Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Wed, Mar 2nd 2016 Simple, flexible and robust recorder efficiently and accurately measures vibrations, shocks and tremors from construction & building works Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday AcSoft Health & Safety
24 August 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Pest control could undergo a major transformation following the discovery of a gene responsible for giving insects their waterproof coating. The coating protects them from microbes and environmental stress. An international research team, led by Joanne Yew from the University of Hawaii,
A month ago, the UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson suggested that a bridge across the English Channel would be a great idea. Now, the French company that runs the Channel Tunnel opened the subject to the UK government, writing to UK Prime Minister Theresa May. “The idea of a second
A new sporting facility has just opened at the University of South Wales (USW) Sport Park, located near the University’s Pontypridd Campus in Treforest. The modern sporting facilities include the first full-size indoor 3G football pitch at a university in Wales and one out of three at a UK university.
Your home is the place you turn to when the busy life outside of it gets a bit too much. For this reason, it should give you a feeling of calm when you enter it, as well as making you more productive and efficient. So how can you make your
Vivalda Group plc, the UK’s largest distributor of high performance claddings and off-site fabrication specialist, has called for greater clarity on rain-screen cladding standards in the wake of the Grenfell disaster. Confirming that it will not promote aluminium composite materials (ACM) for use on high-rise applications which fail to reach
The construction industry faces many challenges. One of these is around delivering projects on time and on budget. Refurbishment projects is one area where accurately predicting cost and time is notoriously difficult as all too often unforeseen factors come into play when a project starts, typically as a result of
Six years on since the first Solid Wood Solutions (SWS) event, it is back by popular demand this year and will take place on 08 May in London. The event will reflect the swift upward trajectory that materials such as cross laminated timber (CLT) are now on as a sustainable,
With productivity in the construction sector lagging other sectors, there are hopes that the continued advancement of the fourth industrial revolution (also known as industry 4.0) will spur on innovation and bring forward opportunities to improve efficiency. But is the industry ready for the changes this will inevitably bring? Recent
Skills Group is the first training provider in the region of Devon to deliver groundworks apprenticeships due to demand from the construction industry. A total of 179 learners took up the NVQ Level 2 Groundworks apprenticeship, and a further 91 are working towards a Level 3 NVQ apprenticeship in Occupational
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Wed, Mar 2nd 2016 Simple, flexible and robust recorder efficiently and accurately measures vibrations, shocks and tremors from construction & building works Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday AcSoft Health & Safety – leading specialist in noise and vibration monitoring instrumentation for occupational health and the environment – is now offering a Menhir ground vibration monitor from Semex-Engcon GmbH. The simple, flexible and robust ‘Modular Enhanced Intelligent Recorder’ efficiently measures vibrations, shocks and tremors generated by construction and building works, as well as mining, demolition and quarrying activities. In conjunction with SDC (Smart Data Centre) software, the web-based, high resolution Menhir system is capable of accurately recording, analysing and transferring data from complex structural and vibration monitoring and metrology applications in harsh environments. The SDC software offers a fully integrated cloud solution for quick access to data and Menhir device status at any time from PC, tablet or smartphone. An optional complete analysis module is also available, allowing reports to be automatically generated and transmitted electronically in freely adjustable intervals. Allowing easy operation with minimal training, the intuitive Menhir can be customised to suit individual monitoring requirements and configured for immediate set up and use. A simple configuration tool means settings can be changed at any time, with quick and full access to the monitor’s parameters and values, as well as all analytical options and results. For maximum flexibility, the Menhir is available with internal and external SIM card slots. The latter enables the user to determine which provider is transmitting data, without having to open the device. The system can also be equipped with a low cost M2M solution. An internal battery provides up to 48 hours operating autonomy, depending on transmission requirements. The Menhir can be placed with up to 15° offset on the ground. The innovative measurement device detects the offset and corrects it automatically. It can also be aligned with the three integrated levelling screws so no mounting platform is required.The Menhir offers a dynamic range > 130dB at 100 measurements per second per channel, as well as a bandwidth from 1 to 400 Hz. It incorporates a selectable alarm output to designated personnel via SMS or email. Source link
24 August 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Pest control could undergo a major transformation following the discovery of a gene responsible for giving insects their waterproof coating. The coating protects them from microbes and environmental stress. An international research team, led by Joanne Yew from the University of Hawaii, Mānoa, identified the ‘spidey’ gene (nicknamed after Spiderman) in vinegar flies. The team hopes that with further study they can bridge the gap to pest species. News reports state that Yew said: “When we knocked out spidey in adult flies, the flies exhibited several striking features: their life span was shortened by about 50 per cent, they lost almost all of their waxy coating and flies frequently got stuck to the sides of the plastic vials and were unable to free themselves.” Vacant property firm Orbis said: “Infestations are incredibly difficult to avoid and once infected, a building can need multiple treatments.” “The ability to remove an insect’s waxy coating could make their control easier and will enhance expert services. This is particularly important news in light of the study Orbis reported on earlier this year, revealing that bed bugs are developing a resistance to insecticides.” Source link
