Another plumber has been given a suspended prison sentence for carrying out gas fitting work while not on the Gas Safe Register. With two such cases in the past two weeks, it is clear the courts are offering no leniency to those who ignore the gas safety regulations. The latest
The ECA, Voltimum and the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA) have released a short survey for electrotechnical manufacturers on their use of BIM objects. The survey coincides with the government’s BIM Level 2 commitment coming into force this week, which mandates its use in all Whitehall procurement, worth billions of
The Brick Development Association (BDA) has reported that UK production is continuing to increase in line with demand. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics, brick deliveries in August 2016 were 8.9% higher than they were in August 2015. The seasonally adjusted figures also show a month-on-month
Kenny McDonald from DM Hall, one of Scotland’s largest firms of independent chartered surveyors, has shared his view on the best time for landlords and tenants to get advice on dilapidations claims. The leased used to formalise the agreement between the landlord and its tenant must have a clear and
Energy Assets Group, one of the UK’s leading independent metering services, asset management and utility network construction companies, has appointed Margaret Maclean as the Head of HR and Compliance. This new role has been created to support the company’s growth plans and is recognition that Energy Assets places people and
Expanding Possibilities – Today’s manufacturing solutions have totally changed the game when it comes to production and operational optimization. A lot of this has to do with technology. The factory itself is a somewhat modern innovation. The industrialization of the 19th century led eventually to assembly-line production in the 20th
Hiab, part of Cargotec, has won a coveted ‘Archie’ trophy at the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Annual Awards for Excellence for its industry-leading approach to reducing the noise associated with out-of-hours deliveries. The award recognised the benefits achieved when Hiab’s customer Pets at Home switched to a fleet of
One Crown Place, a major new mixed-use scheme in London’s EC2, developed by Malaysian infrastructure conglomerate AlloyMtd Group, has today launched sales in its ‘South Residences’ for the first time. A selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments are now available to buy, with prices starting from £788,000. First
The measurement of water quality is critical in many different industries including food and beverage, water and wastewater, oil and gas and chemical along with many others. It can be important to understand and record the levels of various parameters and also control the level of chemicals in a solution.
UZIN has been chosen by the Leighton Hospital, part of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) to help rebuild a Critical Care and Theatre facility. The facility received a £25.2 million in funding for its refurbishment, which includes durable flooring that would be able to withstand heavy footfall and
Another plumber has been given a suspended prison sentence for carrying out gas fitting work while not on the Gas Safe Register. With two such cases in the past two weeks, it is clear the courts are offering no leniency to those who ignore the gas safety regulations. The latest case concerns Christopher Dignam, trading as Blue Flame Plumbing & Heating Services in the Manchester area. He advertised in local publications showing a Gas Safe Register logo and a fake registration number. He is not, and has never been, registered. Work carried out by him was also found to be faulty. Dignam, who lives in Middleton, pleaded guilty to two breaches of Regulations 3(3), and for breaching 3(7) and 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to 12 months custody, suspended for two years. He was ordered to pay £460 and £400 compensation to two homeowners as well as £3,000 costs. His case comes a week after Walsall plumber Alan Nicholas Price was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, for carrying out work without being registered. And last month a Darlington man was jailed for 18 months for pretending to be a Gas Safe engineer and signing official records in the name of a legitimate gas engineer. This article was published on 23 Jun 2016 (last updated on 23 Jun 2016). Source link
The ECA, Voltimum and the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA) have released a short survey for electrotechnical manufacturers on their use of BIM objects. The survey coincides with the government’s BIM Level 2 commitment coming into force this week, which mandates its use in all Whitehall procurement, worth billions of pounds each year. The survey, which takes just a couple of minutes to complete, is entirely confidential. Please complete the survey here. Source link
