none and finding a method that, really, no one else knew was really rewarding. I suppose we might have been able to manage without the RTS but only with

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loads of guys with tape measures.

Interserve Engineering Services were determined to keep the numbers down here - we’ve got limited parking, minimal on site storage and it’s a tight site. The Trimble RTS was an absolute asset here” For Interserve Engineering Services, the Trimble RTS also proved invaluable in ensuring The Christies Hospital is a flagship BIM project, from the foundations up.

“I would never want to build a project without BIM ever again,” Enthused McClarence, of Interserve Engineering Services “This model sits at LOD 400 so every element in there is real time against what we’ve actually procured. For instance, we’re using a new thin wall stainless steel product and all the pipework is modelled in it. So the fact you’ve built the job digitally and know it fits before you walk out there is just so valuable”.

Most MEP companies are coming online BIM wise. I know some are more advanced than others. With Interserve Engineering Services engineers, nine times out of 10 you look at their screen and they’ve got their model open because they’re stood in a room looking at whether there are clashes/Installation Detail. It’s great to see,” He sums up.

“The Trimble RTS has proved such a vital tool during this project and it’s a great piece of equipment for anyone in the MEP sector looking to embrace BIM as part of how their business grows and develops’. Interserve Engineering Services are proud to Partner with Trimble and SysQue and demonstrate this with multi-stations across regional UK activities and sites, including build of the new Interserve Headquarters within the West Midlands.

UK BIM Alliance Assemble 64 

BIM has been called many things from a digital game changer to a cynical rebrand of old concepts for the purposes of marketing, and almost everything in between; but not often business-as-usual. This is the challenge the UK BIM Alliance (UKBIMA) have set themselves, to make Level 2 BIM business as usual by 2020 for everyone, rather than just the leading edge. This is bold, and will need the BIM equivalent of The Avengers to make it work. The great news is, this is exactly the approach which is set to be announced at October’s ICE BIM event.

With the ‘BIM4s’ and the BIM Regions combining their crowdsourced BIM knowledge with influential institutions like RICS and buildingSMART, this is shaping up to be an exciting group with enough clout to really engender change. As for who gets to be Ironman; John Eynon is a likely candidate to fill the role for the group, adding UK BIM Alliance Events Officer to his other titles. He addresses his open malcontent on the shortcomings of construction with an admirably bullish approach to forcing change. The ever engaging Dr Anne Kemp and the rest of the UKBIMA leadership team will no doubt waste little time on completing the Marvel analogy as they are going to be busier than ever with the challenge they’ve taken on.

The need for the UK BIM Alliance is clear. The BIM Task Group have lit the fuse for Level 2 by developing the B555 Roadmap suite of documents and keeping up the required momentum to get us to the 2016 mandate without the BIM wagon losing a wheel along the way. However, the group was never intended to drive Level 2 forever, the industry was always expected to take the reins and let the task group move onto setting the agenda for what comes afterward, Level 3 and beyond.

The UK BIM Alliance is the industry taking the reins, which is something that was hard to imagine happening a few years ago. Since 2011 there have been a lot of people who have had to swallow a bit of humble pie, we all know someone who said BIM would never happen. In 2016 that opinion gets harder to find every day, as the conversation shifts from what BIM could do, to what BIM is doing.

infrastructure project is one of the most challenging pieces of teamwork to be found anywhere, with multiple teams brought together in a transient manner to collaborate, yet still make an individual profit. From architects to pipe fitters, we all have to eat. So the challenge of making BIM Level 2 business-as-usual is not just working with teams within companies big and small but addressing issues at the project level, framework level, and national level. The challenge is no longer about the definition of Level 2 BIM, it’s about getting our complex team structures to adopt and benefit from the new digital processes, without losing money in the flux. We can’t afford to lose good businesses from our industry, so the changes have to come smoothly, which is a key challenge for our new alliance.

Fortunately, there has been plenty of research into the development of teams so the alliance doesn't need to experiment with this aspect of their work. The 1965 Tuckman model of forming- storming- normingperforming is a useful way to look at the challenge. The alliance has picked up the challenge at the point where the ‘forming’ stage is complete and the ‘storming’ stage is far enough along that those involved can handle the transition to ‘norming’, whilst building new teams and expanding to a size capable of delivering on the manifesto. Taking the

UK construction industry through a journey of accepting BIM processes to a point where they reach a ‘performing’ mentality is why the alliance must succeed. If we don’t transition to Level 2 being the normal way things are done then we may see our progress to a digital construction industry stall in the tumultuous ‘storming’ stage, which will see the industry fall short of the Construction 2025 targets, and the prolonged period of change would apply strain to the industry.

The UK BIM Alliance have set out their manifesto ahead of their official launch, and like all good manifestos, it’s short and most importantly honest. It’s likely to be tweaked before the launch so if you haven’t seen it yet it’s probably worth waiting for the October event for the final version, but there is an open flavour to everything that has been released by the group so far and this is typified by their invitation to ‘Join with us!’. And we should. It looks like they are building a great team but without our support, a fantastic opportunity for change may be squandered at a time where the UK construction industry is a great position to set an example to the world and really benefit from being leaders in digital construction. Let’s get behind them and make a difference.

By John Adams, Head of BIM Services, BIM Strategy Ltd

The creation of a building or an

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BIM Update

with Jose Oliveira, UK BIM Director at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff

UK Construction Excellence speaks exclusively with Jose A. Oliveira, UK BIM Director at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, about BIM Level 2; the journey to Level 3, and the role Building Information Modelling is playing in big infrastructure projects.

WITH THE BIM LEVEL 2 MANDATE PASSING IN APRIL, WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON HOW THE INDUSTRY IS FARING WITH ITS IMPLEMENTATION? Based on a few comments that I have heard in the past months, it is clear that most UK companies (if not all) within our industry do not achieve the true meaning of ‘Level 2 BIM’.

