Renewable energy supplier Bulb has become the first UK supplier to offer to pay-off exiting tariff fees to new customers and businesses who decide to switch suppliers, just a week after receiving new certification for its transparency towards environmental impacts. Consumers deciding to switch to bulb will
The Sentencing Council has introduced new guidelines that could see much higher fines or even prison sentences imposed on construction companies and individuals who breach health and safety laws. As the Health and Safety Executive may start to ramp up prosecutions following last year’s new CDM regulations, this is a
Industry legend Tony Cable will be making his final, farewell tour around the country during the next series of NICEIC and Elecsa’s TechTalk series. After almost 60 years in the industry, Cable will be taking part in his last TechTalk series before taking up his well-earned retirement.
GRAHAM has been appointed by Stockport Council through the Highways England CDF Lot 2 Framework in order to carry out the design and construction work for a new Travis Bow Link Road. This new road, when completed will create a vital linking road between the A6 and the M60 in
Makita, the leading world class brand of professional power tools, accessories and work wear has recently launched two brand new heavy duty SDS+ rotary hammer drills. This new range of products are available in either 110v or 240v mains configuration in order to suit the requirements of their customers They
TJC Sales Ltd has recorded an increase in sales of their HIDROMEK machines following the company’s exhibition at the Plantworx 2017 which took place in June. The company’s participation in the show has led to two long term hire agreements for TJC Sales Ltd. A number of parties in attendance
Saint-Gobain Weber high performance technical mortars have been specified for the repair of a number of concrete balconies with metal railings featured on apartment buildings in Northwood, Middlesex in the London borough of Hillingdon. The metal railings of the Middlesex apartment buildings have rusted at the base over time. This
Facilities management (FM) is a highly competitive market with an increasing number of providers trying to offer the most cost effective contract. So, how does an FM company differentiate itself from the rest of the crowd? Two of the most important criteria is quality of service, closely followed by the
Renewable energy supplier Bulb has become the first UK supplier to offer to pay-off exiting tariff fees to new customers and businesses who decide to switch suppliers, just a week after receiving new certification for its transparency towards environmental impacts. Consumers deciding to switch to bulb will have their exit fee -generally costing around £60 – covered by the company. After providing a photo or scan of the final bill, Bulb will then add the exiting fee credits to the customer’s new account. Bulb also announced that it will offer a transparent tariff that averages out at 20% cheaper than standard “Big Six” tariffs and those provided by other energy suppliers. Bulb co-founder Hayden Wood said: “We’re passionate about giving people the freedom to choose where they get their energy from. For years UK consumers have been getting a raw deal from their energy supplier. Fear of costly exit fees is a significant barrier for people who want to switch, locking them into expensive tariffs. “One of our Bulb community members suggested we refund any fees from switching. We thought it was a fantastic idea and decided to make it happen. We don’t charge exit fees ourselves, and we’re now refunding members who were charged exit fees by their last supplier.” B Corp The announcement comes a week after Bulb was awarded B Corp status, becoming the first energy supplier to receive the certification, due to meeting ‘rigorous’ standards of environmental and social responsibility and providing a high standard of accountability and transparency. Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impacts of its corporate decisions on their stakeholders, employees and suppliers as well as potential community and environmental impacts. Bulb is one of 93 B Corporations in the UK, joining the likes of Carbon Analytics, Neighbourly and ClimateCare – whose Clean Cooking Programme was backed by edie backed last year. Low cost renewable energy suppliers – including the likes of Ecotricity and Good Energy – are beginning to gain viability in the supplier market. Last year, independent renewable energy supplier SmartestEnergy saw its new energy label certified by the Carbon Trust. The label specifies the source and carbon footprint of a company’s electricity supply in a bid to boost business confidence in renewables. This article originally appeared on edie.net Source link
The Sentencing Council has introduced new guidelines that could see much higher fines or even prison sentences imposed on construction companies and individuals who breach health and safety laws. As the Health and Safety Executive may start to ramp up prosecutions following last year’s new CDM regulations, this is a further indication of how seriously health and safety law is being taken – and rightly so. Eye-watering fines of up to £10 million or two years in custody will be possible for serious breaches. Lack of knowledge Although construction employers know health and safety is important, many are still unaware of the guidelines, and how they could be applied. However, there is a simple way for employers to minimise the risk of these tough new sentences – which is to understand and comply with CDM and other relevant construction-related regulations. We all want to see people stay safe on site and not have their health harmed. Putting the right procedures in place, as outlined in the regulations and guidance, is the best way to do that. On the flip-side, if someone is seriously injured on site and the employer has failed to put the necessary procedures in place to minimise health and safety risks, they could be held responsible and face a hefty fine or even imprisonment. Evidence that could be taken into account when assessing high culpability could be failure to comply