The Brick Development Association (BDA) has reported that UK production is continuing to increase in line with demand. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics, brick deliveries in August 2016 were 8.9% higher than they were in August 2015. The seasonally adjusted figures also show a month-on-month increase of 5.5% and a year-to-date increase of 1.3% on the same period last year. Similarly, figures released by the National House Building Council a year-on-year increased of 20% in new home registrations in August. BDA chief executive Keith Aldis, who started in this job only last week, said: “Following the government’s announcement that a £3bn Home Building Fund will be introduced, these distribution figures reinforce confidence across our membership. The industry is geared up to respond to changing market dynamics and is equipped to meet immediate demand.” This article was published on 10 Oct 2016 (last updated on 10 Oct 2016). Source link
Kenny McDonald from DM Hall, one of Scotland’s largest firms of independent chartered surveyors, has shared his view on the best time for landlords and tenants to get advice on dilapidations claims. The leased used to formalise the agreement between the landlord and its tenant must have a clear and concise context that represents the requirements of the parties. Prior to entering into any lease agreement, it is important for the tenant to seek advice from an experienced building surveyor to minimise risk and avert potential claims. The state of the premises at the commencement of the lease can have significant bearing on dilapidations claims, especially because tenants have a common misconception that they are not obliged to repair, maintain or replace building components or landlord’s fixtures that were in poor condition at the outset of their tenancy. An experienced surveyor will be able recognise the merits and deficiencies of a lease and put this in context for their respective clients. Most commercial leases will ask the tenant to ‘put the premises into repair or keep in repair’, which obliges the tenant to maintain it to a prescribed standard, often “good and substantial or good and tenantable condition, irrespective of the cause of damage”. However, the standard of repair can be varied within the lease by a Schedule of Condition, most often in favour of the tenant, often requiring the tenant to return the premises in “no better or no worse condition” than evidenced in the schedule of condition. Tenants should also be aware that any alterations or additions made to the demised premises will be subject to the same repairing obligations as that of the existing premises. Tenant fixtures and landlord fixtures are usually treated differently at the end of a lease; therefore the expertise of a building surveyor is beneficial for both parties, especially at the end of the lease term. Once appointed the surveyor will be able to make an assessment of the type of service required and provide strategic advice to the client. This advice can be invaluable in minimising risk prior to the commencement of a lease for landlord and tenant alike. At lease end, the appointment of a chartered building surveyor can be the difference between a good and bad outcome for the client.
Energy Assets Group, one of the UK’s leading independent metering services, asset management and utility network construction companies, has appointed Margaret Maclean as the Head of HR and Compliance. This new role has been created to support the company’s growth plans and is recognition that Energy Assets places people and culture at the heart of organisational success. Margaret will be reporting directly to the Chief Executive and she is bringing to the company over 20 years of senior management experience in human resources and finance across multiple sectors, including working as Assistant Chief Executive for a successful employability organisation. “Energy Assets has grown significantly in recent years organically and through acquisition, so this is a great time to be joining the company and to play a role in shaping a culture that will drive business success. I will be accountable directly to the Chief Executive, which speaks volumes for the value that Energy Assets places on harnessing the potential of its people,” said Margaret Maclean. “Margaret brings the skills we need to ensure that governance, culture and the development of our people are all aligned as we plan for further growth. We now have an executive team in place that is balanced and diverse, sharing values that will shape our future success,” commented on the appointment Colin Lynch, Energy Assets Chief Executive. Energy Assets Group offers utility suppliers, developers, contractors and industrial and commercial end-users a broad spectrum of expert multi-utility metering and energy-related services, including the provision and management of new and replacement meters through its Meter Asset Management division; design and construction of multi-utility networks; OFGEM approved local energy network (final mile) ownership and management; full MOP, MAP DC/DA & AMR data management services; and holistic downstream and upstream utility network engineering support, including complex meter module design and build.