I also believe that there are some gaps that were not addressed yet and need a solution. For example, the COBie UK 2012 template is still using Uniclass 1.4, when this has been replaced by Uniclass 2015. The NBS BIM Toolkit is also not a completed task and much needs to be re-defined properly, i.e. the graphical representation of the LOD 3 and LOD 4 for the MEP equipment and device is bad and may lead to confusion.

I also noticed that there is a lack of understanding of what BIM is and many still associate BIM to purely technologies: “Are you doing BIM? Yes, I am using Revit…”

BIM is a process or concept (and is definitely not like CAD); the focus is to improve the communication and collaboration. However, I think we should add coordination, to enable an effective and harmonious relationship between these key elements. I call the 3 C’s of BIM – Communication, Collaboration and Coordination.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE JOURNEY TO LEVEL 3?

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First of all, I would say that we need to close the ‘existing gaps’ of Level 2 BIM and only after should we switch our attention to Level 3 BIM, which is targeted for 2025.

The true aims for ‘Level 3 BIM’ remain slightly ambiguous and open to discussion. However, I noticed that some experts and influent individuals in our industry are starting to understand that the major change will happen on the contractual/procurement side. BIM is a process and the current procurement routes are not very ‘userfriendly’ for a BIM project environment.

Currently in the UK, we are already testing a new type of procurement (IPI – Integrated Project Insurance) that took some of the principles of other project delivery systems and is becoming popular in the United States (IPD – Integrated Project Delivery).

However, I am not sure how well it will fit the UK industry. In an IPD project, there is no blame culture and risk-reward is shared between all project participants. Undoubtedly, this will imply a major cultural and management change in the industry.

Some experts also associate the Level 3 BIM to a live ‘single model’ where everyone actively works together. I personally think this is not impossible, but I must admit that there is a lot of work that must be done to achieve this.

DOES THE GOVERNMENT NEED TO FIRM UP ITS INTENTIONS WITH REGARDS TO LEVEL 3 IMPLEMENTATION? I don’t think so – the intentions are clear, but maybe we need to understand how the Government is looking at the industry.

We know what the UK Government is looking to achieve in the 2025

targets (Level 3 BIM): cost reduction by 33% (construction and whole life cost), faster project delivery by 50%, reduction by 50% of greenhouse gas emissions, and finally to improve our exports in this sector by 50%.

A LOT OF IMPORTANCE HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE ROLE OF LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. WHAT ROLE IS BIM PLAYING IN THESE? I would suggest that if there a great potential to see the real BIM efficiencies in large infrastructure projects. It is well known that the biggest cost in the lifecycle of a built asset is not during the design and construction, but at operations and maintenance stage.

Generally, the design and construction is around 20% of the total cost, and the operations and main maintenance is the remaining 80%.

In my opinion, this is the reason why the UK Government chose to mandate the BIM processes for government construction projects, as they are clearly interested in reducing the costs of their assets.

PRESUMABLY, THE STRENGTHS OF BIM – EFFICIENCY, INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, WILL BE EVEN MORE KEY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THESE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES? Obviously, if we look back a few years ago, we can see that BIM industry was born (and grew quickly) slightly after the famous ‘credit crunch’ financial crisis - the UK Government made an enormous contribution and boost when they decided to set the targets for ‘Level 2 BIM’. BIM will definitely have potential to make a strong contribute in these uncertain times.

Why we are at the forefront of BIM development BUILDING Information Modelling (BIM) is changing how buildings, infrastructure, and utilities are planned, designed and built. The move from computer-aided design (CAD) to BIM has been heralded as an evolutionary advancement in building-design technology. This new approach promises to turn building plans into virtual libraries of equipment data and requirements - including, for example, product specifications, electrical connections and clearance requirements. BIM software provides a robust framework for building out complex 3D representations of building systems and it has already had a significant impact on the electrical contracting industry.

BENEFITTING ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS The main aim of the BIM strategy is to reduce waste and create a more efficient programme delivery. This should improve the contractor's margins and reduce contractual conflicts as it breaks down the work

silos and promotes collaborative working environments. There are numerous cost savings and other efficiencies on offer through the use of BIM. A number of the cost saving examples have been around clash detection and waste reduction, both at the design stage and construction.

Going forward there will also be cost savings in the facilities management of the building thanks to defined maintenance and repair cost reduction.

TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED The driving technology behind BIM is more advanced when compared to other IT related design tools such as 3D modelling. Of course, 3D modelling and clash detection form an important part of BIM but BIM is much more than that. BIM Level 2 is a set of coordinated information which is both geometric and data centric.

It is produced in a collaborative way across all of the disciplines and trades, and delivered in an electronic format.

Recently, Schneider Electric partnered with BIMobject - Europe’s largest digital

content management system for BIM objects. This partnership provides engineers, architects and designers access to a range of Schneider Electric products through the BIMobject Library.

THE FUTURE The industry as a whole is still beginning the BIM journey, with many still needing to get on board. Those who are not BIM ready or actively using it may well start to find that their pool of potential projects starts to dwindle. However, Ireland has a window of opportunity to capitalise on the success of its domestic programme and to become an advocate of BIM on a global scale. By embracing BIM, we can enhance the global image of Irish designers, contractors and product manufacturers as a whole, and drive industry-wide growth opportunities for all involved.

By Vincent Byrne, Project Engineer at Schneider Electric Ireland

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UK Construction Week Preview:

Birmingham NEC, 18th - 20th October 70 

UK Construction Week makes a triumphant return this month, following its successful launch last autumn.

From 18th - 20th October, Birmingham NEC will again play host to nine sectorspecific seminars, further cementing UK Construction Week as one of the country’s most compelling and eclectic industry-focused events. And according to Richard Morey, Group Events Director for organiser Media 10, there’s plenty more to look forward to.

“This year’s event is set to be our best to date and we’re delighted to be able to announce so many big names,” said Richard. “A host of prestigious firms will be taking to the stage across the nine shows, including some of the most recognizable brands from the UK, Ireland and Europe. Visitors will benefit from the wealth of products and expert knowledge on display as well as the huge potential to network with fellow industry professionals.”

