Man jailed for illegal gas work Published: 19 May, 2016 A Darlington man has been jailed for carrying out illegal gas work on three occasions. Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard Neil Simon McKimm (trading as Macs Plumbing Services) carried out gas work including servicing boilers. Mr McKimm used the alias of
Architects remain positive about overall workloads Medium-sized practices the most optimistic about workloads and staffing The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index was unchanged in September 2015, with the balance figure remaining at +21. Practices remain firmly positive about overall workload prospects in the medium term, though with an
Two major contractors have been shortlisted for the University of Glasgow’s £1bn Gilmorehill campus expansion, Construction News can reveal. Source link
Information on why gypsum fibreboard should be the material of choice for internal and external walls, and floors and ceilings, is contained within a CPD from specialist building board manufacturer Fermacell. The “Modern construction needs modern materials” CPD explains how fermacell is made, how it conforms to relevant standards, where
Robertson contract entails site preparation works, including ground and infrastructure works, as well as building the new arena and conference centre and one of the three on-site hotels. Developer Henry Boot has now concluded unconditional agreements with Aberdeen City Council for the project, enabling work to get going. The development,
Man jailed for illegal gas work Published: 19 May, 2016 A Darlington man has been jailed for carrying out illegal gas work on three occasions. Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard Neil Simon McKimm (trading as Macs Plumbing Services) carried out gas work including servicing boilers. Mr McKimm used the alias of a legitimate gas engineer to deceive his customers. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr McKimm repeatedly falsely pretended to be a legitimate Gas Safe engineer and falsely signed official records in the name of a legitimate gas engineer. Mr McKimm (trading as Macs Plumbing Services and alias as Robert Welsh), of West Moorland Street, Darlington, was found guilty of breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; Regulations 3(3) and 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and was sentenced to prison for 18 months. HSE inspector Paul Wilson said: “Gas work must be carried out by properly registered Gas Safe engineers, and HSE will robustly pursue those that break the law.” Image courtesy of Shutterstock/ Kirilllutz Source link
Architects remain positive about overall workloads Medium-sized practices the most optimistic about workloads and staffing The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index was unchanged in September 2015, with the balance figure remaining at +21. Practices remain firmly positive about overall workload prospects in the medium term, though with an apparent leveling-off in the rate of growth. All nations and regions in the UK returned positive balance figures, with practices based in Scotland the most optimistic about future workloads (balance figure +50). Medium-sized practices (11–50 staff), with a balance figure of +56, are more optimistic than either large (51+ staff, balance figure +25) or small practices (1–10 staff, balance figure +15). The private housing sector workload forecast in September 2015 rose slightly to +21 (up from +18 in August). The commercial sector workload forecast fell very slightly to +13 in September (from +14 in August). Architects remain cautious over growth in public sector work, with the sector forecast increasing marginally to –3 (from –4 in August); meanwhile, the community sector forecast was unchanged at +1. The RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index regained ground this month, standing at +12 in September (up from +7 in August). 95% of responding practices expect their permanent staffing levels either to increase or to stay the same over the next few months. Medium-sized practices are the most positive about future staffing levels (balance figure +48), compared with small practices (+7) and large practices (+25). September also saw an increase in the proportion of practices expecting to increase their temporary staffing levels over the next quarter. A number of practices have opened offices and/or increased recruitment in Manchester and other northern cities in recent months, further demonstrating the increase in opportunities within the North of England. RIBA Executive Director Members Adrian Dobson said: “Our responding practices continue to paint a picture of a healthy market for architectural services, with more opportunities to negotiate better fee levels and profit margins on projects beginning to rise.” “However, we have received reports that changes to housing association rent criteria seem to be having an impact on sustainable delivery of affordable housing, particularly affordable rented housing.” ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information contact Callum Reilly in the RIBA press office: callum.reilly@riba.org 020 7307 3757 2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Visit www.architecture.com Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates www.twitter.com/RIBA 3. Completed by a mix of small, medium and large firms based on a geographically representative sample, the RIBA Future Trends Survey was launched in January 2009 to monitor business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession. 