Expanding Possibilities – Today’s manufacturing solutions have totally changed the game when it comes to production and operational optimization. A lot of this has to do with technology. The factory itself is a somewhat modern innovation. The industrialization of the 19th century led eventually to assembly-line production in the 20th century. From there, computerization began to dominate production until robotic machines were designed to replace manual labour. This cut down the expenses drastically, and brought about a new era of operational design regarding production solutions. Computer technology wasn’t finished providing innovation, though. The Internet of things, or IoT, has come to revitalize manufacturing and reduced expenses. In fact, when it comes to designing things and producing things, the industrial application of IoT has a new name: IIoT, for Industrial Internet of Things. Part of IIoT involves optimization solutions that have led to more precise components manufacturing. Modernity – Prototyping can now be done with the kind of accuracy that would have been too costly to achieve in the past. Substantial brain power from a dedicated team of vetted professionals working overtime was needed for what can now be done with a click of the mouse. Today, there are a lot of solutions for prototyping — Weiss-Aug offers a vetted process that is material and process efficient, with reliable repeatability while reducing costs at the same time. Using such modern methods of design and implementation, you can cut the costs of prototype production expansively—on the front-end and the back-end. The thing is, bad prototypes aren’t as useful in designing a final product. Prototypes are becoming more and more necessary. When the prototype can be done right the first time, time is saved as is money. Cloud Computing Considerations – Another piece of technology that is changing operations is cloud computing. Cloud computing solutions basically “float” a network through the “middlemen” of an MSP so that liability rests on the cloud computing service provider. Additionally, processing power, storage, and BDR (Backup and Data Recovery) are better provided via cloud. There are a host of applications which come from cloud computing solutions, one of the most useful being infrastructural management. Via cloud, automated systems can keep track of employees and even allow for remote work. BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device, and enables employees to work from wherever they have internet connectivity. This isn’t going to be useful for many internal operational needs of a factory, but it could be very useful for regions of sales and infrastructural facilitation. Customer service, accounts managing, etc.—these don’t necessarily require the space or personal presence of employees to be successfully accomplished, allowing for a more streamlined production floor. Comprehensive Solutions – Today, the number of personnel on a given floor can be substantively reduced, saving thousands. One man can do the job it would have required ten to do previously, because automated machines can be monitored via IoT. Time sheets can additionally save a lot of money for factory production floors, as they’re easier to manage and provide a greater expositional view of hours worked between employees. When it comes to using time sheets, you want to condense them in order to have fewer to keep track of. Between time-sheets, IoT, prototyping solutions, and cloud computing, more can be done with less cost and greater productivity than it was previously been possible.
Hiab, part of Cargotec, has won a coveted ‘Archie’ trophy at the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Annual Awards for Excellence for its industry-leading approach to reducing the noise associated with out-of-hours deliveries. The award recognised the benefits achieved when Hiab’s customer Pets at Home switched to a fleet of Hiab’s MOFFETT E-Series forklifts, the world’s first electric-powered truck-mounted fork lift trucks. This recognition by the FLTA follows hot on the heels of the project winning a Quiet Logistics accolade at the Noise Abatement Society’s John Connell Awards. With 80% of Pets at Home’s weekly 1,400 store deliveries being carried out after 8pm, the retailer needed to find a solution to noise complaints that it was receiving from residents located close to some of its stores across England. Working with Hiab, Pets at Home began a six-month trial of a MOFFETT E-Series as it was the noise from the retailer’s diesel-powered forklifts that residents were complaining about. Steve Travis, General Manager for Transport at Pets at Home, described the MOFFETT E-Series as a “total game-changer” as it enabled the retailer to return to scheduling its fleet at the most economic time of day, “saving money on fuel, reducing our carbon footprint, and no longer being a nuisance to our neighbours”. During the trial, the drivers reported that that MOFFETT was just as “up-to-the-job” and just as “user-friendly” as its diesel counterpart, and there was plenty of charge-time to enable through-the-night multi-drop deliveries. “Demands from our customers and technology advancements are driving Hiab to provide environmentally-friendly emission-free products,” said Barry McGrane, Sales Director, Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab. Hiab’s desire to ‘become the number one partner, shaping and inspiring the industry’ is highlighted in the development of the MOFFETT E-Series. “By working closely with our customers, we know they are facing a tougher and more demanding load-handling environment with tougher emission regulations. Legislation is demanding it, and our customers’ customers want it. Our MOFFETT E-Series range of truck-mounted forklifts go a long way to solving this problem.” Rogier van der Linde, Managing Director, Hiab UK & Ireland, added: “More and more people are moving to the cities – urbanisation is happening at a fast pace, so we all have a role to play in thinking in a more sustainable way and finding solutions to the challenges of delivering in urban environments. At Hiab, we respond to these needs with solutions like the MOFFETT E-series and HIAB loader cranes that are powered electrically by a plug-in-system (ePTO), which means that they can be operated when the truck engine is switched off. These solutions make our customers more productive, eco efficient and increase the window of opportunity for their business.”