A month ago, the UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson suggested that a bridge across the English Channel would be a great idea. Now, the French company that runs the Channel Tunnel opened the subject to the UK government, writing to UK Prime Minister Theresa May. “The idea of a second fixed link is something that we regularly consider in our long-term plans and we would be delighted to engage with your officials to explore the possibility further,” wrote Eurotunnel Chief Executive Jacques Gounon. “As part of the Treaty of Canterbury and the Concession Agreement which established the Channel Tunnel, Eurotunnel has the right to build the next fixed link.” Even though in the beginning Johnson’s idea of a cross-Channel bridge was dismissed as an economic impossibility and an engineering liability, Eurotunnel seems to be interested in it, even stating they have first rights to build the link. “Building a huge concrete structure in the middle of the world’s busiest shipping lane might come with some challenges,” said the UK Chamber of Shipping. Firstly, the Channel would have to include a suspension bridge able to accommodate 80m high ships, meaning it would need towers more than 500m high, said Wanda Lewis, Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Warwick. A more likely choice seems to be a second tunnel or even a combined bridge and tunnel, as the costs would only be a small fraction of the £120 billion needed for a bridge. The idea was brought forward by Johnson during a discussion with French president Emmanuel Macron, as a way of binding the UK and France after Brexit. However, the developments on the project need to wait until Westminster and Brussels reach a deal on Brexit.
A new sporting facility has just opened at the University of South Wales (USW) Sport Park, located near the University’s Pontypridd Campus in Treforest. The modern sporting facilities include the first full-size indoor 3G football pitch at a university in Wales and one out of three at a UK university. The project and management services on the scheme were delivered by Pick Everard, the leading independent property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy, which completed it in January 2018. “This brand new facility provides the very best in modern sporting facilities for the University and we are proud to have been involved in what is a very important project for USW,” said Mike Petersen, director at Pick Everard’s Cardiff office. “Pick Everard has extensive experience of delivering schemes within the higher education sector, so we understand the importance of high-quality facilities in attracting and retaining the very best students and staff to universities, and that is exactly what this new facility will promote at USW.” The main attraction at the new facility is the indoor full-size 3G football pitch that meets both the FIFA standards for football and the World Rugby standards. Other features include a specialist centre for strength and conditioning with 12 lifting platforms, teaching rooms, changing rooms, and offices. “As the largest provider of football coaching degrees in Europe, being partner with 30 Premier League and English Football League clubs; having plans in place to work closely with the WRU on providing coaching and development qualifications; students providing football coaching in the USA, and further plans to support community initiatives and elite sport teams; this first-class facility will further strengthen USW’s reputation as a leader in sports education,” commented Professor Julie Lydon, USW Vice-Chancellor. Kier Construction built the facility and Atkins designed it. Pick Everard is renowned in Wales as it works with many major organisations including blue chip organisations such as EDF Energy and National Grid, public sector bodies including South Wales Police, Cardiff, Swansea and Aberystwyth Universities, and contractors including Wilmott Dixon and Kier.
Your home is the place you turn to when the busy life outside of it gets a bit too much. For this reason, it should give you a feeling of calm when you enter it, as well as making you more productive and efficient. So how can you make your home even more cosy and relaxing? 1. Lightning More and more people have started using fairy lights to cover their walls because they make the rooms more comfortable and welcoming. It might be time consuming, but it is definitely worth it. The lights can be purchased online or from retailers like Primark, which offers really cheap options. After you’ve installed them on the walls don’t forget to add photos, cards, or anything you have in your house. 2. Warm Metals Moving on into the kitchen, warm metals such as bronze, copper, and rose gold can instantly warm up your house and create a rustic, country feeling. You can hang cutlery or other utensils on kitchen walls, or buy objects made out of these warm metals for your bedroom and bathroom. 3. Textures Textures patterns can give your rooms more depth and dimension, so consider purchasing throws, pillows, rugs, or even a wall hanging. However, textures really do stand out so make sure you feel comfortable with what you choose. 4. Soft Furnishings When you think of the term ‘cosy’ the first things that pop into your head are pillows and blankets, so make sure you have plenty. Use them to cover your bed or sofa, and why not even make your own reading space on a comfy chair with a fluffy pillow and a soft blanket? 5. Fireplace If you are lucky enough to own a fireplace then make sure you light it up more often, because it really makes a space feel cosier. If not, why not invest in an electric one, or, if that is not an option for you, go on YouTube, find a video of burning logs and connect it to your laptop or TV. You can even hear the sound of burning logs, or opt for some classical music.
