Curtain walling, framing and windows by Kawneer feature on the new Exhibition Centre Liverpool. Architectural glazing systems from Kawneer feature on the only purpose-built arena, convention and exhibition centre in Europe. Kawneer’s AA®100 mullion-drained curtain walling and 451PT thermally-broken framing system, both with narrow 50mm sightlines, are complemented by AA®720 HI tilturn windows on the £66+ million Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Pullman Hotel development. The exhibition centre, which links to the existing BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena via a 35m sky bridge, incorporates a 216-room four-star Pullman hotel, the group’s first new-build in the UK and its first hotel outside London. Constructed concurrently over two years on the city’s 18th Century waterfront by ISG to designs by architects Denton Corker Marshall, the exhibition centre hosted its first event in September 2015 and the hotel opened to the public in February 2016. The 87,000ft2 steel frame exhibition centre, which has more than doubled existing capacity at ACC Liverpool, features a Kawneer-glazed public atrium with stunning views across the River Mersey and the UNESCO World Heritage site. As well as the atrium, it also features food and beverage outlets, meeting rooms and a business centre. The three equally-sized halls of 2,100m2 can be divided by moveable walls, with the centre capable of hosting major international exhibitions, conventions, concerts and sporting events. The 116,000ft2 Pullman Hotel has been cleverly designed as three feature tubes which reduce the overall mass of the building. Here there is extensive Kawneer glazing and a spacious double-height atrium at its lower levels. The nine-storey concrete frame building features a guest gym, with ground floor reception, bar and restaurant plus meeting space located at first floor level. The Kawneer systems were installed by approved specialist sub-contractor Bennett Architectural Systems for design and build contractor ISG. Director Rob Bennett said the Kawneer systems met four particular requirements – high acoustic performance for the hotel, the site’s extreme environment on the docks, challenging solar gain, and large panes of glass. Danny Murray, ISG’s Northern regional managing director, said:  “Early stage engagement and excellent levels of collaboration between all project stakeholders have significantly contributed to the successful delivery of these two key note schemes in Liverpool. Innovation has been embedded within the project from day one and there has been a real sense of ownership and passion about the way the entire delivery team has worked together to achieve this great result.” Bob Prattey, chief executive of The ACC Liverpool Group, said: “We are extremely proud to add Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Pullman Liverpool to our range of venues. The design and flexibility of Exhibition Centre Liverpool presents limitless opportunities and its integration into the arena and convention centre has given us a unique offering. The integrated hotel enhances our campus offering.” ENDS  Source link

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Following the first part of its safety campaign on common safety hazards, such as falling from heights, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive has honed in on another element of construction safety: particulates. With literally microscopic detail, the HSE is shifting its focus to these inconspicuous hazards, and the threat they pose to employee health over the long term. While the dangers of asbestos are well established, our increasing distance from its active use makes education and awareness even more important. Meanwhile the risks of more innocuous particulates, such as silica and wood dust, are under-appreciated. The new HSE campaign is a vital opportunity to publicise these risks, and ultimately to help save lives. Worker beware The presence of particulates in the workplace has been known about for decades. The phasing out of asbestos from widespread use in the 1980s followed clear links to mesothelioma, an otherwise rare and deadly cancer. Yet the everyday nature of working with wood, brick, plaster, cement and other construction materials can lead people to take unnecessary risks. Sometimes, workers aren’t even aware of these risks in the first place. The HSE has previously been criticised for its guidelines on particulates, particularly silica, where its ‘safe limit’ is 0.1mg per cubic metre of air. The HSE has claimed that this is the lowest limit that is realistically achievable, but even this level of exposure is considered both dangerous and avoidable. This does not stop many independent contractors from avoiding RPE altogether, either by workers’ individual choice or by lack of provision by their bosses. One company in 2015 was fined for repeated breaches of workplace safety laws despite prior warnings, including poorly fitted RPE, a lack of RPE and poor silica dust management. The fine was just £2,500. Silica dust is a common constituent of plaster, cement, brick, stone and wood, among other materials. The process of drilling, sawing, cutting, blasting or breaking these materials is highly likely release microscopic silica particles. Invisible to the human eye, these sharp-edged particulates make their way into the deepest recesses of our lungs, causing damage that can manifest as lung cancer or other diseases later in life. Present danger Despite seeming anachronistic, asbestos too remains an issue. The building material was banned in the UK far later than many other countries, and the UK continues to lead the world in asbestos related death and illness. While commercial buildings may have a