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Construction National Magazine and DirectoryTRANSCRIPT
constructionnational winter 2011 �
PASMA4 PASMA-leadingthewayforthemobileaccesstowerindustry
NEWS5 Anairambulancebasetobeproudof
6 Asbestosdangers-timetocallintheexperts
6 Constructionindustry‘hopeful’for2011
HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING – IOSH7 Behindthehardhat–thethreesidestomakingasitesafe
THE CONCRETE SHOW 201111 Excitingnewnationaleventshowcasesconcrete
10 Tailor-madesolutionsleadtosuccessfulcustomers
ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION14 Restructured’ApprovedContractor’schemesetsindustrystandard
16 Retainingtreesinharmonywithconstruction
CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES18 Classifiedsupplieslisting
CONSTRUCTION HOUSING18 NHBCPrideintheJobSealofExcellencewinners2010
Paul HouldsworthAdvertising Manager
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Copyright Construction National.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Construction National.Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. CHL
CONTENTS
Cover Story ‘ARB Approved Contractor’...the industry standard for tree work operations!
The‘ARBApprovedContractor’scheme,operatedbytheArboriculturalAssociation,hasrecentlyundergoneamajorrestructure
read more on p14
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PASMA-leadingthewayforthemobileaccesstowerindustry
n Thecountry’sleadingauthorityonmobileaccesstowers,PASMA–thePrefabricatedAccessSuppliersandManufacturers
Association–wasformedin1974andcomprisedthemajormanufacturersofalloyaccesstowersintheUK.
Theassociation’soriginalobjectivesweretopromotethesafeuseofalloyaccesstowersandtorepresenttheinterestsofitsmemberstotheregulatoryandstandardsauthorities.Membershipoftheassociationwasconfinedtomanufacturersonly,whoatthattimerepresentedtheprincipalsupplierstothemarketforbothsalesandhire.
Intheearly1980s,theassociationdeviseditsPASMATrainingCourseforusersofalloytowers,nowuniversallyacknowledgedastheindustrystandard,andsocommencedalonghistoryofskillstrainingtomaketheuseofaccesstowersassafeaspossiblebyproducingmanythousandsofcompetentusers.
LikealldynamicorganisationsPASMAhasmovedwiththetimes.Inthelate1990s,morestringentproceduresforthePASMAStandardTrainingSchemewereformalisedandanAuditRegimewasestablishedtoensureauniformlyhighlevelofPASMAtrainingfromoneendofthecountrytotheother.
Aroundthistime,theassociationchangeditsnametodemonstrateitswiderrepresentationofmanufacturersofbothaluminiumandfibreglassaccesstowers,andtoreflectitsreviewedandwidenedmembershipcategories.ThissawtheintroductionofnewHirer/DealerandTrainingmembershipswhichmoreaccuratelyrepresentedallsectorsoftheaccesstowerindustryandre-establishedPASMA’spositionastheleadrepresentativebodyandauthorityonallmattersrelatingtomobileaccesstowers.
Althoughmostcommonlyassociatedwithuseinconstructionandrelatedtrades,applicationsformobileaccesstowersspanacrossmanyindustries,rangingfromtherailwayandaerospaceindustriestofoodandpharmaceuticals.Since1999,whenfundamentalchangestothemembershipcriteriawereintroduced,theassociationhasofferedfullmembership,notonlytomanufacturers,butalsotohirers,dealersandthoseorganisationsaccreditedtoprovidePASMAtraining.
Afurthercategory,thatofnon-votingassociate,catersforanyonewithademonstrableinterestintheUKtowerindustry,withafinalcategoryofsubscribingmemberbeingaddedin2005tocaterforthoseindividualsandorganisationswho,althoughnotactiveintheindustry,neverthelesswishtoavailthemselvesoftheopportunitytopurchasePASMAhealthandsafetypublicationsandproductsandkeepabreastofchangesinthisfastmovingindustry.
ThePASMACodeofPracticehascometobethedefinitiveaccesstowerreferencedocumentformanagers,supervisors,healthandsafetyprofessionalsandusersalike,andhasbeencompletelyupdatedtoincorporatetherequirementsoftheWorkatHeightRegulations2005.
InordertoqualifyforPASMAmembership,allindividualsandcorporatebodiesapplyingmust:beofgoodreputeandstandingintheaccessindustry;haveaccessequipmentmeetingcertainminimumrequirements;haveadequateandappropriatesafetysystemsandarecordofgoodsafetypractice,andagreetobeboundbytherulesandCodeofConductoftheassociation.
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n ThePrideofCumbriaairambulanceteamnowhave
abasetobeproudof,thankstothegenerosityoflocalfirmsincludingRussellArmerHomes.
TheambulancetakestotheskiesfromitsbaseatLangwathby,nearPenrith,bringingrapidemergencymedicalhelptopeopleinneed.
OvertheyearsRussellArmerhavebuiltupcloselinkswiththislife-savingcharityandtheirstaffareconstantlyinspiredbytheworktheydo.So,whenthePrideofCumbriateamaskedforhelpwithamajorrefurbishmentattheirbase,thecompanyweredelightedtogivetheirsupport.
Alongwiththeirsupplierstheygaveanewkitchen,shower,pavingblocksandflagsfreeofchargewhichwerefittedforfreebylocalcontractors.
JanHawkins,chairoftheFriendsofPrideofCumbriafundraisingteam,says,“We’vebeenabletocountonRussellArmerHomesrightfromthestart.Theyarethefirstbusinesstohavesupporteduscontinuouslyandkeptonsupportingusforalltheseyears.They’vebeenmybedrock.”
StuartBrown,companybuyerforRussellArmerHomes,explains,“Wearealong-termsupporteroftheGreatNorthAirAmbulance,andwhenaskedforhelpwewereonlytoohappytosupporttheirrefit.”q
An air ambulance base to be proud of
constructionnational winter 2011 �
PASMA-leadingthewayforthemobileaccesstowerindustry
Additionalmembershipcriteriaincludetherequirementsthat:manufacturingmembershavethirdpartyproductconformitycertificationbyanapprovedbodytotheappropriatenational,Europeanorinternationalstandard;hirer/dealermembersofferproductswhichmeettheappropriatenational,Europeanorinternationalstandards;trainingmembershavePASMAapprovedTrainingCentreStatus,andassociatemembershaveademonstrableinterestinthetowerindustry.
OnceadmittedtoPASMA,membersmust:conducttheirbusinesswithintherequirementsoflegislation,regulations,healthandsafetyguidanceandthePASMACodeofPractice;provideappropriatetrainingfortheirstafftoenablethemtooperatewithinandgiveadviceinaccordancewiththePASMACodeofPractice;notbringtheindustryortheassociationintodisreputebytheiractionsornegligence,andactwithintegrityatalltimes.q
� constructionnational winter 2011
Asbestos dangers-timetocallintheexpertsn Thedangersposedbyasbestosshouldnotbeoverlookedby
companieswhoseworkersmaycomeintocontactwiththesubstance.
Inadditiontobeingaserioushealthrisk,asbestosexposurecouldresultincostlylegalactionintheeventofabreachofhealthandsafetylegislation–asshowninthetworecentcasesbelow.
Apropertymanagementfirmwasfined£30,100afteradmittingaseriesofoffenceswhichresultedinworkersbeingexposedtoasbestosfibres.InaprosecutionbroughtbytheHealthandSafetyExecutive(HSE),itwasrevealedthatthecompanyfailedtoproperlymanagetheremovalofasbestos-containingmaterialswhenemployeeswerereplacingafactoryroof.
AMagistrates’Courtwastoldthatupto15employeeswereworkingontheprojectwhichincludedstrippingmaterialsfromsupportbeamswhich,whenlatertestedbytheHSE,werefoundtocontainasbestos.
AninvestigationbytheHSEhighlightedthatthefirmhadneglectedtocarryoutanasbestossurveyorriskassessment.HSEinspector,RachelBrittain,said:“Thedangersofasbestosshouldneverbeunderestimatedandarewellknowninthepropertyindustryandbeyond.Foracompanytoputworkersatthislevelofriskshowsatotaldisregardfortheirsafetyandwelfare.”
Inaseparatecase,healthandsafetybreachesthatledtoaplumberbeingexposedtoover50timesthelegallimitforasbestoshavelandedacompanyownedbyRotherhamCouncila£7,000fine.
Firm2010RotherhamLimited,whichwassetuptomanagecouncilhomes,failedtopassontheresultsofitsasbestossurveytoasub-contractor,resultingintheworkerbeingexposedtothehazardoussubstance.
RotherhamMagistratesheardthatthesurveyhadrevealedthepresenceofasbestosinahomenextdoortotheonewhereBarnsleyfirmNugaswashiredtoreplaceanoldbathroomwithashowerroom.
SinceNugaswasnotawareofthefindings,theplumberitsentwasnotwearingsafeclothingorrespiratoryprotectionwhenheremovedtilesfromawallmadeofasbestosinsulatingboard(AIB),damagingitintheprocess.
Thecourtwasalsotoldthatatthetimeoftheincident,theAIBwallnextdoorwasbeingtakenoutbyalicensedasbestosremovalserviceemployedby2010Rotherham.Magistratesfinedthecompany£7,000andorderedittopay£3,418incosts.q
Constructionindustry‘hopeful’for2011n TheBritishconstructionindustryishopefulthat2011will
seeimprovementsinturnoverandgrossprofitsdespitepoorconfidenceinthesector,accordingtoanewreport.
Althoughconfidenceinthesectorremainedlowinthelastquarterof2010andstilllagsthatofmostothersectors,thereisstilloptimismlookingahead,saysthelatestICAEW/GrantThorntonUKBusinessConfidenceMonitor(BCM).
TheConfidenceIndexofbusinessesintheconstructionsectorfellby1.3pointsinthefourthquarterof2010to6.3pointscomparedtothe7.6pointsseeninthethirdquarter.ThisisthelowestConfidenceIndexforthesectorseensofarthisyearandisasignificantdeclinefromtheconsiderablymorebuoyant24pointsseeninthefirstthreemonthsoftheyear.
Only47%ofbusinessesintheconstructionsector,downfrom51%inthethirdquarter,aremoreconfidentintheeconomicprospectsfacingtheirorganisationoverthenext12months.Theproportionthatislessconfidentaboutthecomingyearisrelativelyunchangedat30%comparedto31%inthelastquarter.
Despitethedeclineinconfidence,constructionfirmsexpectsomeimprovementstotheirbusinessperformancethisyearafteradifficult12monthsin2010.Turnoverisexpectedtoincreaseby2.4%afterfallingby3%overthelast12months.Grossprofitisexpectedtoriseby2.2%afterseeinga4.2%falloverthelastyear.q
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n Asanyoneinvolvedinconstructionknows,therearethreesidestomakingsureaprojectissafetoworkon,safetomanageandsafe
tobuild.TheInstitutionofOccupationalSafetyandHealth(IOSH)believesthat
safetytraininginbothmanagementandworkingon-sitecan,andis,increasinglybeingusedtocutthenumberofconstruction-relateddeaths.Butthesafetytrailgoesasfarbackascoursesforthedesignerswhoalsoneedtoensurethataprojectissafetobuildandmaintain.
AccordingtoHealthandSafetyExecutive(HSE)statisticsfor2009/10,42peoplelosttheirlivesinthesector–that’s2.2per100,000workers.Thismeansconstructionisonlythirdbehindagricultureandextractiveindustriesforfatalities–afactwhichillustratestheroomforimprovementatdesign,managerialandoperatorlevelson-site.
Operating safelyPartofthewayinwhichon-siteoperatorscankeepthemselvessafeisby
undertakingpracticalandrelevanttrainingrelatedtothespecifichazardsandsituationstheycouldtypicallymeetintheirday-to-dayactivities.Thatincludesgeneralbuildingandconstructionwork,maintenanceandrepair,refurbishment,engineeringandcivilengineering.
IOSH’sConstructionGroupViceChairandTrainingChampionDavidAckerleyisakeenadvocateoftheorganisation’ssector-specificcourse,Working Safely in Construction–derivedfromitsoriginalandhighlysuccessfulWorkingSafelycourseprogramme.
Hesaid:“It’svitalthatworkersareawareoftheirresponsibilityforsafetytowardsthemselves,colleaguesandeventhegeneralpublicwhomaycomeintocontactwithaparticularsite.
“Thecourseisaboutteachingbehaviouralsafetyasmuchasanythingelse–helpingpeopletoformsafe,ratherthandangerous,habitsandtounderstandthethingsthatcancauseaccidents.Becausethetruthis,evenamomentarylapseinconcentrationorasimplelackofconsiderationcanleavesomeonewithalifethreateninginjury.
“Whatthecoursesteachisthatnothing,noteventhemostchallengingtimescales,shouldcompromisesafety.”
Behind the hard hat –the three sides to making a site safe
Anyoneinvolvedinactivitieson-siteworkalsoneedstounderstandbasiclegislationthat,ifignored,couldgetthemandtheiremployerintotrouble.Thiscoversbasichealthandsafetylaw,welfare,firstaidandfireprovisions,aswellasknowledgeofriskassessments.
IOSH’sWorking Safely in Constructioncourseexploresareassuchasworkatheight,excavationsandconfinedspaces,moving,liftingandhandlingloadsandhowtouseequipmentandmachinerysafely.It’salsoimportantthatworkerslearntoidentifyhazardoussubstancesandhowtoprotectthemselvesfromexcessivenoiseandvibrationlevels.Evenbasicknowledgeofpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE)istaught,alongwitharefresheronsafetyaroundelectricitysupplyandhowtotransportpeoplearoundsitesafely.