with recognised industry standards, such as the CDM Guidance documents. Possible fines for health and safety breaches under the new sentencing guidelines High culpability – high level of harm (harm category 1) Organisation size Starting point for fine Large (turnover £50m+) £2.4m Medium (turnover £10m-£50m) £950,000 Small (turnover £2m-£10m) £250,000 Micro (turnover up to £2m) £160,000 How CITB can help The CDM Wizard app is there to help develop construction phase plans for small projects from your smart phone. It can even make you aware of significant construction risks. The industry guidance to the CDM Regulations can be downloaded here. The app has been downloaded 50,000 times, and the documents 150,000 times, which means many companies have already found them useful in their own planning. Responding to the guidelines It isn’t just a case of being aware the new sentencing guidelines exist. It is about responding to them and making a difference. The advent of average speed cameras alongside roadworks has, at last, changed drivers’ behaviour when tempted to drive too quickly. Similarly, these sentencing guidelines could drive further improvement in health and safety on construction sites. For individual companies, fines like these could be the difference between staying in business or facing bankruptcy. But the penalties are also there to encourage companies to re-assess the risk to their businesses and commit to further improving standards. Our industry is getting safer and we are starting to reduce the risk of occupational diseases. These new sentencing guidelines are tough, but they are there to make sure that we all take health and safety seriously. So, get informed about the Regulations, get informed about the new guidelines and let’s make construction even safer and healthier. About the author The Revd. Kevin Fear is CITB’s Health and Safety Strategy Lead. He is a chartered civil engineer and H&S professional. He is currently chairing a steering group to write industry guidance for the proposed CDM ’15 on behalf of HSE and CONIAC. He is also an assistant curate at St Mark’s Church Peterborough. Source link
Industry legend Tony Cable will be making his final, farewell tour around the country during the next series of NICEIC and Elecsa’s TechTalk series. After almost 60 years in the industry, Cable will be taking part in his last TechTalk series before taking up his well-earned retirement. It promises to be an emotional ride for the 74-year-old who’s experience and unique delivery style has helped make the informative seminars increasingly popular among contractors. “The TechTalk series is something very close to my heart and something I have enjoyed immensely over the last nine years, commented Cable. “We have done more than 80 events across the UK during that time and every single one has been a pleasure. Meeting contractors and chatting to them about all the latest goings on in the industry is what I enjoy most.” As ever, Tony will be joined by NICEIC and Elecsa’s technical development manager, Darren Staniforth for the next series. They will be discussing the most common problems during assessments, current legislation within the industry, electrical supply issues and providing responses during a technical Q&A session. Attendees will also be able to access special deals, try out some of the latest products and get plenty of technical advice from some of the industry’s biggest names who will be exhibiting at each event. Leading industry brands such as Bosch, Brother, CPN Cudis, Peugeot, Volex and Wylex, have all signed up to be headline sponsors for this year’s series, which will be covering the UK from Brighton to Belfast. The full line up of dates and locations are: Brighton Amex Stadium 29 September 2016 Oxford Kassam Stadium 4 October 2016 Cardiff Cardiff City Stadium 12 October 2016 Exeter Westpoint Arena 18 October 2016 Belfast Malone Lodge Hotel 15 November 2016 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Racecourse 8 February 2017 Doncaster Doncaster Racecourse 14 February 2017 Newcastle Newcastle Racecourse 28 February 2017 Norfolk Norfolk Showground 15 March 2017 Leicester Leicester Racecourse 21 March 2017 Tickets cost £25 and are available now from www.niceic.com/events and www.elecsa.co.uk or by calling 0843 290 3456. Alternatively you can email techtalk@certsure.com Source link
GRAHAM has been appointed by Stockport Council through the Highways England CDF Lot 2 Framework in order to carry out the design and construction work for a new Travis Bow Link Road. This new road, when completed will create a vital linking road between the A6 and the M60 in Stockport town centre. GRAHAM’s civil engineering team has experience of working on a range of prestigious and high profile jobs in the UK and Ireland. This past portfolio of work includes the Tennison Road Bridge Replacement for Network Rail as well as the A138 Chelmer Viaduct that was completed for Highways England. The plan for the linking road was developed through a partnership between Stockport Council and Transport for Greater Manchester. The funding for this project has been secured by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and as a part of the Growth Deal funding. GRAHAM is a highly regarded civil engineering and construction firm and will be taking part in this challenging civil engineering project that will connect with the iconic railway viaduct through the use of a disused railway tunnel to the A6, a part of Greater Manchester’s Key Route Network. On top of this engineering and construction work, the contract will also see GRAHAM carrying out improvement works on the A6 Wellington Road North, the A5145 Travis Brow and George’s Road, which is adjacent. It is predicted that the work will be completed in August 2018. GRAHAM is experienced in completing a range of high-quality civil engineering projects. This new contract will benefit millions of people who will be able to use the new link road once work is completed. It is vital that these road improvements are carried out in order to continue the work to improve the transport access for thousands of motorists throughout Stockport town centre.