4. The Future Trends Survey is carried out by the RIBA in partnership with the Fees Bureau. Results of the survey, including a full graphical analysis, are published each month at: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Professionalsupport/FutureTrendsSurvey.aspx 5. To participate in the RIBA Future Trends Survey, please contact the RIBA Practice Department on 020 7307 3749 or email practice@riba.org. The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete each month, and all returns are independently processed in strict confidence 6. The definition for the workload balance figure is the difference between those expecting more work and those expecting less. A negative figure means more respondents expect less work than those expecting more work. This figure is used to represent the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index, which for September 2015 was +21 7. The definition for the staffing balance figure is the difference between those expecting to employ more permanent staff in the next three months and those expecting to employ fewer. A negative figure means more respondents expect to employ fewer permanent staff. This figure is used to represent the RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index, which for September 2015 was +12 Posted on Wednesday 28th October 2015 Source link
Two major contractors have been shortlisted for the University of Glasgow’s £1bn Gilmorehill campus expansion, Construction News can reveal. Source link
Information on why gypsum fibreboard should be the material of choice for internal and external walls, and floors and ceilings, is contained within a CPD from specialist building board manufacturer Fermacell. The “Modern construction needs modern materials” CPD explains how fermacell is made, how it conforms to relevant standards, where it can typically be used, what product options are available, and its performance characteristics and installation process. Currently celebrating its 45th year of production, the unique fibre-reinforced gypsum-based board offers the performance properties of solid blockwork when used in partitioning due to its strength, density and resilience. This makes it ideal for ceilings and dry-screed flooring as well as partitions as it also offers high performance in areas such as acoustics and impact and fire resistance. The CPD explains how and where fermacell is made (four factories throughout Europe) and how its manufacture is environmentally friendly, the panels being comprised of 90% recycled material, fully recyclable themselves and accredited by Robust Details and the BBA and ETA. Product options include a variety of standard and custom sizes, four thicknesses and square or tapered edges, all of which comply with Parts E and F of the Building Regulations for acoustics (giving up to 55 dB Rw from a single layer system and thereby reducing costs and partitions width) and fire respectively, BB93 for schools, HTM08 for healthcare and CE Marking (ETA). The CPD also advises where fermacell can be used – in dry-lining applications where high-performance is required in one or more areas such as acoustics and resistance to impact (a single layer achieving severe duty rating BS 5234: Part 2), fire (A2/Class 0) and moisture (up to 80% humidity resistance). In addition, fermacell has also been tested to CWCT standards for use externally as a backer board in a ventilated rainscreen application and is an ideal racking board in timber frame construction, being stronger than OSB and offering fire protection. This strength (up to 50kg load) can eliminate the requirement for plywood pattressing, saving time on installation and money on materials. Whether used internally or externally, fermacell boards are low maintenance, with minor dents easily touched up and part-panels easily replaced. In addition, the lack of angle beads on external corners makes them particularly suitable for schools, hospitals, airports, student accommodation, sports halls and other high-traffic areas. They do not even require finishing to accept paint, tiles or wallpaper, although a fermacell skim-like FST (Fine Surface Treatment) is available which does not require a plasterer to apply and dries in 45 minutes. The CPD also includes FAQs and independent cost comparisons which show that taking into account multiple board layers, pattressing and skimming, fermacell is a very cost-effective alternative to performance plasterboard.
Robertson contract entails site preparation works, including ground and infrastructure works, as well as building the new arena and conference centre and one of the three on-site hotels. Developer Henry Boot has now concluded unconditional agreements with Aberdeen City Council for the project, enabling work to get going. The development, funded by the city council, received detailed planning permission at the end of 2015 and is located on the 130-acre former Rowett Research Institute site next to Aberdeen International Airport. Completion is expected in the first half of 2019, in time to host the Offshore Europe trade show that year. The 105,000 m2 complex will include a 12,500 capacity performance arena, extensive covered exhibition halls, a four-star 200 bed hotel to be operated under the Hilton Hotels brand together with an energy centre and 2,500 parking spaces. It will have three times the exhibition space that the current centre offers. Henry Boot Developments has also secured planning permission for a further 400,000 sq ft of business park space on land adjoining the exhibition and conference centre, which will be developed jointly with Aberdeen City Council. As previously reported, Henry Boot’s project manager is Turner & Townsend. Nick Harris, director of Henry Boot Developments, said: “Following the sod cutting last month, I am very pleased that we are now in a position to appoint Robertson Group as the contractor to deliver this vital project and I am looking forward to working with them over the next three years. We understand how important the new world-class Aberdeen Exhibition &Conference Centre is to the economy in Aberdeen and the northeast and are pleased to be appointing Robertson Group which has close historical and current links to the area.”