Although,onthesurface,thisknowledgemightbeconsideredlogical,commonsenseorbasic,thecourseisdesignedtohighlightgapsinawarenessanddemonstratethefactthatnothingistoosmallorinsignificanttoignore.
Managing safelyConstructionmanagersmustalsohaveadequatesafetytrainingand
IOSH’sManaging Safely in Constructioncoursedeliverstheknowledgeandskillsnecessarytohelppeoplerecognisehazardsandtheactionsneededtocontrolandmanagethem.
Responsibilityforthewaysafetyworksonaconstructionsitecanbedaunting,butknowledgeofsafetypoliciesandhealthandsafetylegislationgivespeopletheconfidenceintheirabilitytomanageefficientlyandeffectively,knowingtheyaredoingtherightthing.
DavidAckerleyadded:“Oneofthekeythingsgoodsafetytrainingachievesismakingseniorstaffappreciatetheimportanceofmanagingsafetyinthisdemandingandoftenfast-pacedsectorofindustry.
“IOSHManaging Safely in Constructionprovidesconstructionmanagersandsupervisorswithpracticalhealthandsafetyknowledgewhichwillbenefitthemintheworkplace.Thetrainingcoversawideranginganddetailedsyllabus,aimedspecificallyattheconstructionindustry.
“Atatimewhencompetenceandprofessionalismhasneverbeenmoreimportant,thiscoursereallyfitsthebill”
IOSH’sManaging Safely in Constructioncoursealsoremindsmanagerswhat‘risk’actuallyis,theroleriskassessmentplayswithintheworkplace,aswellastherelatedlegalsystems.
Seniorstaffmustbeabletorecognise,manageandcontrolhazards,whileappreciatinghowaccidentsandincidentscanhappenon-site.Thisinturngivesthemthetoolstobeabletoidentifythehazardsandproperlymitigatetherisk.
Thecoursealsoteachesmanagershowtocarryoutaccidentinvestigationsandhelpsstafftorealisetheinherentvalueofthoseinvestigations.Performancemeasurementandwaysofmonitoringsafetyperformancearealsointegraltositesafety.
Anytrainingcourseshouldalsohelppeopletoseetheimpacttheconstructionindustryhasontheenvironment,thereforehelpingthemunderstandwhytheyshouldemployproperwastedisposaltechniquesandapproachestosavevitalcommoditieslikewater.IOSH’sprogrammedoesthis,andexplainshowpollutionandwasteshouldbecontrolled,whilstsettingoutthemainelementsofagoodenvironmentalmanagementsystem.
SeniorstaffmustknowthekeyrequirementsoftheConstructionDesignandManagementRegulations2007,whichdescribethewayinwhichalldesigners–fromengineerstoarchitects-shouldcarefullyconsiderhowtheirdesigndecisionscanaffectaproject,duringconstructionandbeyond.Thedesignshouldalsotakeintoaccountthefuturehealthandsafetyoftheusersoftheworkplace.Theseregulationsensurethatprojectsaresafetobuildanddonotputanysitestaffatunnecessaryrisk.
ThisalsoillustratestheimportanceofIOSH-accreditedcoursessuchas
IOSH’s Construction Group ViceChair and Training Champion David Ackerley
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CDM for Construction Professionals,tohelpthemmeettherequirementsofrigoroussafetyconsiderationsindesign.This,ofcourse,allhappensbehindthehardhats-thosewhoaredirectlyinvolvedwithabuildonaday-to-daybasis.
Designing safelyTonyPutsman,ahealthand
safetyconsultant,deliversoneoftheseIOSHcourseswithhiscompany,ConstructionTeamTechnologiesLtd.
Hesaid:“Evenifbuildersandcontractorsaretryingtobesafeonsite,whattheyarebeingaskedtobuildmightnotbe.
“Designingaschemesoit’ssafetobuildandsafetooperateisabsolutelyessentialandsitesafetyisn’tjustabouttheconstructionphase,it’saboutmanagementdevelopmentandsafedesign.”
TonyPutsmanfirstgotinvolvedwiththedesignsafetysideofconstructionhealthandsafetycoursesbecausehesawadangerousgapinthesystemduringthe1990s,whenonlypiecemealtrainingwasgiventocivilengineerswhodesignedandranjobs.
TheCDM for Construction Professionalscoursesarethethirdkeypartofconstructiontrainingtoimprovesitesafety.Theyallowotherswhodon’tnecessarilyspendmuchtimeon-siteduringabuild’slifecycletounderstandhowthedesignofaprojectcanpreventpeople’slivesbeingputatrisk.
Managementmustlinkconstructionworktotheapplicablelegislation.Andinturn,safedesignneedstoforwardplanforhowbuildingworkcanbedrivensoitissafeandlawabiding.
Thisthree-daycoursegivespeopleinformation,instructionandtraining
Tony Putsman of Construction Team Technologies Ltd
sotheyunderstandthe‘how’and‘why’ofdesigningsafebuilds,aswellastheassociatedlegalduties.Itistheretoenablearchitects,projectmanagers,engineersandotherstolearnandunderstandbasiclegislationandhowthisappliestotheconstructionenvironment.
Therearetwomainelementsessentialtomaintainingastandardwhichwillmeanthoseoutonthefrontlinearen’tplacedatunnecessaryrisk.
First,engineers,architectsandotherdesignersshouldbethinkingabouthowtomaketheprojectsafertobuildduringthedesignstage.Forexample,workingfromheightcausesalotofaccidents,sotheemphasisistoensureemployeesareabletoputtogetheralotofthebuildatgroundlevelbeforeanythingiserected.Thisminimisestheamountoftimetheyareputatriskfromworkingatheight.
Second,aftercompletion,theoperationandmaintenanceofthebuildingbegins.Anyonewhoseworkinvolvesmaintenanceandcleaningshouldn’texperiencecomplicationsandaccessproblemsthatcouldalsomakeitdifficultforthemtodotheirjob.Forexample,anatriumwithhigh-ceilingscouldposeaccessdifficultiesforupkeepandhousekeeping.Wherethisisthecase,designshouldincludesomeformofeasieraccesssothisriskisdramaticallyreduced.
Otherconsiderationsatbuildandmaintenancestageincludemitigatingagainsttheriskoffallingfromheight,objectsfallingfromheight,electricalproblemsandtransportissues.Wherepossible,designersarealsotaughtthattheymustreducethetimeanyoneisforcedtousevibratingequipmentlikebreakersandscabberswherecontinuoususecandamagenerveendings.
TonyPutsmanadded:“Ourchiefconcernistocutthenumberoffatalities,injuriesandincidentsofill-healthinconstruction.Whatwe’reteachingpeopletodoisthinkofadesignlikeajigsaw,wherepartsshouldbepre-madetofitinadvanceratherthanneedingtobecutandbuiltfromscratchon-sitebyhand,causingpotentialinjury.
“Andthat’swhycontractors,builders,engineersandarchitectsshouldbeencouragedtoworkasateamwithacollaborativeapproach,tomaketheoveralljigsawfit.IthinkIOSH’sprogramsgiveprofessionalsareallygoodgroundingintheimportanceofdoingthis.”q
10 constructionnational winter 2011
n BASF’sConstructionChemicalsdivisionistheleadingsupplierof
chemicalsystemsandformulationsfortheconstructionindustry.Continuousinnovationandtailor-madesolutionsensureitscustomersaremoresuccessful.
ItsAdmixtureSystemsbusinessunitspecificallyhelpscustomersintheready-mix,precast,manufacturedconcreteandundergroundconstructionindustries.BASFAdmixtureSystemsistheleadingadmixturesupplier,deliveringcontinuousinnovationandaddedvaluesolutionsthatprovidesuperiorqualityandeconomicbenefittotheconcreteindustry.Thebusinessunitiscommittedtoengineeringqualitysolutionstodrivetheconcreteindustryforward.Throughconstantresearchanddevelopmentintonewproducts,systems,applicationmethodsandequipment,theyaddvaluetoconcrete.
TheConstructionSystemsunitoffersawiderangeofproductsforsportsand
industrialflooring,externalrendersandwallinsulation,expansionjointsandwoodpreservativesaswellasspecialistrepairmortars,tileadhesivesandwaterproofingmembranes.WhetheritisanewbuildorrefurbishmentprojectBASF’sConstructionSystemscanofferawideandvariedrangeofsolutionstotheconstructionindustry.ThebusinessunitisalsoattheforefrontoftechnologyandtheirconstantlyevolvingproductportfolioistheresultoftheworkundertakenbytheirglobalR&Dcentresofexcellence.TherecentadditionsoftheEmacoNanocreterangeofEN1504compliantconcreterepairmortarsisjustoneexampleofBASF’sConstructionSystemsleadingtheway.
Amarket-segmentedstructuremeansthatyoucanrelyontheproximityofaregionalcompanywiththebackingofaglobalgroup.Thebroadestrangeoftechnologicallyadvancedchemicaladmixturesandthebesttechnicalbackupfromtheinternationalmarketleader.
BASF’sConstructionChemicalsoperatesproductionsitesandsalescentresinmorethan50countriesandachievedsalesofabout€2billionwithapproximately7,100employeesin2009.
BASFistheworld’sleadingcompany:TheChemicalCompany.Itsportfoliorangesfromchemicals,plasticsandperformanceproductstoagriculturalproducts,finechemicalsaswellasoilandgas.AsareliablepartnerBASFhelpsitscustomersinvirtuallyallindustriestobemoresuccessful.Withitshigh-valueproductsandintelligentsolutions,BASFplaysanimportantroleinfindinganswerstoglobalchallengessuchasclimateprotection,energyefficiency,nutritionandmobility.
BASFpostedsalesofmorethan€50billionin2009andhadapproximately105,000employeesasoftheendoftheyear.q
• Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf-cc.co.uk.
Tailor-made solutions lead to successful customers
constructionnational winter 2011 11
n Thenewspecialistshowfortheconcreteindustry–CONCRETE.TheUKConcreteShow2011–willbringtheindustrytogethertomeet,
networkandseeallthatisnewandinnovativeinconcreteunderoneroofatatTheRicohArena,Coventry,onFebruary23rd-24th.
Whetherit’spre-castorreadymix,selfcompactingorfibrereinforcedconcrete,CONCRETE–TheUKConcreteShow2011,organisedbyMarwoodEvents,reallywillbe‘allaboutconcrete’.
ADFIL,BASF,BLASTRAC,CHRYSO,DOKA,GRACE,HTC,HILTI,LAFARGE,MEVA,PROPEX,PUTZMEISTER,SIKA,SCHWINGandTYROLITarejustsomeoftheindustryleadersexhibitingatthisexcitingnewnationalevent.
Anindustryofthissizeandcomplexityneedsahub,aplacetomeet,tofindnewcustomers,anannualfixedpointtolaunchnewproducts,aforumforeveryoneintheconcreteindustrytoselltoeachother.
Thereisstillnosubstituteforactuallymeetingpeopleandholdingdiscussionsfacetofacetogrowyourbusiness–whetherthatbewithsuppliers,customersorindustrypeers–it’ssimplybyfarthemosteffectiveformofcontactforbusiness.
Aswellasstandsfeaturingallthatisnewandinnovativeintheindustry,therewillbeliveproductdemonstrations,trainingclassesandarangeoftop-classseminars.
Oneofmanyhighlyinformativeseminarsattheshow,Concrete – a Promising Future for a Versatile MaterialwillbepresentedbyAndrewMinsonoftheMineralProductsAssociation.
AndrewMinsonleadstheworkofMPA–theConcreteCentre,whichenablesandequips
Exciting new national event showcases concrete
12 constructionnational winter 2011
projectteamstorealisethefullpotentialofconcrete,andinfluencesthedesignenvironmentandwiderperceptionofconcretetoensurethatthematerialisfullyutilised.Theversatilityofconcretemeansthatiscanbeusedbydesignerstomeetthechallengesofthefuture.
AndrewMinsonwillalsopresentWind Energy, a New Market for the Concrete Industrywhichisanexplorationintotheopportunitiesthatwillcontinuetodevelopfortheconcreteindustryasaresultoftheinvestmentinthegenerationofwindturbines,whichissettoseedramaticgrowthoverthenextdecade.
InapresentationThe Design and Specification of Waterproof ConcreteDavidBallFCMIMCSFRSA-Pudlo,ChairmanoftheDavidBallGroupplc,takesacloselookatwhatreducingthepassageofwaterthroughconcretecanachieveandwillhighlightbenefitssuchasimproveddurability,increasedstrength,areducedrateofcarbonationandimprovedchlorideresistance.
InaseminarentitledCementitious Materials ExplainedDrChrisClearoftheBritishReadyMixedConcreteAssociationwillconsiderthevarioustypesofcementitiousmaterialscurrentlyusedinthemanufacture
ofcementandreadymixedconcrete,examiningthebenefitsandeffectsofcementitioussubstitution.
Concrete Repair – Are You Up to Speed With BS EN 1504ispresentedbyChrisGallivanofBASFConstructionChemicals.InadditiontodiscussingtheUK’sfirsteverconcreterepairstandard,theseminarwillgoontoexplainthedifferencebetween‘allintendeduses’and‘certainintendeduses’,animportantfactorinsuccessfullyspecifyingmaterialperformance,andwillprovideexamplesofBSEN1504specificationsinuse.