For many, UK Construction Week represents the first tangible networking opportunity since the upheaval of the EU referendum. There’s much to discuss, and with a great many people - Media 10 anticipates an attendance in excess of 24,000. Those taking part will be able to learn more about the latest legislative concerns, or witness gamechanging new technologies first-hand.

The Main Stage remains UK Construction Week’s centrepiece however. During the three day event showcase, familiar faces George Clarke, Steph McGovern and Victoria Fritz will each take to the stage to tackle some of the priority issues currently impacting the construction industry.

Association (CPA), Paul Nash FCIOB President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), and David Hancock - Head of Construction at the Cabinet Office.

In light of the EU referendum, Day Two will give attendees an early opportunity to gauge the industry’s reaction postBrexit. In a seminar entitled ‘Keep Building; housing in post referendum Britain’, the hardships facing the UK housebuilding market will be examined.

Confirmed panellists include Allan Wilen - Economics Director and Head of Market Intelligence for Glenigan, Stephen Hodder - Immediate Past President and Client Ambassador for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and David Cowans - Group Chief Executive at Places for People.

Finally, Day Three will investigate the impact of BIM six months on from the Government’s soft landing deadline.

Has it worked in practice? What support can the industry expect in the run-up to Level 3? Probing questions like these will be put to a senior line up of panellists from Balfour Beatty, Crossrail, RIBA Enterprises and BRE. Elsewhere, attendees can expect a varied range of high profile exhibitors including JCB, Screwfix, CEMEX, Vandecasteele and Scottish Power.

Last year UK Construction Week

welcomed 650 such companies, and Media 10 is hopeful that it can build on that momentum with an even bigger contingent.

Collectively, these moments account for only a fraction of UK Construction Week’s packed programme of events.

Let’s not forget the free-to-attend beer and ale festival, which promises the perfect environment in which to unwind. More important however is the larger role that exhibitions such as this have to play in engaging with the entire construction industry.

Dr David Hancock, Head of Construction, Infrastructure and Projects Authority, concluded: “Having participated in the first UKCW and been part of the steering group, it was very apparent to me that this event has the potential to change the image of construction. It can act as a catalyst for all of the construction supply chain, from products and manufacturers to end users, to meet and do business and be a place for us all to tackle the challenges we face head on. This is an incredibly exciting time for construction in this country and UKCW can make sure we all benefit.”

Registering to attend UK Construction Week is quick, easy and free-of-charge, and can be completed by visiting: www.ukconstructionweek.com

Day One kicks-off with an in-depth appraisal of former Chancellor George Osborne’s claim that the UK doesn’t “train enough or build enough or invest enough”. Debating both the root cause and the resolution to the construction industry’s low productivity are Adrian Belton - Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Dr Diana Montgomery - Chief Executive of the Construction Products

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Are Data Centres Causing a Global Water Crisis?

THE number of commercial buildings requiring the facility of a dedicated data centre is only going to increase as the world relies more heavily on technology, and in particular the Internet of Things, to carry out tasks. The need for these dedicated areas brings with it additional pressures on the construction industry and those responsible for considering the associated environmental impact.

This article seeks to explain some of those impacts, the way they are measured and the methods employed to reduce them.

While the most significant impact is energy consumption, we cannot ignore the carbon cost of data. We may think of emails etc. as being carbon free, but that is far from the case; when you contemplate the amount of energy used and subsequent CO2 emissions in operating even a small data centre, you will see why this issue needs to be addressed. And what better level to address it from than that which oversees the construction of data centres?

The metrics that have been introduced to the data centre industry to measure their energy efficiency are Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), Data Centre Infrastructure Efficiency (DCIE), Carbon

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Usage Effectiveness (CUE), and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE). These metrics were developed by The Green Grid Association, a non-profit, open industry consortium of end users, policy makers, technology providers, facility architects, and utility companies working to improve the resource efficiency of information technology and data centres throughout the world.

The Green Grid White Papers explain fully how the figures are calculated but this is a summary for PUE: PUE is defined as the ratio of total facilities energy to IT equipment energy, as shown below, PUE = Total Facility Energy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IT Equipment Energy Total facility energy is defined as the energy dedicated solely to the data centre (e.g. the energy measured at the utility meter of a dedicated data centre facility or at the meter for a data centre or data room in a mixed use facility).

The IT equipment energy is defined as the energy consumed by equipment that is used to manage, process, store, or route data within the compute space. It is important to understand the components for the energy in these measurements, which can be

described as follows: • IT equipment energy includes the energy associated with all of the IT equipment (e.g., compute, storage, and network equipment) along with supplemental equipment (e.g., KVM switches, monitors, and workstations/laptops used to monitor or otherwise control the data centre). • Total facility energy includes all IT equipment energy as described in the bullet above plus everything that supports the IT equipment using energy, such as: o Power delivery components, including UPS systems, switchgear, generators, power distribution units (PDUs), batteries, and distribution losses external to the IT equipment. o Cooling system components, such as chillers, cooling towers, pumps, computer room air handling units (CRAHs), computer room air conditioning units (CRACs), and direct expansion air handler (DX) units. o Other miscellaneous component loads, such as data centre lighting. cont...

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The PUE can be used as a quick way to compare energy allocation in a data centre. If a PUE is determined to be 2, this suggests that demand is two times greater than the energy necessary to power the actual IT equipment. A PUE can range from 1.0 to infinity; with a PUE value of 1.0 representative of 100% efficiency and indicating all power is being used by IT equipment only.

Research presented to the EU suggests an average PUE of 1.78 and an average data centre size of 1,900KW energy use and 1.59GWh electricity per year.

In response to what the EU has called ‘a concerning trend’ in projected rising data centre electricity consumption, the EU has launched a Best Practice Code of Conduct for data centres.

The aim of the code of conduct is to encourage data centre owners and operators to voluntarily sign up to have the energy efficiency of their operations measured, and agree to an action plan and an annual progress report.

Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) is calculated by the following equation: WUE = Annual Water Usage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IT Equipment Energy The units of WUE are therefore litres/ kilowatt-hour. Further details of how to calculate and review WUE are available from The Green Grid’s white paper.