Makita, the leading world class brand of professional power tools, accessories and work wear has recently launched two brand new heavy duty SDS+ rotary hammer drills. This new range of products are available in either 110v or 240v mains configuration in order to suit the requirements of their customers They are consistently in lists of reviews on hammer drills from Occupy the Farm. According to tool expert Bill Allen of OccupyTheFarm, Makita hammer drills “are the premium options of being able to select between three types of impact, including hammering, rotation, and a combination of the two.”. Makita has released two new rotary hammer drills that both feature an 800-watt motor that delivers 2.4 joules of impact energy, leading to 4,600 blows per minute. This power and force means that the rotary hammer drills are able to punch a 26mm hole into concrete with the use of a normal TCT bit. This powerful HR2650 and the HR2651 is able to drive a 68mm TCT core or an 8-0mm Diamond core easily through concrete. The tool, accessory and work wear manufacturer has been in operation for around 45 years, with their main offices located in Milton Keynes. The business has a range of distribution centres located across the UK allowing the efficient delivery of their products to customers. Makita is known for being the number one professional tool manufacturer in Britain and offers an inventory of more than 620 products and accessories used by professionals in the construction industry. Both of the models of hammer drill have torque limiter drives as well as a 3-mode operation rotary switch which is located on the transmission and offers a rotary only mode so that the tools can be used for drilling as well as the rotary with hammer action support as well as hammer only mode which can be used for chiseling The new tools have easy to clean transparent dust case as well as a highly efficient dust collection system and a telescopic slide guide that can range up to 190mm and a drill through port that can be used to reduce dust on the site as well as protecting operators.
TJC Sales Ltd has recorded an increase in sales of their HIDROMEK machines following the company’s exhibition at the Plantworx 2017 which took place in June. The company’s participation in the show has led to two long term hire agreements for TJC Sales Ltd. A number of parties in attendance at the trade show in June were able to see a demonstration of the HMK 102B Supra, HMK 104LC and the HMK 220LC Gen Series. These products formed a part of TJC Sale’s award winning stand at Plantworx. The Interested parties at the event are now the proud owners of the Turkish-manufactured machinery. TJC Sales Ltd is a UK dealer for HIDROMEK, and has had a successful first time exhibiting their plant equipment at the show. Despite the weather at the show, the company managed to come away from the trade show with a long list of potential customers. One of these customers was Profusion Environmental, a company that specialises in the construction of golf courses and sport facilities. The company showed particular interest in the HMK 104LC excavator. Profusion Environmental ended up purchasing two of the machines. The company has said that they chose HIDROMEK because of their willingness and eagerness to accommodate the requirements of their customers. The golf course construction company required a steel wrist attachment of the HMK 104LC in order to carry out bunker renovations. TJC Sales and HIDROMEK allowed the senior operator to try out the machine with the desired attachment in Sweden, a location where this adaptation is commonly used. Because of their success at the Plantworx show, HIDROMEK has now become a more established brand within the industry in terms of plant sales. The machines on offer with TJC Sales Ltd offers a high standard of performance and efficiency to impress potential customers.