CONCRETE.TheUKConcreteShow2011isgearedtosuitallconcreteindustryprofessionals–readymixandpre-castconcreteproducers,specialistcontractors,aswellasengineers,architectsandspecifiers–soifyoumanufacture,specifyorworkwithconcreteinanywaythenthisisyourshow!q
1� constructionnational winter 2011
...the industry standard for tree work operations!
n The‘ARBApprovedContractor’scheme,operatedbytheArboriculturalAssociation–theUK’slargestindustrybody
forurbantreecare,seewww.trees.org.uk–hasrecentlyundergoneamajorrestructure,principallytoalignwithotherH&Sschemestogainwiderandcrossindustryacceptanceandrecognition,butalsotobettersafe-guardinstructingclientsandappealtoawiderindustrymarket.
TheArboriculturalAssociation(AA...butnottobeconfused!)hasbeeninexistenceandservicingthearboriculturalsectorinoneguiseoranothersince1964.Inthe1970’sitbecameincreasinglyawareofvaryingnationalstandardsintreecareoperations,principallyinvolvingtreepruningandsafetycomplianceonworksites.Hencethe‘AAApprovedContractor’schemewasformedwiththeprimaryaimofimproving,andstandardising,treecareoperations.
Inthoseveryearly,‘goodold/badold’,daystherewasn’tthe
‘ARB Approvedby PAUL SMITH, Arboricultural Association Technical Officer and ‘ARB Approved Contractor’ Scheme Manager
constructionnational winter 2011 1�
plethoraofhealthandsafetyregulationsandcontrolstoconsiderandoftentreeswouldbeascendedby‘freeclimbing’withthearborist(treesurgeon)onlyattachingtoaropeforthedescenttothedesiredworkingposition.Iremembermyfirstdayasatreesurgeonforalocalcouncilwhentheforemantoldmetowearanextrapairofjeansaschainsawsweresometimesbl**dysharp(surelytheyshouldbesharpallthetimeIthought)....ohboy,ohboyhowtimeshavechanged..!
The‘ARBApprovedContractor’schemeinitsnew,2011formatandstructure:
• CDM Regs. 2007-complieswiththe(Appendix4 –Competence)
• CHAS(ContractorsHealthandSafetyAssessment Scheme)-meetstherequirementsof,andhasa ‘deemedtosatisfy’agreementauthorisingdualaward
• HSE-‘goodindustrypractice’,developedin consultationwith:
• Industry benchmark–setsthisforarboricultural contracting
• Reassessments–onabi-annualbasiswithannualH&S auditsforCHASAccreditedcontractors
• BS3998–compliancefortreeworkoperations
OUTCOME – H&S compliant, operationally competent and skilled tree work contractors.
TheCDMRegs(2007)ACOP–states‘Clientshaveadutytocheckthecompetenceandresourcesofallappointees’andfurthertheCDMco-ordinatorandprincipalcontractorhavemorespecificduties,includingregulatoryandcompliancechecks,forappointedsub-contractorswhichisusuallythecapacityinwhichtreeworkcontractorsareengaged.The‘ARBApprovedContractor’statusassistsindemonstratingthis.
TheHealthandSafetyExecutivepublication‘Use of
‘ARB Approved Contractor’
1� constructionnational winter 2011
n TreeLifeACLtdcarriesoutarboriculturalconsultancy
workandprovidestrainingforthearboriculturalandassociatedindustriesnationwide.Oneofitsspecialistareasisthatofpreparingreportsrelatedtoconstructionsiteswheretreesarepresent.Thisinvolvesthepreparationofmethodstatementsthatdemonstratehowtreesmayberetainedinharmonywithconstruction.TreeLifeisalsotheprovideroftrainingtoorganisationsandcompaniesthathavetodealwithtreesonaregularbasis.TheydelivercoursesaroundthecountryatvariouscentresandattheirpurposebuilttrainingcentreinLeicestershire.TheyaimtodelivertrainingthatismostappropriatefortheclientandhasincludedthetopicsofBS5837,treesinrelationtoconstruction,treerootsandpavementrepair,treesandtheinstallationofundergroundservicesandrepairofundergroundservicesfromanarboriculturalperspective.TheconsultancyserviceisledbyanArboriculturalAssociationregisteredconsultantandCharteredArboriculturistwith34yearsexperienceinarboricultureandworkingwiththeconstructionindustry.Thecompanyarealwayspleasedtogiveadvicetopotentialclientsinordertodetermineexactneedsandrequirementsinordertoprovidethebestpossiblearboriculturalservice.q
Retaining trees in harmony with construction
contractors – a joint responsibility’ (INDG 368)clearlysetsouttheclient’sresponsibilityinappointingcompetentcontractorsandthecheckstobeundertakentoensurethis,‘sofarasreasonablypractical’ofcourse,andessentiallypromotesadoptionofaconsistentandstructuredprocedureforsodoing.Includedinthesechecksis‘doesthecontractorhaveanyindependentassessmentoftheircompetence’,interpretedasbothH&Scomplianceandoperationalcompetence,bothofwhichareassessedindetailunderthe‘ARBApprovedContractor’scheme.
Oneofthepreviousweaknessesoftheschemewasthetimescalebetweenreassessments,undertakentorecheckcontractorcompliance/competenceandqualitystandards,beingonlyonceeveryfiveyears.Thiswasclearly‘outofsync’withotheraccreditationschemesandnolongeracceptable.Sincethe‘deemedtosatisfy’agreementwasestablishedwithCHAS,therebyenablingdualaward,therehasbeenaneedforcontractorstobeH&Sauditedatleasteverytwoyearstomaintaintheir‘compliant’status.TheAssociationsawgreatbenefitincombiningthiswithafurthercompetence/skillscheck,toincreasetherobustnessoftheprocess,andintroducedan‘interim’reassessmentrequirementinthesecondyearofafouryearcycle.Further,ifthecontractorsCHASstatusisawardedviatheir‘ARBApprovedContractor’status,andtheyselecttobecome‘Accredited’theAssociationcanundertaketheirannualCHASauditsalternately,meaning:
Year1–‘ARBApprovedContractor’reassessment¹+CHASaudit(contractor’svenue)
Year 2 – CHAS audit (documentary submission to AA for desktop audit)Year3–‘ARBApprovedContractor’reassessment²+CHASaudit(contractor’svenue)
Year 4 – CHAS audit (documentary submission to AA for desktop audit)
¹Fullreassessmentcoveringallcriteriacontainedwithinthestandard
²PartialreassessmentcoveringonlythosecriteriarelatedtoH&S
compliance,operationalcompetenceandquality
For‘smaller’contractors,i.e.‘lessthan5employees’,‘ARBApprovedContractor’status+CHAScanbeavailableforlessthan£500peryear(overthefouryearcycle)andhencefinancialconstraintisnolongerabarriertoaccreditation.
Where does the scheme go from here?Well,besidesattractingmanynewcontractors,suchthatthe‘ARB
ApprovedContractor’statusbecomessynonymouswithcompetenttreesurgeons,inthewaythatCORGIstatusisforgasengineers,andclearlyyouasprospectiveappointingclientshaveakeyroletoplayhere,othermovesareafoottofurtherraisetheprofileandcredibilityofthescheme.TheseincluderegisteringtheschemewiththeHSE/CHAS‘SafetySchemesinProcurement’forum(www.ssip.org.uk),therebysubjectingtheschemeandit’sorganisation
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toadetailedauditbyHSEitself(whichItakeaverypositiveviewon...somemaysayI’mmad!)andachievingISO9001‘QualityManagementSystems’and14001Environmentalaccreditations.
Certainlythere’smuchtobedonebutit’sallforthegoodoftheindustryandofcoursetothebenefitofthoseallimportantamenitytreesweallenjoyandwhichwillincreasinglyreceiveagoodstandardofcare.
ThankyouforreadingthisarticleandIhopeitwasofinterest!Shouldyouhaveanyquestions,orrequireanyfurtherinformationregardingthe‘ARBApprovedContractor’scheme,ortheAssociationanditsotheractivities,pleasedon’thesitatetoeithercontactmedirectlyontel.01242522152orvisitourwebsiteatwww.trees.org.uk.q
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SURVEYS
INTERIORFURNISHING&SUPPLLIES
TRAINING&ASSESSMENT
Honouredn Representingatrulyremarkableachievementforwinnersin
theNHBCPrideintheJobAwardssecondroundofjudging,theSealofExcellenceAwardsarepresentedtothetop130sitemanagers(splitbyregion),selectedfromthe400QualityAwardwinnersinthefirstroundoftheawards.
JudgingforPrideintheJobbeginsinJulyeachyearandcontinues,intotal,forthenext18months,enablingNHBCinspectorsandtheindependentjudgestofullyassesssitemanagers’workoveranextendedperiodoftime.
Toensureallsitesarejudgedtothesamecriteria,aPrideIntheJobmarkingsheetisused,whichcovers38site-managementactivities.
Theseincludemaintainingconsistentlyhighstandardsofsitemanagement;displayingexcellentleadershipskills;demonstratingtechnicalexpertise;havingtheabilitytoskillfullyinterpretdrawingsandspecificationsandensuringefficienthealthandsafetycontrolsonsite.
ThecompetitionisintenseandNHBCjudgeshavetosee
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NHBC Pride in the Job Seal of Excellence winners 2010
n DurkansitemanagerChrisSurmonwasonanall-time‘high’whenhewonhisSealofExcellence
accoladeforhisworkonacomplexdesignandbuildprojecttocreate64apartmentsatGreengateHouse,Plaistow,LondonE13.
Theflats,forsharedownership,arebeingcreatedforTowerHomes.ThischallengingdevelopmentincludestheretentionoftheoriginalfaçadeofaGradeIIListedformerYMCAbuilding–initiallyconstructedin1919.Inaddition,theformerYMCAbasementswimmingpoolwillberemovedtocreatea36-spacecarparkforthenewresidents.
Theremainderofthebuildingwillbedemolishedandasbestosremovedtomakewayforanewwingofaccommodationwithintheoriginalfootprint.ThelargecarparksituatedbehindtheformerGreengateHousewillbeutilisedtoconstructadditionalaffordablehomesinalow-risemews.
Durkanofferawiderangeofconstruction,development,propertyinvestmentandregenerationsolutionsthroughoutLondonandthesoutheastofEngland.Theyhavebeencommittedtoprovidingclientswithsustainableandcreativesolutionsforover45years,benefitingnotonlylocalresidentsbutalsothewidercommunity.q
somethingquitespecialtonominateasitemanagerforanaward.Fromthestandardofworkmanship,tothewelfareofstaff,asitemanagermustgetinvolvedwitheveryaspectonsiteandworktocontinuallytoraisestandards.
Followingthefirststageofthecompetition(QualityAwards)and
Chris is on an all-time ‘high’
thesecondstage(SealofExcellence),winnersthenqualifyforjudginginthethirdround(RegionalAwards)andfinallyintheultimateSupremeAwards.
RegionalandSupremeAwardwinnersarejudgedbyapanelincludingindustryexpertswhoareindependentoftheNHBC.q
forexcellence
South East
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n Takingthehonoursforhisteamandhiscompany,afterwhathasbeendescribedasa‘trulyfantastic’effort,isTonyPreece,
sitemanageratMillerHomes’BirkacreParkinChorley.TonywasoneoffourMillerHomessitemanagerstowinaSealof
Excellencein2010.Commentingonthecompany’ssuccessintheawards,SueWarwick,nationalsalesandmarketingdirectorforMillerHomes,said:”PrideintheJobisafantasticschemethatrecognisesandrewardstheverybestinthebusiness.Weareimmenselyproudofallofoursitemanagersandforsomanyofthemtopickupgongsatthiscomprehensivestageinthecompetitionshowshowtrulyfantastictheyare.”
Amazingaward
n GavinFlannerywasbothproudandamazedtoreceivehisawardforhisworkassitemanageratBarrattManchester’s
EcclestonParkdevelopmentinChorley.“Thisisanamazingawardthatprovesallmyhardworkand
dedicationdoesn’tgounnoticed”hesaid.Gavinstartedinthebuildingtradeasanapprenticejoinerat
WilliamHargreavesbeforebeingappointedtositemanagerstatusattheageof21.Hehasbeenwithhispresentemployerforthreeandahalfyears.
The123-homeEcclestonParkdevelopmentincorporatesavarietyofhousetypesrangingfromone-bedroomflatstothree-andfour-bedroomterracedanddetachedhouses.Completionoftheschemeisexpectedinsummer2012.
Ateverystageofthehousebuildingprocess,fromdesigningandplanningtothefinalfinishingtouches,Barrattkeepinmindtheemotionalandpracticalprioritiesofthepeoplewhowillbelivingintheirproperties.
Thecompany’sapproachisthatalloftheirpeople,whethertheybelandbuyers,sitemanagersormarketingstaff,delivertheirverybestatallstagesofthebusiness.q
‘A sense of achievement’n Makingthegradeinwinningacovetedawardbroughta
realsenseofachievementandafeelingofrecognitionforalltheeffortandhardworkofPhilipMcHugh,sitemanagerofCountrysideProperties’WhitegatesdevelopmentinMossley.
Philip,whohasbeenasitemanagerwiththecompanyforthepastfouryearshasbeenattheWhitegatessitefor12months.
WhitegatesisanewdevelopmentofbeautifulthreebedroomhomessituatedontheedgeofthePennines.MossleyisatraditionalPenninetownfilledwithcharacterwheresteepstreets,stonehousesandrenovatedmillsnestlebetweenriverandcanal.