The annual water use includes all water used in the operations of or for the data centre and include:

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• Humidification.

• Water consumed for cooling the data centre or data centre associated power-generating equipment (including cooling tower evaporation, blowdown, and drift).

• Water used in the production of energy.

In an age when we recognise the need to use our planet’s water supplies carefully it seems quite absurd that an average mid-size data centre can use the same amount of water, on an annual basis, as three average-size hospitals.

The big names in technology, including Microsoft, Google and Apple, are determined to lead the way in finding sustainable solutions.

MICROSOFT’S PROJECT NATICK Still in its infancy, Project Natick seeks to create a sustainable data centre which leverages locally produced green energy, providing customers with additional options to meet their own sustainability requirements, by exploring the potential of deploying subsea data centres around the world.

Half of the world’s population lives within 200km of the ocean so placing data centres offshore increases the proximity of the data centre to the population dramatically reducing latency (how long it takes data to travel between its source and destination) and providing better responsiveness.

Natick data centres are made from recycled material which in turn is

recycled at the end of life of the datacentre. It is planned that they will be zero emission, highly reliable and consume no water for cooling or other purposes.

GOOGLE Google’s data centres use 50% less energy than the average facility and are among the most efficient in the world. They are designed to make optimum use of their surroundings and minimise their environmental impact; a ‘free cooling’ process using natural resources e.g. cold outside air, water evaporation or thermal reservoirs removes the need for mechanical chillers and saves energy. Continuing the theme of reducing the use of water, Google seeks to ensure its new data centres are self-sufficient when it comes to water supply; for instance, a data centre in Belgium was built next to an industrial canal, and in Douglas County, Georgia the company uses sewer water to cool its facility.

APPLE Apple’s data centre needs are smaller than Google’s and Amazon’s but it is among the industry leaders when it comes to sustainability; 93% of Apple’s global operations run on sustainable energy and 100% green power is used in its US operations. A 2015 Greenpeace scorecard graded Apple as the only tech company with a 100% Clean Energy Index.

Written by the Technical Team at Lubron UK Water Technology

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Black & Veatch secures eight2O joint venture role BLACK & Veatch has joined Thames Water’s eight2O alliance, combining forces with Costain and Atkins (CABV) to form one of two design-build joint ventures.

The Business was welcomed aboard in a special ceremony at Thames Water’s Reading headquarters, attended by high profile members of the Alliance, including Thames Water’s newly appointed CEO Steve Robertson and Don Stevens from Black & Veatch.

Mr Robertson commented: “It is a pleasure to welcome Black & Veatch on board. The Company’s expertise and capability will make a vital contribution to delivering the objectives of the eight2O alliance.”

The CABV joint venture will be involved in every aspect - from design to construction and commissioning - of the creation of new water and wastewater treatment and carriage assets. In addition, it will be responsible for optimising the performance of new and existing infrastructure.

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Black & Veatch will support each of these activities with real-time data analysis, achieved using the Company’s ASSET360 tool.

Don Stevens - Black & Veatch’s Executive Managing Director for Water in Europe, the Middle East and India - said: “We have worked with Thames Water for more than 20 years. Today we welcome the opportunity to make a contribution to eight2O, among the most innovative delivery alliances to date.”

Scott Aitken, Managing Director of Black & Veatch Europe, added: “By providing expertise and tools for gathering and analysing data in real time we help support data and insightdriven service improvements that benefit Thames Water’s customers.

“Efficiency, affordability, customer service and competition are among UK water companies’ greatest challenges.

Data is the common thread in meeting these challenges: more data, better data and, most importantly, better data analysis to allow better informed

decisions.”

CABV will oversee asset creation and optimisation projects across Thames Water’s territory in London and across the Thames Valley. Black & Veatch’s experience in the Thames Water asset base - through its participation in AMP3, 4 and 5 frameworks - will complement the joint venture’s support of the other eight2O partners.

Alongside Thames Water these include the Skanska, MWH and Balfour Beatty design-build joint venture, technology partner IBM and programme manager MWH. Much of the initial investment has targeted works with the greatest impact on key customer outcomes, such as leakage reduction, flooding and energy efficiency. The latter includes largescale combined heat and power (CHP) programmes at wastewater treatment works. ASSET360 has already been trialled by other water companies to optimise the performance of CHP assets.

Yorkshire Water celebrate £72M planning approval A state-of the-art £72M sludge treatment and anaerobic digestion facility - to be sited on Knostrop Wastewater Treatment Works in Leeds - has been given the go-ahead, Yorkshire Water has confirmed.

An in-depth application for the proposed bio-energy plant was approved by Leeds City Council’s planning committee last month. Black & Veatch has since been appointed principal contractor, while Clugston Construction Limited will have responsibility for all civil engineering works.

The Knostrop Wastewater Treatment Works on Knowsthorpe Lane has been treating sewage from domestic households and industrial sites for close to a century. The newlyapproved facility will replace an existing sludge and bio-solid incinerator - first constructed in 1993 - to ensure a more effective and efficient method of sewage treatment. Additional benefits include the innovative use of wastewater effluent as an expedient

source of renewable energy.

Nevil Muncaster, Director of Asset Management for Yorkshire Water, explained: “This is the single biggest investment of our current investment period (2015-2020) and will not only provide increased treatment capacity for our sludges but will also deliver significant operational cost savings enabling us to keep customer bills as low as possible.

“Knostrop is designated as a strategic waste site so by increasing the future sludge and bio-solid treatment capacity of the works the project will support also growth in the Leeds sub-regions.”

Once operational in 2019, the new facility will be capable of processing 131 tonnes of dry sludge per day and, using pioneering heat and power technology, will generate an approximate 55% of Knostrop’s energy needs - enough to power around 8,000 homes.

Benefits of the new facility include;

• A 15% reduction in carbon emissions across the Organisation.

• Provision of 55% of Knostrop’s energy needs.

• A sizable contribution to the region’s 94% sludge recycling target by 2020.