Vivalda Group plc, the UK’s largest distributor of high performance claddings and off-site fabrication specialist, has called for greater clarity on rain-screen cladding standards in the wake of the Grenfell disaster. Confirming that it will not promote aluminium composite materials (ACM) for use on high-rise applications which fail to reach A2 standard from this month (February 2018). Vivalda is concerned that contractors could inadvertently make unintentional specification errors, given the complexity of the UK’s current safety standards. While the initial report on the likely causes of the Grenfell fire is not expected until spring 2018, shortcomings in the current ‘approved inspector’ regime have created a confusing landscape for contractors. This scenario has been made worse, says Vivalda, by the widespread adoption of complex laboratory tests used by manufacturers to gain approval for so-called safe systems which are impossible to replicate on site. Ben Jayes, managing director of Vivalda Group, says “The issue of fire safety is at the very top of the agenda for contractors right now, but many within the industry are not helping to build confidence in the supply chain. We know of one manufacturer of ACM that put out ambiguous claims relating to how their standard material performs at a high level. But that’s not the whole story. It’s worth remembering that behind every panel lies a complex web of subframes, fixings and fire barriers, none of which this manufacturer is prepared to detail as part of a system. “The poor contractor is on the hook should there be failure in even one minor component, so confidence in the complete system’s performance is vital. Besides, setting up a rig for a lab test is one thing, replicating it on site,18 metres in the air, is quite another.” “We’ve looked closely into this and decided in the best interest of clarity, to promote only ACM products that meet or exceed the gold standard of A2. Despite their best endeavours, many customers could be installing systems that may turn out not to be safe. Thus, we’ve moved to make the task of A2-standard aluminium rain-screen cladding simple – by offering only fully approved claddings and associated fixings.” VivaIda Group has a turnover more than £30m and employs more than 100 people. With a new HQ in Birmingham, the group operates from eight locations across the UK and Ireland. Vivalda was named as one of its ‘1000 Companies to Inspire’ by the London Stock Exchange in 2017
The construction industry faces many challenges. One of these is around delivering projects on time and on budget. Refurbishment projects is one area where accurately predicting cost and time is notoriously difficult as all too often unforeseen factors come into play when a project starts, typically as a result of stripping away part of the building and finding something unexpected. Thermal imaging is one area where technology is helping to overcome this and is now a key part of Sika roof refurbishment offering. Infrared thermography (IRT) and thermal imaging technology detect radiation in the long-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 9,000–14,000 nanometers or 9–14 µm). This produces an image called a thermogram. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero, thermography makes it possible to see an environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature. Therefore, thermography allows you to see variations in temperature. When viewed through a thermal imaging camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds. Thermography has a long history, but its use has increased dramatically with the commercial and industrial applications of the past fifty years. Typical uses include firefighters who use thermography to see through smoke, to find people and to localise the base of a fire. Maintenance technicians use thermography to locate overheating joints and sections of power lines, which are a sign of impending failure. In the construction industry it has been traditionally used to identify heat leaks in faulty thermal insulation and to improve the efficiency of heating and air-conditioning units. Sika has been using thermal imaging technology since 2014. Investment in the technology was driven by the Sales Management Team as a way of adding value to clients. Sika has also invested in me as an individual to become a certified Level 1 thermographer, with training conducted by the world renowned Infrared Training Centre (ITC).
Six years on since the first Solid Wood Solutions (SWS) event, it is back by popular demand this year and will take place on 08 May in London. The event will reflect the swift upward trajectory that materials such as cross laminated timber (CLT) are now on as a sustainable, structural alternative to steel and concrete. The SWS event will shine a spotlight on pioneering projects through informative case studies presented by those who conceived and developed the buildings that are gaining global attention. This event presents a great opportunity to gain insight and network with those who are shaping the future of the engineered timber industry. With CLT reaching the heights of 10-storeys in the UK and up to 18-storeys in Vancouver, Canada with the Brock Commons building at the University of British Columbia, it’s not only tall timber structures that are making the headlines – complex glulam geodesic roof structures are creating outstanding buildings that will form part our architectural heritage for generations to come. As construction makes up a total of 45% of carbon emissions in the UK, sustainability is an important issue for the industry and one that should be addressed throughout every aspect of the build. As a renewable materials the increase use of engineered timber as a core structural component enhances the construction sector’s credentials not only from a sustainable perspective but equally by achieving optimum speed and performance. Traditional building processes are noted to be highly wasteful in terms of materials and figures indicated that around 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction and demolition of buildings. However, CLT, laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and glued laminated timber – as offsite manufactured solutions, can dramatically improve these statistics, producing significantly lower amounts of wastage, due to the factory-controlled methods of ordering and cutting materials to size and recycling far easier to implement in a factory environment. As a rapid, robust and reliable structural solution, CLT delivers many benefits during the construction process and beyond. From reducing loading on foundations through to impressive thermal, acoustic and airtightness performance. Reducing the loading on foundations is particularly important for inner city construction where the underground infrastructure results in loading restrictions and using CLT as a lighter weight robust structural solution, can increase, the amount of storeys in a residential build – offering an increased return on investment. Finally, and most importantly, the design of a building can be critical to the well-being of its occupants. Much has been written about the impact construction can have on the environment but very little on the effect a building can have on its occupants. The influence building materials can have on the comfort and well-being of end users is an area where more research is required and even here, evidence is now emerging about the role CLT can play in enhancing and improving internal environments.