ThehomesatWhitegatesarebuiltinatraditionalstylethatperfectlycomplementstheruralsurroundings.Lightandspaciousenvironmentsarecleverlycreatedwithopenplanlivingspaces,skylightsandFrenchdoorswhichinvitetheoutsidein.CompletionofthedevelopmentisexpectedinMarch2011.
CountrysideProperties’visionistocreateoutstandingnewhomesinexcellentlocationsforpeopletoenjoy,nowandinthefuture.Thecompanyhasaproventrackrecordincreatinghighqualityhomesthattheircustomersenjoyandwhichstandthetestoftime.Inrecognition,CountrysideHomesholdmoreCABEBuildingforLifeStandardsthananyotherprivatelyowneddeveloperandwerethefirsthousingdevelopertoreceivethemosthighlyprizedarchitecturalawardoftheRIBAStirlingPrizein2008.q
A ‘trulyfantastic’ effort
BirkacreParkalsoreceivedacommendationfromRobertNapier,ChairmanoftheHousingandCommunitiesAgency,whosaid:”IwasreallyimpressedwithwhatIsawatBirkacrePark–thewholeschemehasagreatvillagefeelandthehomesareclearlyofexcellentquality.”
SetinaloopoftheRiverYarrowonthesouthernedgeofChorley,BirkacreParkincorporatesadelightfulvillagegreenandpondmarkingtheentrancetoapeaceful,beautifullylandscapednewneighbourhood.q
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Paul makes...North West
n SitemanagerPaulMorrisisenjoyingsuccessatthedoubleafterscoopingbothaSealofExcellenceandaRegionalAwardforhis
workatTaylorWimpey’sTheDeckdevelopmentinRuncorn.Paul,whosehobbiesincludefootballandskiing,hasbeenwith
TaylorWimpeyfor13years.HejoinedthecompanyasasitemanagerandhaswonaNHBCPrideintheJobQualityAwardforthepastfour
yearsaswellasscoopingtheprestigiousSealofExcellence.Paulsaid:“Receivingthisawardwasanextremelyproudmoment
formeandafantasticwaytorecognisethehardworkthatthewholeteamatTheDeckputsintomakingthedevelopmentthebestinRuncorn.”
SamWilliams,associatesalesdirectorforTaylorWimpeyNorth
...the grade
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North West
West,said:“We’reabsolutelydelightedthatPaulhasbeenhandednotonebuttwooftheseprestigiousawardsandfeelthatit’sextremelywelldeserved.We’recommittedtoprovidinghousehuntersintheregionwithwelldesignedandaffordablehighqualityhomes,andthoseatTheDeckcertainlytickalloftherightboxes.”
The400-plushomedevelopmentincorporateswindowsfrommarket-leadingPultecWindowSystems.TheinnovativeGRPFibreglasswindowswereusedthroughoutthedevelopmentforimprovedthermalefficiency,reducedmaintenance,longerlifeandoverallbestvalue.TheDeckincorporatesastylishcollectionof466oneandtwobedroomapartmentsandislocatedneartothecentreoftheoldtown,enjoyingcommunalrecreationalareasandarangeofretailfacilities.SituatedonsomeofRuncorn’sformershiprepairyards,withinsightofthefamousRuncornBridge,thedevelopmentopensuppublicaccesstotheoldquayoftheManchesterShipCanal,spearheadingtheregenerationofaneglectedbrownfieldareaintoavibrantnewcommunity.Thedevelopmentisdueforcompletionin2015.q
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‘The icing on the cake’n SuccesstastedsweetforIanWallis,KensingtonDevelopment’s
award-winningsitemanageratTheVillaselementoftheLythamQuaysdevelopmentinLythamStAnnes.“Theawardistheicingonthecakeforme.ItisaprivilegetoreceivesuchanaccoladefordoingajobIthoroughlyenjoy”hesaid,adding“IwouldliketothankeverybodywhohasbeeninvolvedwithKensingtonDevelopmentsonTheVillasdevelopment.”
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Originallyajoinerbytrade,Ianhasbeenasitemanagersince1996andhasbeenwithhispresentcompanyforalmostthreeyears.SpeakingoftheluxuriousvillasunderconstructionontheLythamQuaysdevelopmenthesaid:“Thehomesareapproximately8,400sqfteachandattentiontodetailisparamountasthequalityissecondtonone.Eachvillahasitsowncinemaroom,gym,bespokekitchen,ensuitebedroomsthroughout,underfloorheating,grannyflatoverthegarage...Icouldgoonandon.”
Ianputhissuccessfulmanagementstyledowntoonesimplerule:“Ialwaystreatpeople,onsiteandoff,howI’dwanttobetreatedmyself.
ThatmeansIdon’traisemyvoiceandamalwaysfair.I'mcompletelyagainstthekindofmanagerswhoscreamandshoutinordertogetthingsdone.Idon’texpectI’dberespectedbymyteamifItriedthat,asyouhavetogiverespecttogetitback.”
Offeringtheultimateinluxuryandhighqualitycraftsmanship,thepalatialvillasatLythamQuaysareseenas‘thejewelinthecrown’bythedeveloper.SituatedinaplaceofalmostunparalleledbeautywithviewsoverGranny’sBayandclosetoLythamtowncentre,TheVillasofferunrivalledpanoramicviewsofSnowdoniatothesouthandtheidyllicsettingoftheLakeDistricttothenorth.q
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South West
n Excellenceisallinaday’sworkforaward-winningTonyBarbagallo,RobertsonDevelopments’sitemanagerat
WilkinsonGardens,Redruth,Cornwall.Tonyhasbeenwiththecompanyfor12yearsandhas
beenatthe101-homeWilkinsonGardenssiteforfouryears.Completionofthedevelopmentisexpectedin2013.
WilkinsonGardensisanenviabledevelopmentlocatedinanelevatedpositionontheoutskirtsofthehistoricminingtownofRedruthwithitsspectacularpanoramicviewsofsomeofthecountry’smostruggedcoastlineandricharchitecturalheritage.
AtWilkinsonGardens,architectsanddesignershavecreatedabespokedevelopmentofmorethan18differenthouseandapartmenttypes.
Rangingfromcontemporaryone-bedroomapartmentstostylishfour-bedroomtownhouses,allaccommodationbenefitsfromanimposingelevatedposition,withmanyhomesenjoyingstunningviewstowardsthehistoricCarnBreamonumentanddramaticnorthcoast.
RobertsonDevelopments’rootsstretchbacktothe1960sandencompasstwogenerationsoffamily-basedendeavour.Initially,residentialpropertiesweredevelopedthroughouttheSouthWest.
Sincethe1980s,effortshavebeenconcentratedonWestCornwall,withmanyhundredsofpropertiesbeingbuiltintheCamborneandRedrutharea.Since2000,projectactivityhasagainexpandedgeographicallywith,forexample,developmentsundertakeninStAustell.
Theturnofthemillenniumalsomarkedasignificantshifttowardsactivelypursuingprojectswithintheindustrialandcommercialarena.Thisaspectofthecompany’sworkhassinceexpandedtothedegreethattheyarenowoneoftheleadingcommercialpropertyplayersinandaroundTruro.q
All in a
day’s work!
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Proud Garyscoopsdoublehonours
n ASealofExcellencetoppedbyaRegionalAwardrecognisedtheoutstandingprofessionalismofGaryDavies,sitemanagerat
MorrisHomes’CamLocks,WaterbeachdevelopmentinCambridge.“IamveryproudofwhatIbuildandofbeingconsistentinensuring
qualityandhappycustomers”saysGary,whostartedhiscareerintheconstructionindustryin1989.
Gary,whosehobbyishotairballooning,hasbeenworkingatthe64-homeCamLockssitefor18months.Hefeelsthatthesiteisdistinguishedbyitsrangeofdifferenthousetypeswhicharewellspacedoutonadevelopmentincorporatinglotsofopenspaceand
landscaping.Setontheedgeofthe
famousfensjustoutsideCambridge,CamLocksoffersallthebenefitsofasmallvillageinabeautifulruralsettingwithnoshortageofhistory,attractionsoramenities.
Sincepre-Normantimestheareahasbeenanimportantcentreforlocaltradeandcommerce,withtheRiverCam
forminganaturalhighwayfortheboatsandbargesthatpliedtheirtradealongitsbanks.
CamLocksisadiversedevelopmentofferingawideenoughselectionofhighqualitypropertiestomeetthedemandsofanyhomebuyer–fromyoungprofessionalslookingforamewshome,toagrowingfamilyseekingthespaceandprivacyofalargefive-bedroomproperty,MorrisHomes’highstandardofdesign,buildquality,landscaping,sitemanagementandenvironmental
A Top marks for Mark!n VeryproudtowinhisfirstSealofExcellenceisMarkFrost,whoworksforTaylor
WimpeyEastMidlandsandtookthehonoursformanaginghiscompany’sBrackensCourt,BestwoodVillagesiteinNottingham.
Havingstartedhiscareerasanapprenticebricklayer,beforemovingontoassistantsitemanagerandsubsequentlysitemanager,Markhasclockedupanimpressive29yearswithhispresentemployerandhasbeenmanagingthe180-homesiteforthreeandahalfyears.
MarkwasoneoftwoTaylorWimpeysitemanagersinNottinghamshiretowinaSealofExcellence,withtwoothersitemanagersfromtheareaalsohavingbeenpresentedwithQualityAwards.
Speakingofthewinners,SteveFarmer,managingdirectorofTaylorWimpeyEastMidlands,said:“I’dliketocongratulatethemanagersandtheirteamsforalltheirhardworkandcommitment.I’mespeciallythrilledforMarkFrostandTimWelton,whoarebothworthywinnersoftheprestigiousSealofExcellenceawards.
“TheawardsaretestamenttothededicationofTaylorWimpeyteamsacrossNottinghamshirewhotakeprideinbuildingbeautiful,high-qualityhomesanddeliveringexceptionalcustomerservice.”q
commitmentisregularlyrecognisedbythehousebuildingindustry.Thecompany’ssitemanagersareregularwinnersinthePridein
theJobawardsandthis,coupledwithMorrisHomes’overallhighstandardofdesign,buildquality,landscapingandenvironmentalcommitmenthasalsowonmanyothernationalawardsinthehousebuildingindustry.q
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Winter 2011 www.enuk.net
In this issue...
10 years of the Wood Recyclers’ Association
constructionnational winter 2011 �1
Wayne TaylorAdvertising Manager
Tel: 0161 850 1678
Mob: 07739 113871
Email: [email protected]
All other enquiries: Tel: 0161 850 1680 Fax: 0161 850 09181 Elm Road, High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8HR
Copyright EnvironmentalBuild.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of EnvironmentalBuild.Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. EVL
CONTENTS
Cover Story
ASBESTOS5 Asbestosinbuildings
GAIN7 Renewablemeasuresarethewayforwardforenergyefficiency
9 HowtotakeadvantageoftheFeedinTariff
TIMBER FRAME13 Timberframechosenforpioneeringecodevelopment
eFIG14 eFIGandtheinteriorlandscapingindustry–10yearsandcounting
THE WOOD RECYCLERS’ ASSOCIATION17 WoodRecyclers’Associationnearsits10thbirthday
19 ‘Cradletograve’approachtocabledrumrecycling
THE WOOD WINDOW ALLIANCE20 Alliancestandsforqualityinwoodwindows
20 Woodenwindows-dispellingthemyths
21 QueensCrossHAbenefitsfromenergyefficientwindows
ECOBUILD 201122 Theworld’sbiggestsustainabledesignandconstructionevent
22 JakobGreenWallSystemsbringbuildingsalive
POLLUTION23 Dustmonitoringinurbanredevelopment
CONTAMINATED LAND25 UK’spremierbrownfieldeventreturnstoNEC
FLOOD PROTECTION25 Floodwall™gainsthenewBSIKitemarkPAS1188-1
Wood Recyclers’ Association nears its 10th birthday
Thewoodrecyclingindustryisstillprettymuchaninfant.20yearsagoitdidnotexistintheformthatwenowknowit–andit’sgrowingupfast!
read more on p17
7
14
20
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Beware False Prophets
e SincethepublishingoftheFIT(FeedinTariff)therehasbeenalotofinterestinSolarPhoto-Voltaic(PV)whichallows
yourenergysuppliertopayyouanincomeforgeneratingyourownelectricity,foreitheryourownuseorexportingbackintothegrid.ManypeoplearebeingapproachedwithregardgettingaPVsystemfittedforfree,sowhywouldthisbeabadthing?
Well,ifallyoucareaboutissavingroughly40%ofyourelectricity,anddon’tcareabouttheownershipofthesystem,thennothing.
Thetruthis,youwillbelockedintoalegalagreementwhereyouaregivingawayaguaranteedindexlinkedtaxfreeincomeof8%to10%perannum.Basically,investmentbankshave
PV(Photo-Voltaic)forfree?
Soundstoogoodtobetrue?
Well….itis
Thereisnofreelunch
Ifyouareinanydoubt,wewouldurgeyoucontactusformoredetails.Stephen Belfield, Heating Manager.
Contact us onTel:08000093449Fax:01432268680Email:[email protected]:www.dgi.org.uk
realisedtherearefewpalaceswheretheycangetthisreturnoninvestment,andthereforethehavegottenintobedwithinstallationcompaniestoofferfreeinstallations,aslongasyousignovertherighttoclaimtheFeedinTariffforyourselves.