The development is the most recent milestone in Yorkshire Water’s commitment to investing in renewable energy to benefit both the environment and keep customers’ bills low. Furthermore, it supports Leeds City Council’s aspirations for the Lower Aire Valley to become a hub for green energy and industry. Yorkshire Water intends to generate approximately 18% of its own energy needs by 2020.

In October 2014, a 123m high wind turbine was constructed at Knostrop which stands 12m taller than the landmark building, Bridgewater Place.

This structure, which cost around £3.5M, is already a major source of power for the Knostrop site and will provide on average 10% of Knostrop's future energy needs.

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Capital spending boost for Scotland brings forward major projects A £100M Scottish Government stimulus package is set to bring 16 multi-million pound projects forward following Brexit.

The schemes, which will support and create employment opportunities, include a £20M investment in energy saving measures for homes and public sector structures, £33M to upgrade and maintain the further and higher education estate, and £10M to go towards local economic development projects across the country. The Golden Jubilee Hospital will receive an additional £5M to bring forward the expansion of its elective centre.

A criteria has been used to assess each project, which includes how quickly work can begin, the number of jobs generated, and the impact on both the supply chain and the geographic spread.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “This Government acted quickly following the EU referendum to bring forward a substantial stimulus package to boost business confidence and keep our economy moving.

“Last month, the First Minister announced that a £100M will be injected into our capital spending plans, providing a significant boost to the £6Bn worth of projects already under construction.

“This spending will deliver a stimulus for our economy, helping to retain skills and activity in key sectors as well as creating public assets that will have longlasting economic, social and environmental benefits.”

The Scottish Government has called on the UK to consider a similar package.

CSIC: Scottish construction in need of “technology revolution” THE Chief Executive of the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre has said the construction industry in Scotland is in need of “technology revolution”.

Speaking to the Glasgow Herald, Chief Executive, Stephen Good, said that by embracing new technology, the construction industry had a “massive opportunity” to operate with greater profitability and efficiency.

Mr Good said: “Construction is one of the last industries to go fully digital. Big chunks [of work] are still manual and traditional. It is ripe for a technology revolution.”

The Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) is one of eight industry led and demand driven Innovation Centres supported by Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and 13 Scottish university partners. It promotes greater collaboration between construction companies and academics to deliver advancements in the industry.

The CSIC is also set to invest £1.5M of its £7.8M core funding on equipment that will provide firms with access to robotics, large-scale 3D printing facilities and a wide range of other innovative equipment.

Mr Good cited a lack of natural collaboration due to the differing

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roles between the likes of architects, engineers, and builders meaning innovation was stagnating.

He told the Glasgow Herald: “The basic premise is to accelerate the expertise needed to solve industry challenges.

Construction needs to have more of an innovation culture.

“The challenge is continuous collaboration after the client has stopped paying. Every building is a prototype, but clients are risk averse, so CSIC facilitates rapid research and development for pilot projects.”

He challenged companies to develop technology that would be benefit to the construction industry as a whole and just on a particular project.

Mr Good believes that the pace of innovation could be accelerated when the hub that will be home to that £1.5M capital equipment investment opens in 2017.

Companies will be able to take advantage of state-of-the-art technology to drive product and service innovation.

Mr Good said that Brexit hadn’t led to any reluctance to invest and was upbeat about prospects for the future. He said: “We’re optimistic, there’s a huge need for housing and infrastructure.”

Glasgow City Centre Strategy gathers pace IN September, Glasgow City Council announced the creation of a comprehensive residential strategy for the city centre region - currently home to around 28,000 Glasgow residents.

International real estate advisor Savills has been engaged to assist with Glasgow City Council’s proposed strategy, while a specialist team has been established to liaise with a range of city centre stakeholders.

In their review of the residential strategy, the Savills team will consider the current city centre market, existing and vacant residential space, and ongoing planning applications to assess buyer interest.

The team will also examine which districts of the city centre are most

viable for expansion, the likelihood of converting former commercial and office accommodation for residential use, and the spaces best suited to certain housing types. Barriers to residential development and use will also be studied.

Ultimately, these findings will allow the Council to deliver a new and improved city centre residential strategy.

Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council, commented: "The city centre operates in a rapidly changing environment, and it seems likely that there will be both greater demand for city centre living and the opportunity to do so. So it is wise to consider all the options in front of us to ensure that the city centre continues to be a fantastic place in which to not

only live, but work, study and invest in. I look forward to the results of the public engagement for this strategy review and the final recommendations for the city centre residential strategy."

Jamie Doran, Director of Residential Development at Savills in Glasgow, added: "The growth of Glasgow's residential capacity needs to work in tandem with the overall strategy for the city centre if it is to be successful and sustainable. As such, through detailed evaluation of residential supply and demand, and the involvement of the key people, stakeholders and businesses that play an important part in Glasgow's city centre, we will inform new planning policy which will allow new opportunities for city centre living to be unlocked."

£200M to support rural Scotland UP to £200M is to be invested to better support Scotland’s rural economy, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed.

double the number of vacancies for apprentices and graduates in the next five years.

The extraordinary sum, secured by Ross-shire Engineering in Muir of Ord, will generate new job opportunities and safeguard existing positions.

The First Minister said: “This funding Ross-shire Engineering has secured provides a hugely welcome boost in providing skilled jobs and investment across the Highlands, as well as providing vital utility services to Scotland’s homes and businesses.

Awarded via Scottish Water’s Capital and Operational Delivery Framework, the amount will be allocated over a five year period so that Ross-shire Engineering can supply the specialist equipment necessary to keep Scotland in clean water.

Already, more than 100 new roles have been created, while some 273 staff have been reassured by the promise of increased job security. The engineer has also expanded its apprenticeship programme, with plans to more than

water to the environment, we also seek to support Scottish companies and Scottish jobs whenever we can. The success of Ross-shire engineering is a great example of the role Scottish Water and its partners can play in supporting Scotland's economic growth."

“In particular, I am delighted they will be investing in their already strong apprenticeship job programme, providing vital training and employment to young people living in the Highlands in a competitive jobs market.”