stronger awareness of the presence of asbestos in their buildings, public and residential structures pose an equivalent risk. The widely used decorative coating Artex used to contain asbestos, and is a hidden danger in many DIY and contract renovations. Asbestos is also worryingly common in school buildings, many of which were built or rebuilt in the 70s and 80s. Schools often lack both a comprehensive asbestos management plan and the money to effectively maintain and assess asbestos, making any work potentially dangerous to the contractors, teachers and students. The HSE’s campaign is a welcome step forward in acknowledging the issues thousands face on a daily basis. But it’s still remarkable that a disease first noted some 2500 years ago is still causing as many as 500 deaths a year in the UK alone, on top of 800 dust-related lung cancer deaths. And the ongoing deaths in numerous high profile incidents, perhaps most famously the 9/11 first responders, have not seemed to change these patterns of behaviour. Employers and employees need to be made more acutely aware of the risks of occupational dust inhalation. Nominal fines and the HSE’s Fee For Intervention is evidently not enough of a deterrent for businesses. It may also be the case that small businesses need help obtaining suitable RPE, either through grants or subsidies. With luck, the HSE will be a driving force in making the UK construction industry a world leader in compliance. Plan and protect Until then, however, the onus is on employers to put the necessary protocols in place, and provide suitable equipment. The focus should always be on prevention, rather than the cure offered by RPE. The easiest way to reduce the respiration of dust is to turn it into slurry, although in cases such as pouring concrete this isn’t always feasible. However, controls can be put in place at the design and sourcing stage, in order to best protect workers. Stone and timber can be purchased pre-drilled and cut to size, and several alternatives materials can be used that do not contain respirable crystalline silica (RCS). These include durable plastics in place of concrete, and a number of sandblasting substitutes. Where RPE (such as dust hoods or breathing apparatus) is necessary, it should be properly face fitted to each individual, and rated at P3 or higher. Fitting is a common oversight, with masks often sitting loosely on individuals due to beards and face contours. Ultimately, RPE should be taken as seriously as using a gas mask – if it doesn’t fit properly, it’s not much good. With air pollution in London and elsewhere making the news recently, public awareness of the dangers of particulates is at an all-time high. Now is the perfect opportunity for employers and advocates alike to highlight the dangers in the workplace. Dust is a problem we can deal with, but the impetus needs to come from all quarters if we’re going to make a difference. — This post was contributed by SAMS Ltd, a health and safety consultancy & training company based in Kent, England. SAMS offers online asbestos awareness courses for businesses and individuals, alongside other online and classroom courses and consultancy services.

After a hard fought group stage in Europe’s World Cup Qualifiers we finally know who goes to Russia directly as the first place of their respective group and who goes to the second round or playoffs. The eight countries that will fight for a chance to play in Russia next summer are: Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The draw to determine the matches is still a few days, but what we can be sure about is that we’ll see great football matches is some of Europe’s best venues. There are three UEFA Four Star stadiums that could host a playoff game, we are talking about: Karaiskakis Stadium in Greece, Aviva Stadium in Ireland, and Friends Arena in Sweden. Let’s see what makes these stadiums so special. Karaiskakis Stadium This venue is located in Piraeus, Greece, and is home to local powerhouse Olympiacos. The stadium is named after Georgios Karaiskakis, a general who died in the Greek War of Independence.This same venue was part of the 1896 Olympic Games as a velodrome. But none of that original structure remains today, because in 2014it was demolished and rebuilt. It has a capacity of 33,334 seated fans and has its own shopping mall with bars, restaurants, stores, gymnasiums, and a museum dedicated to Olympiacos and its history. ​ Aviva Stadium This Irish stadium is one of the best in the world and it is located in Dublin. It was inaugurated in 2010 and replaced Lansdowne Road. This venue has a 51,700 capacity and it already put its UEFA Elite status to good use,it hosted the UEFA Europa League final in 2011. It is very easy for the fans to get to the stadium because it is built right next to the Lansdowne Road train station. Football and rugby share this building, but before it was inaugurated, the Irish football team played its home games provisionally in Croke Park. The first football game played in Aviva Stadium saw Manchester United defeat an Irish League All-Star team, with a 7-1 final score. Friends Arena Friends Arena is a stadium with a retractile roof located in Stockholm’s metropolitan area, in Sweden. The teams that call this venue home are AIK Stockholm and the Swedish national football team, they made the move from Rasunda Stadium in 2013. This modern building was inaugurated in 2012 with a football game between Sweden and England. The legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a great night, he scored his team’s four goals in their 4-2 victory. Have a look here to see the best odds for the respective playoff games. Friends Arena is the largest stadium in Sweden, with a capacity of 50,000 seated fans.