DomesticandGeneralInsulationLimitedofferyoutheopportunitytogetthefullbenefitbyinstallingahighspecification,backedbyaguaranteeofreturnandefficiency,thatsecuresbothsavingsonenergybillsbutalsopaysyouthefullindexlinkedincome.SincetheFITtablewaspublished,interesthasseencompetitiondrivedowntheinstallationprice,butmoresignificantlythemarketisseeingmany‘B’ratedpanelsbeingfittedinplaceof‘A’panels.n
4 environmentalbuild winter 2011
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AsbestosinBuildingse RecentlytheHSElaunchedtheir
‘HiddenKiller’campaigntohighlightthedangerofexposuretoasbestosfibre,particularlytomaintenanceandothertradesmenwhenworkinginbuildings.Thishighprofilecampaigngraphicallyindicatedthataround20tradesmenperweekdieasaresultofexposuretoasbestosandthattradesmenarestillbeingexposedtotheserisks,eventoday,mainlyduetothefactthattheyareunawareofthepresenceofasbestosintheirworkplace.
TheControlofAsbestosRegulations(CAR)2006placesanexplicitdutyonthoseresponsibleforbuildingstomanagetheriskfromasbestosintheirproperty,notonlyfortheirownemployeesbutforanyonewhomaycomeintocontactwithitincluding,ofcourse,anytradesmenemployedtocarryoutanyworkwithintheproperty.
AmajorrequirementofCAR2006,andsubsequentlyanyasbestosmanagementplan,istoinformanyonewhomaycomeintocontactwithitofthepresenceofasbestoscontainingmaterialswithinthe
propertyandtogivethosepeopleadequatetraininginhowtomanagetheriskofexposure.Tradesmenareofcourseundergreaterriskastheymayinadvertentlydisturbasbestosduringthecourseoftheirwork.
InFebruary2010newguidancetoreplaceMDHS100wasintroducedbytheHealth&SafetyExecutive.Titled,Asbestos: The Survey Guide HSG 264,thisnewpublicationreducedthenumberofsurveytypesfromthreetotwoandplacedmoreemphasisontheclientfortheselectionofthesurveyscope.Therearenowjusttwotypesofasbestossurvey–ManagementandRefurbishment.ManagementreplacestheoldType2SurveyandRefurbishmentreplacestheoldMajorRefurbishment/DemolitionSurvey.
Thestartingpointofanymanagementplanistofindoutifthebuildingcontainsasbestosmaterials,torecorditslocation,extentandtypeandtoassesstheriskofexposuretoasbestosmaterialsonthelongtermhealthofanyonewhomaycomeinto
contactwithit.TobesurethatyouaregettingafullyHSG264compliantreport,onlythosecompaniesaccreditedbyUKAS(UnitedKingdomAccreditationService)forbothInspectionISO/IEC17020andTestingISO/IEC17025shouldbecommissionedtoundertakethework.
Amanagementsurveywillgiveyoualltheinformationyouneedtoproduceyourmanagementplanandtoriskassessallasbestoscontainingmaterialsdetectedinaccordancewithaninternationallyrecognisedalgorithmassessmentmethod,asdetailedinHSG264,togetherwithrecommendationsastowhatisrequiredtomakethematerialsafeandprotectyourworkforcefromdangerousandunnecessaryexposuretoasbestosfibre.n
Alan Peck, Chief Executive
Tersus Consultancy Limited
•For More Information: Tel: 0121 270 2550, Fax: 0121 707 2060, E-mail: [email protected], www.tersusgroup.co.uk.
environmentalbuild winter 2011 5
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Renewable measures are the way forward for
energy efficiencyBy Janet Jukes, Grant Aided Heating Installers’ Network
e ThereareveryfewhouseholdsorbusinessesthatwillnotsufferfromthecutsannouncedintheGovernment’sComprehensive
SpendingReview.Energyefficiencywillundoubtedlyberegardedasoneofthemajorconsiderationsifenergybillsandcarbonemissionsaretobereduced.
OverthecourseoftheSpendingReviewperiod,theDepartmentofEnergyandClimateChange(DECC)willreduceresourcespendingby18%inrealterms,andincreasecapitalspendingby41%inrealterms.
DECC’ssettlementisinthecontextofanincreaseinenvironmentalspendingacrossGovernmentby21%.TheSpendingReviewensuresthattheUKcanmeetitsenvironmentalgoals,includingthe2020targetsfora34%reductioningreenhousegasemissionsandfor15%ofenergytobefromrenewablesources,whilstimprovingefficiency,supportinggrowthandfacilitatingaprivatesectorledtransitiontoagreeneconomy.
TheRt.Hon.ChrisHuhneMP,SecretaryofStateforEnergyandClimateChange,comments“Liketherestofthepublicsector,wehavetakensome
toughdecisions,butweremainoncoursetodeliveronourpromisetobethegreenestgovernmentever”.
Inthisrespecttherehasalreadybeenasignificantswingtowardsusingrenewableenergysourcesinconjunctionwithconventionalmeasures.However,theGovernmenthasnowrubber-stampedthisbyannouncinga£860millionfundingfortheRenewableHeatIncentive(RHI),whichwillbeintroducedfrom2011-2012andwillsupporthouseholdsandbusinessesinvestinginrenewableheatmeasures.Itisdesignedtoprovidefinancialsupporttoencouragetheuptakeofrenewableandlowcarbonheattechnologieslikeairandwatersourceheatpumps.
Thiswilldriveamore-than-tenfoldincreaseofrenewableheatoverthecomingdecade,shiftingrenewableheatfromafringeindustryfirmlyintothemainstream.Thepreviousadministration’splansforfundingthisschemethroughanoverlycomplexRenewableHeatLevywillnotbetakenforward.
TheReviewhasconfirmedthattheFeed-inTariffpaidtohomeownerswhogenerategreenelectricitywithsolarpanelsandwindturbineswillcontinue.Feed-inTariffswillberefocussedonthemostcost-effectivetechnologiessaving£40millionin2014-2015.
TheFeed-inTariffschemewaslaunchedinApril2010aspartofanattempttomeetEuropeanUniontargetsonrenewableenergy.Itisdesignedtoencouragepeopletogeneratetheirownenergyandcontributetothesecurityofenergysupplies.
AccordingtotheEnergySavingTrust(EST)theFeed-inTariff(FIT)schemeguaranteesaminimumpaymentforallelectricitygeneratedbythesystem,aswellasaseparatepaymentforthe
cont p11
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How to take advantage of
e TwomonthsagoIreceivedaphonecallfromtheSustainabilityDirectoratoneofourlocalcouncils.Hewas
irate.“Whycan’tIseevanswithloudspeakersontop,drivingupanddownthestreetannouncingthebenefitsoftheFeedInTariff?”ChrisReid,attheLondonBoroughofSutton,isnotknownforhissenseofcalmandpatience,butisoneofthoseraresoulswhoseemsnottohavelosthissenseofurgencyatdealingwithclimatechange,despitehavingspentthelast20yearsworkingonenvironmentalinitiativesinthepublicsector.
Hewasn’tbeingentirelyserious,ofcourse,butIdidn’tknowhimatthetime.IpatientlyexplainedthatalthoughFeedInTariffs(FITs)maderenewableelectricitymoreattractivethanbefore,theschemewasdesignedtogivebetweena5%and8%returnoninvestment,whichmeantthepaybackwouldstillonlybebetween12.5and20years.Thiswasn’tsomethingthatmosthomeowners,businessesorcommunitiesweregoingtorushoutontothestreetstosignupto.Butitwasstillfarbetterthananyhighstreetbankwasofferingandsoweembarkeduponaprojecttolookatsomeofthedetails:Didthe5-8%includeelementsformaintenanceandrepair?Howdidthecouncilinvestinginthepanelscomparewithtakinguponeofthe‘FreePV’deals?Whatarethefinancialandtechnicalrisksinvolved?WhatbulkdiscountcouldbeachievedifthecouncilputPVontheroofofeveryschool?
InconsultationwithLBSutton,CENConsultingdevelopedadetailedfinancialmodeltolookatthesequestions.Accountingforthereplacementofinverterstwicewithintheprojected25yearlifetimeofthepanel,assumingthatthepaneloutputwouldfallby20%inthattime,modellinginstallationsatthetopendofeachFeedinTariffbracketandassumingthatarounda10%reductioninCAPEXcouldbeachievedthroughabulkbuydiscount,thereturnoninvestmentwasactuallyover9%.WiththeappropriatecostofcapitalforLocalAuthoritiesstandingatjust3.95%thingswerelookinggood.Perhapsweneededtogettheloudspeakersout.
ThenextthingtodowasconvincethefinancedirectorthatitwasworthspendingacoolmillionputtingPVpanelsontheboroughsuninsulatedroofs.Andthereinlaythenextproblem.Ignoringissuesraisedbyrepresentativesofthecouncil’spropertydepartmentaboutleaks,re-roofingandthelike,financewantedtoknowwhytheyshouldfundPVonschoolroofsat9%ROIwhentheycouldfundroofinsulation,lightingcontrolsandotherbasicenergyefficiencymeasuresandgainahigherreturn.Goodquestion.Thecarbonsaving,theyadded,fromamillionpoundsworthofPVwouldberelativelyslightcomparedtotheseefficiencymeasures.
IwasfeelinglesspositivebutChriswasirateagain.“Whydoesittaketheofferofafixed9%returntobringthesemeasuresoutofthewoodwork?Whyhaven’twedonethesethingsalreadyiftheygivesuchagoodreturn?AndwhymustwechoosewhethertoinsulateorinstallPV–whynotboth?”
Wehadreachedthecruxoftheissue.Itisaboutinvestmentandrisk.Ontheonehand,ifanorganisationhaslimitedcapitalitmust,ofcourse,choosetoinvestintheprojectwiththehighestreturnsandthehighestcarbonsavings.Ontheotherhand,ifanorganisationcanborrowarelativelyuncappedamounttoinvestinspecificprojectsthenaslongaseachprojectreturnsanetincomeabovethecostofthatcapital(andmakesacarbonsaving)whynot?Putanotherway,howmuchdoesitcosttosaveeachtonneofcarbon?Withanypositivereturn,theanswerisitdoesn’t.Thecostofcarbonsavingisnegativebecausetheprojectresultsinanetincome.
Soifthisisthecase,whatistostopLocalAuthoritiesfrommakingmoneythroughPVandtheFeedinTariff?Well,Isaiditwasaboutinvestmentandrisk.TheriskpartofthatcomesbacktoProperty’sroofreplacementschedulesoI’mafraidtheloudspeakerisstillinChris’bottomdrawer.n
•Having developed our FIT model for PV, CEN Consulting Ltd is ideally placed to assist in the FIT decision making process. Please send any questions or queries surround the Feed in Tariff to [email protected].
FITby Tom Vosper,CEN Consulting Ltd
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renewableinstallersandsupplierstothegrantsandwidermarket.Itlooksforgoodtechnicalandprofessionalstandardsfromitsmembers,withqualitativeawardsamongstitscriteriaformembership.
GAINmembershavesignificantlyextendedtheirrangeofproductsandservicestohelpmeetthefuturechallengesoftherenewablesector.AnearlyinitiativedevelopedbyGAINwastoformallyinsistonfullmembershavingoneofsixinternationalaccreditationsasameansofdifferentiatingtheassociationandputtingamarkerdownintermsofdeliveringhighqualityservices.Thisparticularinitiativeandphilosophyshouldplacememberswithastrongfoundationastheyenteranddeveloptherenewablesmarketplace–amarketplacewhichisalreadyplacingahugeemphasisonqualityandservicesdelivery.
Overrecenttimes,membershiphasexpandedandnowboastsawellbalancedmake-upofinstallercompanies,suppliersandmanufacturers,andmanagingagents.Installersarealsokeentomoveintoothermarkets,includingthatoftheSMEmarketplace,wherelittlehasbeendonethusfarintermsofimprovingenergyefficiency.
GAINcomprisesheatinginstallerswhohaveattainedhightechnicalandprofessionalstandards.Theyneedtobetechnicallycompetentinordertoundertakethegovernmentandothergrantworktheydo.Underfullmembershipcriteriatheyalsoneedtoholdaqualityaward.Heatingandrenewableinstallationsarehighlyskilledworksandshouldbetheresponsibilityofexperts.
Theassociationrecommendsthateveryoneshouldupgradetoacondensingboiler,coupledwithefficientcontrolsandthermostats,andaidedbyrenewableproducts,suchassolarpanels,solarphotovoltaic(PV)systems,windturbinesandairandgroundsourceheatpumps,allofwhichareofferedbymembers.
Solarphotovoltaic(PV)systemsuseenergyfromthesuntoconvertsolarradiationintoelectricitywhichcanbeuseddirectlytorunappliancesandlighting,soldbacktothenationalgridorstoredinbatteriesinoff-gridlocations.Solarhotwaterpanelscanbefittedontoorintegratedintoabuilding’sroof.Theyusethesun’senergytoheatwaterdirectlyoraheat-transferfluid,whichpassesthroughthepanel.Windturbinesharnessenergyfromthewindtoproduceelectricity.Thebladesdriveageneratoreitherdirectlyorviaagearbox(generallyforlargermachines)toproduceheating(orboth).
electricityexportedtothegrid.Thesepaymentsareinadditiontothebillsavingsmadebyusingelectricity.
Oncethemicrogenerationtechnologyisinstalledthereshouldbeamonthlyreductionintheelectricitybill,followedbyanincomefromtheFeed-inTariffprovider.However,ifaloanhasbeentakenouttopayfortheinstallation,monthlypaymentswillbemadetotheloancompany.TheFeed-inTariffsaredesignedsothattheaveragemonthlyincomefromtheinstallationwillbesignificantlygreaterthanthemonthlyloanrepayment(witha25yearloan).