Douglas Millican, Chief Executive of Scottish Water said: "Although our priority is to provide clear, fresh water to our customers and safely return waste

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Investing in the Future: Scotland’s railways under the microscope SOME of the rail industry’s most distinguished movers and shakers have this month published ‘Investing in the Future’ - a newly-penned report which looks to establish an entry point for discussions between both the Scottish Government and the commuting public on the future of Scotland’s rail network.

In drafting the document, author Rail Delivery Group has gathered the views of representatives across the industry, including Network Rail and ScotRail, in addition to a raft of cross-border freight and passenger operators.

Following on from the Scotland Route Study, published by Network Rail this summer, ‘Investing in the Future’ outlines key aspirations for the industry, and details how these might be accomplished in a way that ensures lasting value for money.

The report also identifies the areas that the industry must explore if it is to work with the Government to develop its High Level Output Specification in 2017.

These include potential enhancements to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley stations, investment to

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reduce journey times and allow more trains to run between Scotland’s main cities, and carriage lengthening schemes to provide more seats on key commuter routes.

The timing of the document is no coincidence - the industry hopes to inform the development of the Scottish Government’s strategy and policy, and set the scene for the Rail Delivery Group’s Initial Industry Advice (IIA) which is expected to be published in early 2017.

Jo Kaye - Chair of the Rail Delivery Group’s Planning Oversight Group and Director of Network Strategy and Planning at Network Rail - commented: “Rail is increasingly important to the prosperity of both Scotland and Britain, with more people taking the train for work, leisure and to do business.

Passenger numbers in Scotland have almost doubled in 20 years and rail freight has an important role to play in making businesses more efficient with fast, reliable deliveries, so we must continually plan for the railway the country is going to need in future.

“This document draws on expertise from across the industry, including

the ScotRail Alliance, and will support the Scottish Government and other funders in making decisions around the future of the railway. It demonstrates that the industry is working to better understand and meet the needs of its current and future customers.”

Phil Verster, Managing Director of the ScotRail Alliance, added: “Scotland’s railway is more popular now than ever before with more than 96 million journeys made on our network each year.

“The whole industry is also working together more closely than ever before to make sure we deliver the railway, both now and in the future, that our customers and the wider communities they come from need to prosper.

“We hope this report will help to inform funders about the strong role we see the rail industry playing in the years ahead.”

The report can be viewed in its entirety on the Rail Delivery Group website: www.raildeliverygroup.com/aboutus/publications.html?task=file. download&id=469762881

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Full steam ahead for Glasdir school development DENBIGHSHIRE County Council’s Planning Committee has granted planning permission for a new shared school in Ruthin. The £10.5M investment will see Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras relocate to modern, fit for purpose facilities in 2017.

The project has been match funded by the Welsh Government as part of their 21st Century Schools Programme.

Cllr Eryl Williams said: “This is an important milestone for the future of education in the Ruthin area, approval at the planning stage is the last major hurdle so it is now full steam ahead for

work to begin at the site. It is an exciting time for both schools, we would like to thank them and their communities for their contributions toward the development of this project.”

Head of Education and Children’s Services, Karen Evans commented “We are delighted that planning approval has been granted today.

We are committed to providing the best educational facilities for our pupils in Denbighshire. Our continued investment in our schools is testament to this and it will ensure that educational excellence is supported

both now and in the future.”

Chris Wynne, Managing Director of Wynne Construction added: “We have a successful working relationship with Denbighshire having previously completed Ysgol Brynhyfryd and Borthyn Primary School in Ruthin.

We look forward to delivering the project along with our locally-based supply chain and to demonstrate our commitment to the local community through a range of community benefits and initiatives. The school will be build utilising the latest BIM level 2 technology.”

Powys County Council to consult public on Local Development Plan changes CHANGES to a plan that will shape the scale and location of new development in Powys are to be put to public consultation, Powys County Council has confirmed.

The Council’s Cabinet agreed to consult on Further Focused Changes (FFCs) within the Local Development Plan (LDP).

The FFCs relate to housing viability, delivery of housing numbers, and gypsy and traveller accommodation.

Renewable energy, including local search areas that have been identified

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for solar and wind energy, is also subject to the FFCs.

development plan and this further activity will strengthen it for the future.

A public consultation on the changes to the plan is expected to take place this month. Councillor Avril York, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said: “Earlier this year, we were given a six month extension by the Welsh Government-appointed inspector so that additional work can be carried out. The Further Focused Changes are part of this work.

“Once the dates of the public consultation have been finalised, we will publicise them so everyone in the county will have an opportunity to look at the changes and respond to them.

“A great deal of good work has taken place in developing our local

“The local development plan will be the most important planning document we have and we are determined to ensure we have a robust framework in place.

It is a policy for the long term and it important that we get it right for the future.”

Green light for Port Talbot Transport Hub

First Minister unveils postBrexit aspirations for Wales IN a speech entitled ‘After Brexit: Europe, the United Kingdom and Wales’, First Minister Carwyn Jones has revealed his vision for a post-Brexit Wales.

Addressing an audience at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs last month, the First Minister confirmed that Wales would not consent to any Brexit deal without the UK first securing access to the European Single Market, arguing that without certainty “we risk inflicting needless economic harm on our country, and on our citizens.”

Mr Jones went on to say: “We want a dynamic business environment, while also delivering strong public services, funded through fair taxation. The two go together: we can only pay for those services if we have a prosperous economy. We are inclusive. We are an outward facing nation. I believe that Wales is best when it trades and cooperates with the rest of the world.”

According to the First Minister, Wales has a vital role to play in negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU and forging new relationships with Europe: “I have absolutely no intention of allowing Wales’ fate to be left to chance, for us to be passive observers in this most momentous of decisions. Wales and the other devolved nations must play a

full and active role in the negotiations to leave the EU, to ensure our interests are fully protected.

“If this becomes a two way dialogue between Brussels and London, it will fail. Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast must also have seats at the table. Whatever deal is finally negotiated, its acceptance should be subject to the support of the four Parliaments that now legislate for the UK.” Offering a word of caution, Carwyn Jones concluded: “There can be no return to the old constitutional status quo, where the United Kingdom was one of the most centralized states in the developed world. But we have to embrace the new reality with fresh constitutional thinking if our British Union is to survive the new tensions created by EU exit.