Saint-Gobain Weber high performance technical mortars have been specified for the repair of a number of concrete balconies with metal railings featured on apartment buildings in Northwood, Middlesex in the London borough of Hillingdon. The metal railings of the Middlesex apartment buildings have rusted at the base over time. This rust has led to spalling taking place on the surrounding concrete. The high performance mortar has been specified for the repair of the concrete in these areas in order to improve the attractiveness of the balconies as well as reduce any potential safety risks for the residents of the apartments. Saint-Gobain Weber offered technical advice on the project through specialist team member Barry Ephgrave. The main contractor for this repair work was Alfred Bagnall & Sons Limited. The team from Alfred Bagnall got to work cutting away the spalled concrete and the carried out work to repair the metal barriers before reinstating the concrete. The contractor for this repair work used the webercem concrete repair system from Saint-Gobain Weber. This solution has multiple components and is compliant with the BS EN 1504, making it suitable for concrete patch repairs. The solution includes the webercem HB40 which has been developed to be used for high-build repair and levelling. The associated webercem bondcoat bonding slurry was also used and finished with a coat of webercote smooth. The bondcoat is a cementitious bonding aid that delivers a high initial grab which can be used to improve the build of the repair mortar as well as increasing the bond to the concrete. The new life expectancy of these balconies after the repair work has been carried out is 15 years. This means that for the next 15 years, residents are assured that the building will continue to look as tidy, safe and secure as they are now.
Facilities management (FM) is a highly competitive market with an increasing number of providers trying to offer the most cost effective contract. So, how does an FM company differentiate itself from the rest of the crowd? Two of the most important criteria is quality of service, closely followed by the speed of response. The ability to deliver these vital attributes is usually dependent on the level of support from their suppliers. Facilities management is essentially the art of delivering solutions to a wide range of problems. To be successful in this industry a provider must be either so large that it can deliver all of the necessary services in-house, or have the ability to carefully select partners, such as Sulzer, to supply some aspects of the overall solution. With such a diverse range of services that need to be provided, most facilities managers have to decide which can be delivered by in-house professionals and which need to be outsourced to external partners. Of course, there will be differing strategies and assets depending on the types of building being managed. Multiple unit residential buildings have very different needs compared to commercial or industrial premises. Discovering the right partners Engaging external maintenance providers with the required levels of expertise and experience can deliver enhanced reliability especially if changes are required to the original specification. With the necessary skills and resources, expert maintenance providers can also deliver design and manufacturing facilities capable of implementing changes to promote efficiency and sustainability. As a leading global supplier of repair solutions, Sulzer has extensive experience of delivering cost effective repairs and improvements for electric motors and rotating equipment such as air handling units (AHUs). As a pump manufacturer, the company also has the capabilities to design, manufacture and repair all makes and sizes of pump. Every FM strategy will have unique aspects to it that require the project manager to collate a specific group of skills in order to deliver an effective solution. Depending on the customer, these can include central utilities, pumping systems, energy management as well as mechanical and electrical engineering support. Delivering the service It is important that any maintenance partner has, not only the skills and resources, but also original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partnerships and a distribution network that is capable of supplying the high-quality products and services throughout the marketplace. In addition, it may be necessary to be available on a 24/7 basis, in which case any partner must be properly staffed to ensure suitably skilled personnel are available round the clock. As a worldwide supplier of electromechanical repair solutions, Sulzer has the expertise and an extensive network of service centers that ensure a fast response and swift resolution is never far away. This wealth of knowledge is being appreciated by more and more facilities management companies in the UK and further afield. Accustomed to delivering turnkey solutions, Sulzer has a wide range of comprehensive asset management of electromechanical services. This includes support for pumping assets, ventilation fans as well as variable speed drives that can reduce energy costs and improve reliability. In addition, periodic preventative maintenance techniques such as thermal imaging surveys for electrical equipment or vibration analysis for bearings can also be deployed as part of the project strategy. For those involved with complete industrial or commercial parks there may be a responsibility to service and maintain the high voltage transformers on the site, which is certainly a specialist operation. Sulzer can maintain and repair these transformers with a minimum of downtime, ensuring minimal disruption to the companies on the park. Ultimately, for continued success, every FM team must deliver a reliable and cost effective service. This can be achieved by efficient management and careful matching of in-house and externally-sourced expertise, and ensuring that the latter is well positioned to deliver a high quality service.