Atypicaldomesticsolarelectricitysystem,withaninstallationsizeof2.2kWcouldearnaround:
•£770peryearfromtheGenerationTariff.Thisisasetratepaidbytheenergysupplierforeachunit(orkWh)ofelectricitygenerated.Thisratewillchangeeachyearfornewentrantstothescheme(exceptforthefirsttwoyears),butoncetheconsumerhasjoined,thetariffwillbethesamefor20years,or25yearsinthecaseofsolarelectricity(PV).
•£30peryearfromtheExportTariff.Theconsumerwillreceiveafurther3p/kWhfromtheenergysupplierforeachunitexportedbacktotheelectricitygrid,thatiswhenitisnotusedonsite.Theexportrateisthesameforalltechnologies.DomesticFeed-inTariffinstallationsarelikelytohavetheirexportdeemed(estimated)at50%inmostcasesuntilsmartmetersarerolledout.
•£120peryearreductiononenergybillsavingswillbemadeontheelectricitybills,becausegeneratingelectricitytopowerappliancesmeansareductionofelectricityboughtfromtheenergysupplier.
Thisgivesatotalsavingofaround£920peryear–assuming50%oftheelectricitygeneratedisexported.Thefigurewillvarydependingonhowmuchisexported.
UndertheComprehensiveSpendingReviewtheWarmFrontgrantsarebeingphasedout.Theelderlyandthoseonlowincomeswillnolongerhaveaccesstoupfrontcashtoinstallenergyefficiencymeasuresintheirhomes.Inthemeantime,theDECCwillfundasmaller,targetedWarmFrontprogrammeforthenexttwoyearswithabudgetof£110millionin2011/12and£100millionin2012/13.From2013,supportforheatingandinsulationforthemostvulnerablewillbedeliveredthroughtheGreenDealforenergyefficiencyandanewobligationonenergycompanies.Atthesametime,fromApril2011,energysupplierswillprovidegreaterhelpwiththefinancialcostsofenergybillstomoreofthemostvulnerablefuelpoorhouseholds,throughSocialPriceSupport–withtotalsupportof£250millionin2011/12risingto£310millionin2014/15.
GreenDealisbasedona‘payasyousave’scheme,whichallowshomeownersto‘retrofit’theirhomeswithloft,wall,floorandwindowinsulationuptoacostof£6,500andmakehugesavingsontheirbills,atnoupfrontcost.Smallamountscanbepaidbackpermonthbasedonthesavingsmadeonthebills.
TheGrantAidedHeatingInstallersNetwork(GAIN),thatactsfortheheatingindustryservingthegrantssector,verymuchwelcomestheGovernment’sGreenDealtoreducegreenhousegasemissionsby80%on1990levelsby2050.Ifthatistobeachieved,between400,000and1.8millionhomesayearwillhavetobeupgradedbetweennowandthen,atanannualcostofbetween£5billionand£15billion.
Energypricesareexpectedtorisesignificantlyinthenext10to15years,whichwillundoubtedlyseemorehomeownersturningtheirattentiontowardsinstallingrenewableenergy–especiallyaspartofapackagewheninstallinganewheatingsystemandonewhichalsohelpstheenvironment.Inthisrespect,itisinterestingtonotethat,accordingtoarecentpollonmicrogenerationusers’websiteYouGen,84%ofrespondentssaidtheywouldrathertheirhomeimprovementswerecarriedoutbyasmalllocalspecialistthanafacelessconglomerate.CathyDebenham,founderofYouGen,says“Homeownerswanttofeeltheworkontheirhomeisbeingdonebysomeonetrustworthy,someonetheycantalktoiftheworkisnotuptostandard.Theremustbeassurancesthatlocalspecialistswon’tbesqueezedout,andthathomeownershaveachoiceoverwhotheygoto”.
ThisiswheremembersoftheGrantAidedHeatingInstallersNetworkcanbeofenormousassistance.GAINrepresentsprofessionalheatingand
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Airsourceheatpumpscanbeusedeffectivelyforeitherspaceorwaterheating(orboth).Airpumpstakeheatenergyfromtheairoutsideandtransferittothebuilding.Theheatisupgradedbyusingapumpandcompressorwhichremovesheatfromonesideofthecircuitandejectsittotheotherside.Groundsourceheatingpumpsuseaburiedgroundloop,whichtransfersheatfromthegroundintoabuildingtoprovidespaceheating.Energycatcherisanewsystemthatextractsvirtuallyalltheheatfromgasboilerfumes,whenevertheboilerisoperating,withanetresultof5%extrasavingongasandareductioninbills.
Inrenewingcentralheatingsystems,householdersshouldreallybeaimingtoobtainaboilertotheSEDBUKA-ratedstandard.Thesearecondensingboilersavailableinmanytypes,suchascombinationboilers,standardwallmountedboilersandfreestandingboilers.Thelattershouldberuninconjunctionwithafullypumpedsystem.Theyshouldhavefoamlaggedcylindersincorporatedtoensurethattheminimumofheatislostfromthecylinder.Allradiatorsneedthermostaticvalves,exceptinthemainlivingroom.Herearoomthermostatshouldmonitortherequiredtemperature,andthuscontroltheboiler.
GAINhelditssecondsuccessfulnationalConferenceinJune2010majoringonthetheme‘WillIncentivesMovetheRenewablesMarket?’Speakerswereverypositiveaboutthefutureprospectsfortheindustry,recognisingthatfromthelimitedgrantworkalreadyundertakenintherenewablesfield,itisclearthatincentivesarekeytomovingthismarketwhichisstillinitsinfancyintheUK.
Talkswereparticularlyinformativeandwellreceivedbythe260delegatespresentfromRSLs,energyadvisorsandtheenergyefficiencyindustry.ThemainsponsorwasEagaPlc,withadditionalsupportfromScottishPowerEnergyRetailLtd.
TheKeynotespeakerwasBaroness(Diana)Maddock,PresidentoftheMicropowerCouncil,withherparticularinterestinenergyefficiencysincethe1990’s,whenshetookthePrivateMembersBill–TheHomeEnergyConservationAct–throughitsjourneytobecomelaw.Currently,throughtheMicrogenerationCouncil,shewishestoseeamassmarketforthemicrogenerationsector.
“Theconsumermarket–owneroccupiedhousing–isaroundonetotwohundredthousandinstallationsperyear,asopposedtothe1.5milliongasboilersinstalledannuallyintheUK”–shereported.“Also,untilnow,ithasbeenanaspirationalratherthananeconomicpurchase,fundedbyconsumerswithcapitaltospareandbeingregardedasalong-terminvestment”.
AttheconferenceAwardsforExcellencewerepresentedforthesecondyearonbehalfoftheGrantAidedHeatingInstallersNetwork.AwardsweregivenfortheBestEnvironmentallyFriendlyCompany2010,theBestGreenTechnologyAward,theBestCustomerFocussedCompany,ApprenticeoftheYear2010,EmployeeoftheYearAwardandtheSpecialAchievementAward.
The2011GAINConference,duetofurtherdevelopthethemeofrenewables,willbeheldinMay/June2011,whenitisanticipatedthatdelegatenumberswillincreasestillfurther.InformationwillbeavailableontheGAINwebsitenearerthetime,ore-mailGAINforfurtherinformationtobesent.n
•The Grant Aided Heating Installers Network which organises regular meetings for installers, scheme managers and suppliers of heating and renewable products, serves the grants and other markets. GAIN is based at P O Box 12, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH; tel: 01428 654011; fax: 01428 651401; e-mail: [email protected]; web: www.gainassociation.org.uk.
Timber frame chosen for pioneering eco developmente TheUK’slargesttimberframesupplier,StewartMilneTimber
Systems,hasbuiltfourCodeLevel6homesatagroundbreakingzerocarbondevelopmentinSlough,BerkshireforSSE(ScottishandSouthernEnergy).
ThedevelopmentisoneofthelargestofitskindintheUKwithatotaloftenzerocarbonpropertiesincludingamixtureoftwoandthreebedroomfamilyhouses,andonebedroomflats.
AspartofSSE’stwoyearresearchprojecttoassesstheimpactofenergyprovisionforlow-zerocarbonhousing,thetimberhomeswerebuiltusingStewartMilneTimberSystems’SigmaIIBuildSystem.Throughitshighlevelsofinsulation,airtightnessandthermalbridgingtheclosedpaneltimberframeconstructionhelpstoachievemaximumenergyefficiencythroughthefabricandverifiestimber’sreputationasoneofthemostfavouredmaterialsinlow-zerocarbonbuilding.
WendyPringleofSSEsaid:“WiththeUKlookingforzerocarbonbuildingsby2016,wemustunderstandwhatourcustomerswillneedaslowcarbonhousingbecomesmorecommon.InordertobuildtheCodeLevel6homesnecessaryfortheproject,wehadtousethemostsustainablematerialsavailable.Duetoitslow-carboncontent,timberframewasoneoftheobviouschoices.”n
The association recommends that everyone should upgrade to a condensing boiler
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eFIG and the InteriorLandscaping industry
10 years and counting…
e InFebruary2011eFIGLtdcelebratesits10thbirthday.eFIG(EuropeanFederationofInteriorLandscapeGroups)isthe
associationfortheinteriorlandscapingindustrywithamembershiprangingfromlargeinternationalandnationalcompaniestosmallerSMEbusinesses.Theassociationwasformedtorepresenteveryonewithintheinteriorlandscapingindustry.Infact,itwasformedtogiveavoicetotheindustryandrepresentallmemberssothattheirworkisappreciatedandvaluesacknowledged,especiallyintimesofeconomicrestraintorcutbacks.
Theinitiativetoformtheorganisationwastakenasaresultofthehoo-hasurroundingPortcullisHouse,thethennewhomeforWestminster’sMPs,andtheinstallationof12largeFicus(fig)trees.Themedia’snegativityfocusedonthecostofthesetreeswithoutgivingconsiderationtothebenefitstheygave.eFIGwasformedtomeettheneedforonevoicetoretaliateorbespokespersonforthewholeinteriorlandscapingindustry.
TheFicustreesarestillatPortcullisHouseand,giventhattheyhaveattributedtocleanairoroxygenatthebuildingand
helpedreducesicknesswhistmotivatingstaffandkeepingthemlessstressed,thentheyhavemorethanpaidforthemselves.
TenyearsonandthecoalitionGovernmentarestillnotseeingthebenefitofplants!DuringtheircampaignandsincetheyhavecondemnedtheLabourpartyforspendingmoneyonplants.Thereseemslittleawarenessofthebenefitsthatplantscanaffordusallinanyenvironmentbutespeciallyintheworkplace.
eFIGcontinuestopromotetheindustryandtheprofessionalismofitsmembers.Tothisend,theyhaveanaccreditationtrainingprogrammeinplaceavailabletoallmembersaswellasannualprestigiousawards–moreofwhichlater–plusamarketingprogrammetoensurethateveryoneiskeptinformed.
The Ficus trees at Portcullis House
byCOLLSMITH,marketing coordinator, eFIG Ltd
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LastyearmembersofthecommitteewereintalkswithBREEAMandtheUKGreenBuildingCounciltopromoteinteriorplantingaspartoftheenvironmentalstandardforbuildingsustainability.WearepleasedtosaythatduetotheirhardworktheUKGreenBuildingCouncilhasrecommendedthatthisbeconsideredbyBREEAMthisyear.ThiswouldbringtheUKmoreinlinewithAustraliaandtheUSA.Australiaoperatea‘GreenStar’ratingforsustainabilityinwhichinteriorplantingisrecognised.IntheUSAtheLEEDaccreditationdoesasimilarjobtotheBREEAMstandardsandin2010theybegantoseeinteriorplantingrecognised.Watchthisspace,astheysay,regardingtheUK’sstandards.
The influence of the interior landscaping indus-try
SincetheinaugurationofeFIGtheindustryhasgrown.Therearenowanestimated350–400interiorlandscapebusinesseswithanannualturnoverofaround£100million.Asmoreandmorebusinesseshaverealisedthevalueofincludingplantswithintheirpremisesthemessagefromtheassociationisthatplantscanfulfilamultitudeoffunctionswithinanyenvironmentincludingaesthetics,design–thereflectionofthecompanyethos–andsigning.Theypresenta‘green’face–helpingthecompanybeseentobegreen.
Therearemanyotherbenefitsofplantsintheinterior–fromaircleaningtohumidifying,fromaidingconcentrationtoperformance,fromnoisereductiontoreducingstressandimprovinghealthandwellbeing.EarlierthisyearresearchfromAustraliaconfirmedthatjustoneplantcouldreducestressandanxietybyasmuchas60%.
An all-round show and accoladesDuringApril2011,eFIGwillco-hostTheLandscapeShowat
Olympia(www.landscapeshow.co.uk)where‘indoorsmeetsoutdoors’andthemanyfacesofinteriorlandscapingcanbeseen.Forinstance,twoparticularlypro-activemembersofeFIGwillhave‘showgardens’there.IndoorGardenDesign,wholastyearwonSilverGiltatChelseafortheirLivingOffice,willshowtheir‘IndoorGarden’andUrbanPlanterswillfeaturean‘IndoorsmeetsOutdoors’environment.
Onthefirsteveningoftheshow,memberswillhavetheirannualAwardsCeremonyandDinnerwherethebestoftheindustrywillberewardedfortheirworkwithaprestigiouseFIG
LeafAward.ThiswillbetheseventhAwardCeremonywhenmembersarerecognisedfortheirskillsindesign,installationandmaintenance.Therearealsoawardsfortechnicianswho‘gothatextramile’andaLifetimeAchievementAwardforservicestotheindustry.