“Unless we take this seriously, nothing up to and including the breakup of the UK into its component parts - would be inconceivable. Let me emphasise; that is not something I wish to happen.

Far from it. But scenarios that seemed little more than political fantasies a few years ago could become plausible if we fail to make the radical changes necessary to put the UK’s constitution on a sustainable footing.”

ECONOMY and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates has given the go-ahead for a new £5.3M integrated transport hub in Port Talbot.

The Hub, to be situated adjacent to the recently rebuilt Parkway station, will act as a focal point for transport in the area. It is jointly funded by the Welsh Government (£2.7M) and the European Regional Development Fund (£2.5M).

Mr Skates commented: “I’m delighted to announce this significant funding for what will be an exciting development at the heart of Port Talbot. Improving local public transport connection forms a central part of our vision for transport in Wales and having such an inviting, dedicated facility will be a big step towards that for the area. It is now vital that such local infrastructure improvements are matched at national level, and I continue to press the UK Government to ensure electrification of the rail line to Swansea happens at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council added: “The new Integrated Transport Hub will be a key development for Neath Port Talbot as we work to improve connectivity and boost economic growth for our local communities.

“Paired with the newly redeveloped Port Talbot Parkway Station, the Hub will enable people to travel more easily and more conveniently across the region for both employment and leisure purposes, and will be warmly welcomed by local residents and businesses alike.”

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Cardiff to have its say on new transport interchange CARDIFF City Council will this month make public plans for a mixed-use multimillion pound transport interchange.

Through October, members of the public will have their say on the newly updated plans as part of a comprehensive four week consultation process, with a formal application to be submitted to Cardiff City Council’s planning department in mid-November.

Drafted by world-renowned architect Foster + Partners, the consultation will help clarify the core fundamentals, including: • A transport interchange, with 14 dynamic bus bays.

• A contemporary airport-lounge style concourse.

• A cycle hub with capacity for 600 or more bikes.

• 10,000sq ft of double height retail accommodation.

• A 220 space car park atop the interchange.

Additionally, the proposed interchange will also house 120,000sq ft of Grade A office space, and a further 120,000sq ft for residential or hotel use. Inside, a state-of-the-art fit-out has already been specified, costing an approximate £7M to £9M.

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Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, Councillor Ramesh Patel, said: “Detailed design work is still ongoing, but the essentials of the scheme are ready and will be going to public consultation in October before a planning application is submitted in mid-November.

“This is an incredibly exciting scheme and it’s fantastic to see it all coming together, with this part of the city developing into the sort of gateway to Cardiff and Wales that we all want to see. The consultation process will begin now and I would urge residents to get involved. We want people to feel proud of, and a part of, the transformation that is happening around the Central Square development.”

Leader of the City Council, Councillor Phil Bale, said: “Central Square is a £1Bn regeneration scheme which will transform the city centre. It will create a thriving new district and the bus interchange will play a major role in that.

However, if the scheme is to truly be a success, Cardiff Central Train Station must be modernised while the rest of the development is being carried out.

“This is a major priority for the Council.

Passenger numbers at the station are projected to exceed the station’s

capacity in less than a decade. The train station needs to be redeveloped and quickly.

“We have seen huge sums of money invested by Network Rail at other UK stations, including £600M at New Street Station in Birmingham and £130M at Waverley Station in Edinburgh. Cardiff needs the same sort of commitment to ensure we have a train station sitting alongside our new bus interchange which is futureproofed and ready to serve the UK’s fastestgrowing city.

“I’ve had meetings with the Chief Executive of Network Rail, the Secretary of State for Wales and the First Minister of Wales to present the case for Cardiff Central Station.

We believe there is now an urgent requirement to secure Department of Transport funding. Feasibility works need to be carried out to ensure proposals for the station’s redevelopment are in place for the next phase of development funding.”

Once submitted, a final planning decision will be made in mid-February, with a construction contract to follow thereafter.

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Sisk on-site for €100M Reflector development LAST month, Savills announced that construction of The Reflector - an ambitious 125,000sq ft office building on Hanover Quay and Grand Canal Dock - had commenced.

The €100M Reflector is envisioned as a landmark office and residential offering with a waterfront spanning some 75 metres. Sited at the heart of Dublin’s central business district, this innovative multi-purpose building is due for completion in Q3 2018 and comes courtesy of Park Developments Group - one of the original Grand Canal Dock developers. Once complete, the office element of the scheme will accommodate more than 1,000 employees.

The development will also incorporate 40 exclusive one to three-bedroom luxury apartments and a single 3,500sq ft retail and restaurant unit, all of which is also due for completion in 2018. Irish construction company Sisk has been appointed as The Reflector’s principal contractor.

A thriving business district in central Dublin, Grand Canal Dock houses a broad range of national and multinational companies, including; Accenture, Airbnb, Facebook, Google, Twitter and LinkedIn. Andrew Cunningham from Savills commented: “The integration of The Reflector with the existing dock-front buildings will create dynamic new relationships between old and new within the waterfront context. The Reflector offers Grade A sustainable and energy efficient office space, fantastic natural light, and great views, making it a top class working environment.”

Irish construction growth reaches five month high THE Irish construction sector continued to register growth of activity during August amid a sharp rise in new business. This in turn contributed to increases in purchasing activity and employment. Meanwhile, the rate of input cost inflation quickened to the fastest for a year.

The Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) - a seasonally adjusted index designed to track changes in total construction activity - posted 58.4 in August, remaining well above the 50.0 nochange mark.

That said, the reading was down from 61.0 in July, pointing to a weaker pace of expansion. Construction activity has now increased on a monthly basis throughout the past three years.

Commenting on the survey, Simon Barry - Chief Economist Republic of Ireland at Ulster Bank - noted that: “The pace of growth eased modestly relative to July, but the August reading of the headline PMI index - at 58.4 - still remains very comfortably in expansion territory. Indeed, August marked the 36th consecutive month of expansion,

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highlighting that a sustained uplift has been underway for three full years now at Irish construction firms.