With productivity in the construction sector lagging other sectors, there are hopes that the continued advancement of the fourth industrial revolution (also known as industry 4.0) will spur on innovation and bring forward opportunities to improve efficiency. But is the industry ready for the changes this will inevitably bring? Recent research by Mace has revealed that the construction sector has failed to keep pace with productivity improvements seen in the manufacturing sector over the last 20 years. As a result, the economy has lost out to the tune of around £100bn. This productivity shortfall is making it harder for businesses in the sector to drive profitability. Among the key challenges, is a lengthy period of underinvestment in innovation, digitisation and capital, which has prevented businesses from embracing technological changes. To address this, construction companies must refocus on innovation and invest in finding ways to apply advancing technologies such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence and augmented reality. In fact, innovation activity is already underway globally in areas such as materials science, nanotechnology and robotics with the potential to transform construction methods for housing and infrastructure projects. Among these new innovations is a bricklaying robot, developed by US company Construction Robotics. Protected by a patent in the US, this technology is capable of laying up to 300 bricks per hour, and has recently been made available in the UK, as part of a distributor agreement. It is designed to operate alongside a human mason; assisting with the repetitive and strenuous elements of the task to improve the efficiency of the process. This technology could bring significant productivity gains for many businesses. However, unless construction sector leaders are willing to make the strategic investment necessary to introduce such capabilities, they will not be realised. Another example of innovation within the construction sector, which is patent pending in Europe, is a process for producing a titanium load-bearing structure. Drawing on recent developments in additive manufacturing, this process uses a cold gas to spray titanium particles onto a support member to form a load-bearing structure. This new technological process eliminates intermediate processing steps such as melting, rolling and welding, which may otherwise be needed to produce such a structure. Technological advances are gaining momentum, bringing with them important opportunities to improve productivity and increase margins in an intensely competitive industry. By protecting their intellectual property and investing to license technologies where necessary, businesses in the sector can make sure they are ahead of the pack as the fourth industrial revolution gets underway. For reference: Moving to Industry 4.0: https://www.macegroup.com/perspectives/171027-moving-to-industry-40 By Dave Croston, partner and patent attorney at intellectual property firm, Withers & Rogers. Dave specialises in advising innovators in the advanced engineering sector on how to protect their inventions.
Skills Group is the first training provider in the region of Devon to deliver groundworks apprenticeships due to demand from the construction industry. A total of 179 learners took up the NVQ Level 2 Groundworks apprenticeship, and a further 91 are working towards a Level 3 NVQ apprenticeship in Occupational Work Supervision. The courses were launched 18 months ago by Skills Group and Steve Hoskin Construction Ltd, which recognised a gap in the market. “If you look at the college and university education system you have courses for bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers and tilers, all the classic trades, but there was nothing locally for ground workers,” explained Colin Vout, the Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Manager at Steve Hoskin Construction Ltd. Ground workers are an important part in the preparation process of a construction site, because they are the ones that arrive first on site and prepare everything. “It is their job to put all the roads, drainage and infrastructure in place and build the plots up to damp proof course foundation level. The other trades then come in and build on top of that. If the ground workers do not get it right, nothing else can go right,” said Colin. The apprenticeship provides training for a specialist skill set, as well as giving learners a sense of pride. It is also beneficial for the construction company, because it enables them to demonstrate a particular standard of quality in the training of their groundworks employees. “With so many major building projects across the South West including; Sherford, Millbay, Market Quarter in Holsworthy, and various residential developments in Paignton and Torquay, demand is high for a qualified workforce,” said Mark Boulting, Skills Group managing director. “We are delighted with the uptake and success rate of our groundworks programmes and look forward to it continuing well into the future.”