Ifyouarelookingforaninteriorlandscaperforaprojectorjustgeneraladvice,seethemembershipdirectoryatwww.efig.eu.com
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Wood Recyclers’ Association nears its 10th birthday
e Thewoodrecyclingindustryisstillprettymuchaninfant.20yearsagoitdidnotexistintheformthatwenowknowit
–andit’sgrowingupfast!Toremindreaders,woodrecyclerstakepost-industrialand
post-consumerwoodfromavarietyofsourcesandprocessitintowoodchipforfourmainuses:panel-boardproduction,animalbedding,landapplications-compost,mulches,soilconditionersandpathways–andfuelforbiomassplants.Ouroldestandstilllargestmarketispanel-board,butthetrendismovingawayfromthereandtowardsbiomass.Ofthe2m-oddtonnessuppliedtomarketin2009,justoverhalfwenttotheboardmills,andalmostaquarterwenttobiomass,withtheremainingquarterfindingitswayintothe(mainly)highervalueproducts:animalbeddingandlandapplications.
AyearagoIwouldhavesaidthatwewereverymuchasupply-drivenindustry.TheWasteandResourcesActionProgramme(WRAP)2009studyhadmoreorlesshalvedmanypeople’sperceptionofhowmuchwastewoodwasouttherewaitingtoberecycled,from10milliontonnesperannumtoabout4.6milliontonnes.Unquestionably,muchofthedrop–somewherebetween5and20%ofit,intheviewoftheexperts–wasdowntotherecession.AndWRAmemberswere,insomeregionsatleast,findingwoodhardtocomeby.Thiswashavingadouble-whammyeffect,drivingdowngatefeeswhilerestrictingactivityinsomeofourmarkets.Thepanel-boardindustry,forone,wasfeelingthepinchandthiswasreflectedintheirorders.
Nowthesituationisdifferentagain.Suppliesoffeed-stockaregenerallybetter.Thereseemtobesomestirringsinourfeederindustries,theprincipalonesbeingtheconstruction,demolitionandcommercialsectorswherethediresituationofayearagohaseasedsomewhat.Ontopofthis,ourbignewmarket–biomass–hasnotreallykickedinyet.Weestimatethatthedemandsurge
willcomein18monthsto2years.Meanwhile,anumberofrecyclersareexportingbiomass-gradewooduntiltheUKmarkettakesoff.Thisiscausingitsownhighlycompetitivelandscapeandkeepingpricessubduedwhenotherwisetheymightberising.
Ispokeearlierofthenewgovernment,althoughperhapsweshouldstopcallingit‘new’sinceithasnowbeeninpowerforalmost8months.Whateverourpoliticalpersuasion,wehavetoacceptthattheCoalitionishobbledbyanationaldebtofcrisisproportions,andthesignsarethatitisnot–sofaratleast–flinchingfromtheunpleasanttaskofgettingourpublicfinancesbackintokilter.Thisaffectsusall.Forthewoodrecyclingindustry,itmeansthatwehavetoworkveryhardindeedtojustifygovernmentsupport,becausethegoosewhichpreviouslylaidgoldeneggsisfeelingslightlyconstipatedrightnow.
However,itisgoodtoreportthatourtwomajorprojects–developmentofastandardandqualityprotocol(QP)forourindustry–arenowbackonafteraperiodofuncertainty.TheQPwilldefinethepointatwhichamaterialceasestobeawaste.Itcaneasetheregulatoryburdenofrecyclers,makeexportseasierandgenerallytakeourindustrytoanewlevelofcredibility.ThetimescaleforthisexerciseistightandtheQPwillinitiallybelimitedinscope,concentratinginthemainonuntreatedwood,althoughitwillpotentiallyincludeallendusesexceptWID-compliantbiomass.Wealsohavetheprospectoffurtherwork,sponsoredbytheEA,toinvestigateapotentialexpansionoftheQPtoincludeatleastsomewoodtreatments.Thiswouldbeamajorbonus,sincealackofclarityonthisissuehasbedevilledourindustrysincedayone.
Meanwhile,WRAPhaveauthorisedtheBritishStandardsInstitution(BSI)tore-starttheirworktodevelopastandardforrecycledwood,intheformofPubliclyAvailableSpecification(PAS)111.Againthetimescaleistight,butPAS111willbeanessential
by Clem Spencer, Chairman, WRA
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e Formanyofusthetimbercabledrumisananonymousitem.Lookinglikegiantcottonreels,theirpresenceonconstruction
sitesorattheroadsideiscommon.Howmanyofushowever,considerwhathappenstothemoncethecableorductinghasbeenremovedandinstalled?
Firstly,somefacts.Inmostinstancescabledrumsaremanufacturedintimber.Onaverage,onematuretreecanproducefourcabledrums.IntheUKalonesome150,000timbercabledrumsareusedannually.Inmostinstancesthesecabledrumscanbere-used,yeteachyearintheregionof60,000drumsarenewlymanufactured.Thisfigurewouldbesignificantlyhigher,butforthecabledrummanagementinitiativesdevelopedbyMarlinIndustries.
Asacompany,MarlinIndustries’mainfocusisoneofencouragingthere-useofexistingpackagingusedwithinthecableandductindustries.Formedtwentyyearsago,MarlinIndustrieshasgrowntobetheUK’spremierorganisationforthemanagementofcabledrums–frominitialmanufacturethroughtoendofliferecycling.AlthoughaWalesbasedcompany,withsitesinWrexhamandNewport,MarlinoperatesacrosstheUKandintoEuropewithauniqueblendofdrumcollection,refurbishmentandrecyclingprocesses,handlinginexcessof70,000unitsannually.
MarlinIndustriesdirector,JohnDroog,explains“Re-usingexistingpackagingmakesbothcommercialandenvironmentalsense.In2010
aloneweestimatethateffectivepackagingre-useandrecyclinghaspreventedsome15,000tonnesofCO2emissions.”
Marlinhasdevelopedaneffectivelogisticsfunction,operatingacrossmainlandUKandIreland.ThisenablestheefficientpickupofdrumsandreturntooneoftheMarlinsitesforassessmentandsubsequentrefurbishmentorrecycling,dependingoncondition.JohnDroogadds“Wehavebuiltconsiderableexpertiseandcapabilitytosupportcablemanufacturersoperatingacrossinternationalborders.Ourcabledrummanagementsystemsareunrivalled.Inadditiontoourdrummanagementandrefurbishmentoperationswealsopossessaninhousetimberrecyclingfacility.Thisinitsownrightisasignificantelementofourbusiness.Producingarangeofproducts–decorativegroundcover,animalbeddingandboilerfuel–meanswehaveafullcradletograveapproachtopackagingusedinthecableindustry.”
Maincontractorsandlocalauthoritieshaveasignificantparttoplayinmaximisingthenumbersofdrumsre-usedorrecycled.Aspartofabestpracticeregime,therequirementtoreportemptycabledrumsforcollectionshouldbepassedthroughtosub-contractorsengagedinconstructionandinfrastructureprojects.AllMarlinrequireisatelephonecall,faxore-mailtoinitiatetheprocess.Inmostinstancesthecollectionisfree,plustheconsequentreductioninnewpackagingprovidessignificantenvironmentalbenefits.n
‘Cradle to grave’ approach
to cable drum recycling
foundationstoneforourindustry.
OneconstantinallthishasbeentherelentlesssuccessstoryoftheWRA.Wewereformedlessthan10yearsago,in2001.Ayearagowehadjustsignedupour60thmember.Wearenowupto71withanumberofothersshowinginterest.Accordingtoourlatestannualstatistic,WRAmembersnowaccountforover80%ofallthepost-consumerwoodprocessedintheUK.Ourincreasinglybroadchurchnowincludesmachinerymanufacturers,panel-boardproducers,energycompanies,oneregionalauthority,consultantsandresearchcompanies.Alloftheseaddvarietyandabreadthofexpertisetoourassociationandourindustry.Importantly,theincreasingsizeoftheWRAisindicativeofavibrant,rapidlyexpandingandincreasinglyimportantrecyclingsector.
Itis,onthesurface,surprisingthatatatimewhenrecyclersarefeelingthepinch–asindeedanumberare–somanyshouldfeelthatour£850annualsubscriptionofferssuchvalueformoney.Sowhydothey?
Partoftheansweristhatourmembersknowhowimportantitistokeepabreastofwhatisgoingon,ahappysituationwhichWRAmembersenjoythroughourquarterlymeetingsandregularmail
updatesinbetween.But,morethanthis,theWRAchampionsthecauseofitsmembersbykeepingthelinesofcommunicationtogovernmentwellandtrulyopen.Thisyear,forexample,wehavenegotiatedimprovedtermsforthosewhooperateunderexemptionsfromenvironmentalpermitting.Thishassavedthelivelihoodsofanumberofcompanieswhich,beingunableforanumberofreasonstoobtainanenvironmentalpermit,wouldotherwisehavebeenunabletocontinueoperatingbeyondApril2012.
So,whateverthenextyearbrings,theWRAlookssettokeepongrowingandtomaintainitshighlevelsofcustomerservicetoitsmembers.n
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Alliance stands for quality in
wood windowse TheWoodWindowAlliance(WWA)isagroupof40ofthe
leadingnamesintheUKwoodwindowindustry,workingtogethertoraisestandardsandpromotequalitywoodwindows.
Membersoftheallianceaimtoprovideaconsistentlyhighqualityofproductandserviceindelivering,installingandmaintainingwoodwindowsacrosstheUK.Theyalsohavetomeetstrictperformance,qualityandsustainabilitycriteriatoensurethebestpossiblevalueforcustomers.Oncethesestandardshavebeenmet,membersareabletodisplaythedistinctiveWoodWindowAlliancebrandmark,whichisareassuranceofindependentlyauditedqualityandperformance.
What’smore,windowsfromtheWoodWindowAlliancearenotjustthemostenvironmentally-friendlychoice,theyarealsothelongest-lasting–withaminimumestimatedservicelifeof60years.
TheWWA’scampaignaimsaretopromotethesustainabilityandbeautyof21stcenturywoodwindows,whilstdispellingmythsaboutdurabilityandmaintenance.
Woodenwindows-dispellingthemythse Woodenwindowshaveattractedsomebadpressinthepast.
Butarevolutionintechnologyandsustainabilitymeansthatlongheldmisconceptionsarenowobsolete.saystheWoodWindowAlliance(WWA).
Tosettherecordstraight,theWWAhasputtogethersomesimplemythbusters,whichprovidethefactsaboutmodernwoodwindows.
Myth 1Youhavetocutdowntreestomakewoodwindowsandthishasabigimpactonclimatechangefromdeforestation.FactAllWWAwindowsaremadefromsustainablysourcedtimber(FSC,PEFC,SFIorCSA)andcarryafullchainofcustodycertification.Thismeansthatthewoodusedistraceablefromsustainableforestswheremoretreesarereplantedastheyareharvested.
Myth 2WoodwindowsdidnotscoreashighlyasexpectedintheBREGreenGuide.FactDomesticwoodwindowsmadetothestandardrequiredformembershipoftheWWArate‘A+’inBRE’sGreenGuidecomparedwith‘A’fortheirnearestcompetitormaterial.ThesewoodwindowsalsohavethehighestscoreofallwindowsintheGreenGuidebysomedistanceonthecrucial‘ClimateChange’or‘GlobalWarmingPotential’rating(thehighestweightedfactor).
Myth 3Woodwindowsaren’tthermallyefficient,soitishardtoachievethegoalofreducingenergyusage.FactWoodhasverylowthermalconductivity,whichmeansitisagoodinsulator.Buttheenergyefficiencyofawindowactuallyhaslittletodowiththeframematerialandismostlyaffectedbythespecificationoftheglazingunit,sowell-designedwindowshavesimilarthermalefficienciesacrosstheboard.
Myth 4MorePVCwindowsarerecycledthanwoodwindows.FactThewindowindustryingeneralismakingeffortstoimproverecycling.Althoughtherearenospecificfiguresforthenumberofrecycledwindows,theauditedvolumeofrecycledwastewoodin2007was2milliontonnesandthequantitiesforPVCrecyclingwere42,122tonnesin2007and42,730tonnesin2008(source:Vinyl2010progressreport2009).
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Queens Cross Housing Association benefits from energy efficient Scandinavian windows from Janexe Janex,oneoftheUK’sleadingsuppliers
ofhighqualitylowu-valueScandinavianbuildingproducts,hasjustcompletedamajorprojectforQueensCrossHousingAssociation,GlasgowwithcontractorsMorrisonSpottiswood.
ThenewbuilddevelopmentatMuranoStreetisalmostfinished,andJanexcontinuestosupplythissocialhousinggroupatGarscubesouth,eastandwest.TheMuranoStreetdevelopmentistheassociation’slargesteverdevelopmentproviding140newbuildtwoandthreebedroomedflatsina4-storeyblockonthesiteoftheformerMcGhee’sBakery.TenantsselectedJanexproductsasthecompanyhasalongsuccessfulhistoryofsupplyinghighquality,lowmaintenance,energyefficientproductsforthesocialhousingmarket.Grantfundinghasenabledthedevelopmenttoprovidemixedtenure–98ofthesehomesareforrentandtheremainderforsharedequity.Allpropertiesaredesignedtoahighenergy-efficientstandardwiththeprovisionofoff-streetparkingforallflats.Theremainingflatswillbebuiltinasingle6-storeycrescent-shapedblockoverlookingtheForth&ClydeCanal.