“Commercial activity was again the bestperforming sub-sector, despite some easing in growth compared to July.

Encouragingly, housing activity was also a particular source of strength in August, with the pace of expansion in residential activity quickening to the fastest since March. Civil Engineering continues to lag behind the other sectors, with activity in this often-volatile sector recording a decline in August - bucking an 11-month trend of gains.”

“The August survey also featured a special question regarding firms’ views about the possible impact of the recent Brexit referendum in the UK. Almost 60% of respondents expect no impact from the referendum result on their activity over the coming year, while broadly similar proportions of companies expected activity to be boosted or reduced by the result. Indeed, firms remain strongly optimistic about prospects for construction activity over the coming twelve months.”

Planning applications on the rise in Belfast BELFAST City Council is dealing with around 25% more planning applications than when it first took responsibility for the service in 2015.

Between the 1st June and the 31st August 2016, the Planning Service accepted 507 new applications, in comparison to the 406 received during the summer months last year.

In that same period, the Council issued 548 decisions - a marked increase on the 333 made in 2015.

Less than 10% of those required the full attention of the Council’s Planning Committee.

Reflecting on the figures, Councillor Peter Johnston - Chair of the Planning Committee - paid tribute to the work of council officials: “The figures speak for themselves. While the number of applications received by the Council increased by 25% in the past three months, the number of decisions issued went up by 65% in the same period.

“This turnaround has not been without its difficulties. The issuing of legacy decisions - inherited

from the former Department of the Environment - continues to impact on our ability to achieve statutory targets. Having said that, the average processing times for major applications by the Council’s Planning Service is shorter than when we took over from the Department. That is a terrific achievement and a testimony to the dedication of the Service’s staff.

“There are still many challenges ahead of us, especially in relation to the Local Development Plan and the City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy. The revised plans for the long-awaited Royal Exchange project have recently entered the planning system. All of this will continue to shape our city, making it a vibrant, modern and progressive urban hub, and a place which is attractive to people to live and work in, as well as visit.”

When Belfast City Council took responsibility for planning in April 2015, it inherited 780 “legacy” applications. Today, less than 70 are still awaiting decisions.

New schools form part of Irish Education Plan THE Irish Government has launched its Action Plan for Education with the intention of placing its education and training amongst the very best in Europe by 2026.

The strategy outlines 139 actions to be implemented between 2016 and 2019 with particular focus on disadvantage, skills, and continuous improvement within the education service.

Included within the programme will be progress reports published on a quarterly basis along with an updated plan at the beginning of each year.

The Action Plan also includes a school building programme that will deliver 60,000 additional permanent school places, over 300 extensions to existing schools, and build 14 new schools by 2021.

Richard Bruton, Minister for Education and Skills, commented: “In this plan, our high ambitions are matched by specific actions to deliver on them, across all parts of the education service. Actions are aimed at improving outcomes for the learners who depend on the service, at breaking cycles of disadvantage, at supporting teachers and institutions to continually improve, at building better links between education and the broader community, and at improving our systems on which we depend to deliver all this.”

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny added: “It seeks to make Ireland the best education system in Europe. It is the way we ensure equality of opportunity, success, hope, and break the cycle of disadvantage.”

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Appetite for innovation remains strong in Ireland A survey - conducted by KPMG and RedC ahead of Budget 2017 - has found that the overwhelming majority (70%) of Irish businesses believe Ireland is innovation friendly, with 80% actively engaged in some form of innovation.

And - despite the bulk (57%) of Irish businesses not being aware of the recently introduced Knowledge Development Box (KDB) - the tax relief, which incentivises innovation, is considered attractive by 58% of companies.

The findings form part of KPMG’s Innovation Monitor report which annually assesses the attitudes of over 200 Irish businesses to innovation in Ireland, and reveals that for many companies across Ireland, innovation remains a strategic priority. This year’s report had a particular focus on the Knowledge Development Box, introduced in Budget 2016 to provide an attractive tax rate for income generated from commercialising R&D activities and intellectual property.

Commenting on the findings, Damien Flanagan, Director at KPMG said: “At a time when businesses face rapid change and disruption, nurturing innovation has never been more important. While 70% of the businesses who participated

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in our research consider Ireland to be innovation friendly, only one third believe that there is effective interaction between the various funding regimes, non-finance supports, collaborative opportunities, access to key talent and so on. The most significant influence on their decision to innovate is the availability of funding while access to qualified in-house personnel and the availability of the R&D tax credit is also very important.”

Mr Flanagan noted that while the majority of companies surveyed did not know about KDB prior to the survey, once it had been explained to them, most viewed it as an attractive proposition. He added: “We know from our research that 60% of companies with patents or copyrighted software (the type of assets which qualify for the KDB) intend to or are already generating income from these assets.

These are the companies that the KDB is designed for - it would be a shame if they missed out on claiming the KDB because of a lack of awareness.”

Key findings include: • 80% of businesses are engaged in innovative activity in Ireland and or abroad.

• 70% of businesses believe Ireland is innovation friendly.

• 66% of businesses believe the availability of qualified in-house personnel is a major influence on the ability to innovate.

• 42% of businesses have taken advantage of the R&D tax credit, almost half of which have been subject to a revenue enquiry or audit.

• 57% of businesses are unaware of the Knowledge Development Box. • 33% believe the Government is doing enough to support and encourage innovation.

Commenting on the report, Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said: “It is heartening to see from the research conducted that four out of five Irish businesses are engaged in innovative activity in some shape or form. The findings also highlight that a strong appetite exists to strengthen Irelands innovation ecosystem and the KBD is an attractive incentive, encouraging growth particularly in the area of R&D. Supporting innovation and innovative companies to scale internationally is a key element of Enterprise Ireland’s role and we welcome and encourage Irish companies particularly those in early stage to consider the supports on offer through Enterprise Ireland’s competitive funding initiatives.”

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