TheJanextimbercanopywindowsforthisprojectarelonglife,lowmaintenanceproductswithenergyefficientuvalues.Thewindowswerefinishedpaintedgreyontheoutsideandinsides.Theflatentrancedoorssuppliedarecoveredbythepolicesecurity
initiative‘SecuredbyDesign’fortheirsecurityfeaturesandareFD30firedoors.JanexhasalonghistoryofsupplyingleadinghousingassociationsacrosstheUKwithScandinavianwindowanddoorproductsfornewbuildprojectsandforrefurbishments.
AsoneofScandinavia’sfinestproducersofhighperformancetimberwindowsandcompositedoorsfortheUKmarket,JanexwasthefirstScandinavianimportertoachievebothForestStewardshipCouncil(FSC)certificationandPEFC(theProgrammefortheEndorsementofForestCertification)onproductsforUKcustomers.JanexproductsarealsocertifiedbytestingbodyTRADAinitsQMarkschemeforhighperformanceandsecurity.
JanexhasalwaysbeenattheforefrontofproductdevelopmentinScandinaviaanditsstandardproductsachieveextremelylowu-valuesforthermalefficiency.Nosurprisefromafirmwhoseproductsaremanufactured
inNorway,acountryusedtoverycoldwintersandveryhotsummers.Janexcanachieveau-valueof0.70W/m2KforopeningsashesandfixedwindowscalculatedinaccordancewithBSEN10077-1.Thislevelisbetterthanthecurrentpassivhauslevelwhichis0.8W/m2K.
“OurnewhighlyinsulatedwindowconstructionisbecomingmoreandmorepopulartoachievethebestcodesintheCodeforSustainableHomes.WindowsaremanufacturedinNorwayfromhighqualityScandinaviantimbersourcedfromsustainableforests.“saysBrianDavie,directorofsalesScotland,Janex.
Foundedin1992,byNorwegianJanSkaara,thefirmisheadquarteredinEgersund,NorwaywithofficesintheUKinLondonandFalkirk.Theirproductrangeincludestimberwindows,alu-cladtimberwindows,compositeexternaldoors,patio,frenchandbalconyglazeddoors.n
•www.janex.co.uk
Alliance stands for quality in
wood windows
Tothisend,theallianceengageswithkeystakeholderstoensurewoodenwindowsarefairlyrepresentedinpolicyandresearch.Furthermore,theyarecommittedtodrivingstandardshigherstill,tomakewoodonceagainthenumberonechoiceforwindows.
Moreandmorepeopleunderstandthatwindowsmakeabigdifferencetothelookandvalueofahouse,aswellastoitsenergy-efficiency.
Today’shighperformancewoodwindowsdon’tjustlookgood,theyofferunbeatableenergy-efficiencyandservicelife.Withpropermaintenancethey’lllastalifetime.And,ofcourse,theyarethemostsustainablesolution.
TheWoodWindowAlliancemakesiteasiertochoosethemwithconfidence,withover40membersofferingarangeofhighqualityproductsthatmeetindependentlyauditedperformanceandsustainabilitystandardsandfulfiltherequirementsinthelatestBuildingRegulationsandtheCodeforSustainableHomes.n
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�0 constructionnational winter 2011
Ecobuild2011-theworld’sbiggestsustainabledesignandconstructionevent
e Ecobuildistheworld’sbiggesteventforsustainabledesign,constructionandthebuiltenvironmentandtheUK’slargest
constructioneventofanykind.TheEcobuildExhibition2011featuresallthelatestdevelopments,
newproductlaunchesandthepeoplewhomatter.ItwillbeheldonTuesday01–Thursday03March2011atExCeL,London.
Thisyear’sexhibitionwillincludeover1,300exhibitorsatthebiggestEcobuildyet.Itwillfeatureafreeconference–expandedtothreethemes–100sofnewproductlaunches,dozensofattractionsandlivedemonstrations,over130freeseminars,theBREEAMawardsandNaturalZED–BillDunster’slatestecohouse–tonamejustafewofthefeastofattractionsonoffer!
Inaddition,UKarchitecturalstudentsarebeinginvitedtotakepartinaninternationalcompetitiontodesignanenergyefficientNewYorkskyscraperaccordingtotheIsoverMulti-ComfortHousedefinitionandwithPassiveHousecomponents.TheUKfinalsofthecompetitionwillbejudgedatEcobuild2011afterwhichthetopthreeentriesgoontocompeteinthefinalinPraguenextMay.
AfurtherattractionisthetheInnovationFutureZonecompetition,broughttoEcobuildforasecondyearbytheTechnologyStrategyBoard,ModernBuiltEnvironmentKTNandEPSRC.TheZonewillshowcaseshortlistedentriesofnewornear-to-markettechnologiesrelevanttothepriorityareasofenergyefficiency,refurbishment,climatechangeadaptationandprocessefficiency.ThewinningentrywillbeannouncedonthefinaldayofEcobuild.n
e AsthesoleUKagentforJakob’sstainlesssteelropes,rodsandwiremeshproducts,MMAArchitecturalSystemssuppliesgreen
wallsystemsforawiderangeofapplications.TheJakobsystemprovidesanenvironmentallyfriendly,sustainable
solutionforlandscapeandconstructionprofessionals.EachcomponentismanufacturedfromHighGrade316stainlesssteel,whichissuitableforeventheharshestenvironments,includingcoastalapplications,providingcompletequalityassuranceforthewholelifeofabuilding.
Greenwallstructureshelpregulateabuilding’stemperature.Providinginsulationduringthewinterandasunscreeninthesummer,theynotonlyhelptoreduceenergyconsumptionandcost,butalsoimprovethecarbonfootprint.Inaddition,thesystemaffordssignificantprotectiontothestructure,actingasashieldagainstUVandthedamaging,long-termeffectsofwindandrain,aswellasadeterrenttograffitiand,dependingontheplantsspecified,aneffectiveaidtobuildingsecurity.
TheJakobsystemislightweightandfasttoinstall.Allplantingisundertakenonsiteandmaintenanceissimpleandstraightforward–carriedoutattheplanterlevel.
Frominitialdesignthroughtoinstallationandmaintenance,MMAoffersacompletesolution,workingwithcarefullyselectedpartnerstodeliverprojectsofthehighestquality–includingplantingandirrigation.n
• For more information, call 0845 1300 135 or visit www.jakob.co.uk.
Jakob Green Wall Systems bring buildings alive
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e Aspeoplebecomemorehealthconscioustheybecomemoreconcernedabouttheeffectsthatpollutionmayhaveontheir
lives.Forthoselivingincities,airpollutionmaybetheirbiggestconcern,wheretrafficandindustryareidentifiablepollutionsources.
Theredevelopmentofurbanbrownfieldsitesandotherinnercityconstructionordemolitionprojectshasbroughtanotherpotentialpollutionsourcetothepubliceye.Althoughgaseousemissions(e.g.NOx)associatedwithconstructionanddemolitionsitesmayberelativelylow,urbanredevelopmentschemescanhavesignificantimpactsonlocalairqualityduetodustemissions.
‘Dust’isagenerictermusedtodescribeparticulatematter1–75µm(micron)indiameterandisgenerallyproducedthroughthe
crushingandabrasionofmaterials.Itisoftenconsideredintwocategories.
Thesizefractionessentiallyupto10µm(PM10)isusedasanindicatoroflocalairqualityandformspartofNationalAirQualityStandards(NAQS).PM10dustisinhalable,andmedicalstudieshavelinkedelevatedPM10concentrationswithprematuredeaths.
Althoughnotdirectlyassociatedwithpublichealth,dustabove10µmmaybeconsidered‘visible’or‘nuisance’dust.Therearenoformalstandardsfornuisancedust.Thevisualimpactofdustsoilingonsurfacesorevenasdustcloudscanleadtocomplaintsonthegroundsofpublicnuisanceandmayultimatelyleadtocourtcases.
Thereforeitisofteninthebestinterestsofconstructionanddemolitionfirmstomonitordustemissionsfromtheirsites.Indeed,manysiteconditionssetoutbyregulatorybodiessuchaslocalcouncilsnowrequiremonitoringaspartofconsenttowork.Forexample,theGreaterLondonAuthorityBestPracticeGuidance(LondonBPG)canbeusedtohelpdeterminewhichcontrolmeasuresandmonitoringmayberequired.Asarule,PM10dustislikelytobemonitoredonlywherethesiteislocatedinanAirQualityManagementArea(AQMA)orwherethereisahighriskofNAQSexceedence.Itismuchmorelikelythereforethatsiteconditionsrelatingtonuisancedustmonitoringwillbeimposed.
Nuisancedustcanbemonitoredeitherinflux(whilstairborne)orindeposition(whereitsettlesoutoftheair).Differentmethodscanbeusedtomonitordustfluxanddustdepositionandthemostidealwillvarydependingonthesiteandsetting.‘Traditional’equipmentformonitoringdustsuchasusingFrisbee-typegaugescanbeveryvulnerabletovandalismanddifficulttolocateinanurbansetting.Therecanalsobehighsampletransportcostsincurredbyusingsuchequipment,asthedustsamplesarecollectedinbottlesthatalsocollectrainwater.Glassslidemonitoringisanotherapproachtonuisancedustsamplingandalthoughinexpensivetodeploy,glassslidesrequirecarefulhandling.Stickypads,suchastheDustScanDustDiscdustsettlementsampler(pictured)areinexpensive,easilydeployed,andthesimplejewel-casedesignmakesthemeasytohandleandmuchmorereadilytransportedthanalmostanyotherdustsamplecollectors.DustScanstickypadshaveaspecially-formulatedadhesiveandsampletamperingisusuallyevident(unlikewithsomeothermethods).
Althoughsomemightseedustfromredevelopmentschemesasanunfortunatebutunavoidableconsequence,dustmonitoringofconstructionanddemolitionsitesneednotbea‘tickbox’exercise.Byfollowingbestpracticeguidanceorbyseekingadvicefromspecialistdustmonitoringconsultancies,civilengineeringcontractorscanfindthatdustmonitoringusingmethodssuchastheDustDiscneednotbeaninconvenience,orentailexcessivecost,whilestilltickingtheboxesoftheirsiteregulators.n
Dust Monitoring
in Urban
Redevelopment
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Floodwall™ gains the new BSI Kitemark PAS 1188-1e FloodWall’sunique
removableflooddefencedoorsandairbrickcovershavebeenawardedtheprestigiousnewBSIPAS1188-1Kitemarkforremovablefloodprotectiondevices,followingextensiveindependenttestingatHRWallingford,theworldrenownedtestingcentre.
PAS1188-1setsanewindustrystandardinfloodprotectionwhereproductsaresubjectedtoaseriesofrigoroustestsinarangeofsimulatedconditions.OnesuchtestinvolvesareplicalivingroomfittedwithFloodWalldoorsandairbrickcoversinstalledinamassivewatertank,abouthalfthesizeofafootballpitchholding196,000gallonsofwater.
“TheBSIKitemarkawardedtoFloodwallgiveshouseholdersandbusinessesconfidenceinourproductsandtheireffectiveness.Wehavealreadysuccessfullyhelpedprotectmanybuildings–fromlistedpropertiestocommercialoutlets–inareaspronetoflooding”,saidPatrickCurran,salesmanager,“andalsoprovidedmuchneededpeaceofmindtothoseinhighriskareasthathaveexperiencedthedevastationofflooddamage.”
OfficialGovernmentfiguresstatethatoneinsixhomesinEnglandandWalesareatriskoffloodingandthisnumberislikelytoincreasedueto
theeffectsofclimatechange.AstandardrangeofDIYFloodWalldoorsareavailableviamailorder
throughouttheUK.Bespokedoorsarealsoavailablefollowingapropertysurvey:www.floodwall.uk.com.n
•For more information please contact: Patrick Curran, Office: 0800 917 9115, Mobile: 07831 368835, Email: [email protected]. Roseville Group T/A FloodWall, Guildprime Business Centre, Southend Road, Billericay, Essex CM11 2PZ.
UK’s premier brownfield event returns to NECe BrownfieldExpo(BEX),thepremiernationaleventfor
remediationandcontaminatedlandsolutions,returnstotheNECBirmingham,from24th-26thMay2011.
Itshowcasestheverylatesttechnologiessupportingtheaimofreturningpreviouslyderelictlandbacktoproductiveuse.Thethree-dayseminarprogramme,whichrunsalongsidetheexhibition,allowsexpertswithinthesectortoimpartthelatestknowledgeandbestpracticetodelegates.
Thegovernment’scommitmenttobringmorelandintosustainableuse–particularlyasthenumberofavailablegreenspacesfordevelopmentisincreasinglylimited–hasfuelledinterestintheexhibition.Eventdirector,DonnaBushellsays:“BEXisanunparalleledopportunityforindividualswithinthebrownfieldregenerationsectortoshareinnovationsandtonetworkwhichiswhyitattractssuchalargenumberofhighcalibreexhibitorsandvisitors–includinglocalauthoritylandofficers.”
BEXispartofSustainabilitylive!andwillonceagainrun
alongsidetheNationalEnergyManagementExhibition(NEMEX),InternationalWaterandEffluentExhibition(IWEX),EnvironmentalTechnology(ET),andSustainableBusiness–TheEvent(SB).
Foruptodateexhibitornews,features,programmesandinformationonhowtoexhibitorregisterforfreeattendancevisit:www.sustainabilitylive.com/clairebexorcall02086517069.n
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