One Crown Place, a major new mixed-use scheme in London’s EC2, developed by Malaysian infrastructure conglomerate AlloyMtd Group, has today launched sales in its ‘South Residences’ for the first time. A selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments are now available to buy, with prices starting from £788,000. First residents will move into the completed development in late 2020. Embracing the old-meets-new character of the City and Hackney, One Crown Place is a welcome contrast to the capital’s many glass towers, artfully combining original heritage buildings with striking modern architecture from Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF). Boasting spectacular views of the City of London, this initial release of apartments are spread across four floors and located in the development’s south-facing residential building, which spans 33-storeys. It has also been revealed today that all one and two-bedroom residences, designed by renowned interiors firm Bowler James Brindley, will benefit from bespoke kitchens and wardrobes developed together with acclaimed Italian design leader B&B Italia and its Arclinea kitchen brand. A fully engineered solution has been developed by Bowler James Brindley and the Arclinea and B&B Italia design teams uniquely for this development, providing a custom product with quality levels unseen before in a development of this type. Each apartment provides residents with flexible living through clever zoning, offering a series of light-filled spaces that are warm but contemporary, industrial yet glamorous. Carefully conceived design details include the refined pairing of natural marble and brass in the bathroom and the oak herringbone flooring which runs throughout the apartments linking and creating flow to the spaces. Located just three minutes by foot from Liverpool Street Station and Crossrail, which will open in December 2018, Tech City, Spitalfields Market, Shoreditch, Bank and the Barbican can also be reached within 10 minutes’ walk of the scheme. One Crown Place will provide residents with a world-class suite of amenities which have been designed by Studio Ashby, promoting a shared sense of community, alongside more private spaces for down-time. These include a state-of-the-art gymnasium, a private dining room, residential lounge, cinema room, treatment room, studio and a sensory roof terrace. The development will deliver a total of 246 private apartments, including a fully restored Georgian terrace which will be transformed into a 42-room luxury hotel operated by Bespoke Hotels – this will feature a destination restaurant alongside private members’ club with exclusive access for residents. There is also 140,000 sq ft of premium office space on site and retail units totalling 7,000 sq ft. AlloyMtd Group Chief Executive Officer, Tee Kim Siew said: “We are excited to be able to introduce our South Residences to the market for the first time. With stunning south-facing views over the capital, these apartments will form an integral part of our vision at One Crown Place to create a lively new lifestyle-led destination for Londoners.” Global property firm CBRE was appointed by AlloyMtd Group in 2015 to act as development manager, to sell the site’s 246 private apartments and lease 140,000 sq ft of commercial space. Henry Robinson, Development Manager, CBRE, said: “We are proud to be associated with AlloyMtd Group as it is creating something truly special at One Crown Place – and this initial release of new homes in our southernmost building is an important moment for the team. Drawing on KPF’s modern architecture which combines beautifully with heritage buildings on-site, the design of these apartments takes inspiration from the local area and its rich and colourful history. Our partnership with B&B Italia also provides buyers with some of the highest specification kitchens available in the market.”
The measurement of water quality is critical in many different industries including food and beverage, water and wastewater, oil and gas and chemical along with many others. It can be important to understand and record the levels of various parameters and also control the level of chemicals in a solution. Bell Flow Systems were approached to provide a solution to monitor the level of chloride in a stream and to transmit this data to control dosing to maintain a set concentration. Using equipment manufactured by Electro Chemical Devices we were able to provide a chloride sensor married with a digital transmitter offering an accurate, reliable and user friendly package. The T80 transmitter has been designed as a universal transmitter to accept various different sensors for pH, ORP, dissolved oxygen, specific ion, conductivity or resistivity measurement and has two channels to simultaneously measure two different parameters. The transmitter allowed the user to read the measured values, which could be viewed graphically, as a percentage of the 4-20mA scaling or as the measured value and also to use a 4-20mA output to control the dosing and maintain an accurate chloride concentration. Relay outputs are also used to trigger alarms when specified values were reached. The transmitter also offers Modbus, and HART communications making this a versatile unit for many industrial applications. The simple menu structure and easy to read LCD display makes this very user friendly and an attractive choice for clients. S80 sensors are being produced in many configurations from various housing materials, cable lengths and process connections. They are also available as insertion or immersion styles for use in pipes or in in the end of a stand pipe for immersion into a tank or pond. Using a stainless steel body with hygienic tri-clamp flange connections allow this system to be fitted into the pipework – maintaining the sanitary conditions of the application. Further benefits of the S80 sensor include the detachable cable for easy fitting and maintenance and also the replaceable electrode cartridge to simply replace when the cartridge is at the end of its life or for a change of application, therefore reducing cost of ownership. For more information visit www.bellflowsystems.co.uk
UZIN has been chosen by the Leighton Hospital, part of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) to help rebuild a Critical Care and Theatre facility. The facility received a £25.2 million in funding for its refurbishment, which includes durable flooring that would be able to withstand heavy footfall and traffic load for the predictable future. What UZIN did was rectifying a long lasting issue involving a failing floor before supplying a suitable system for the new building and many other refurbishment projects. The floor supplier worked in collaboration with iFloor to meet all the specific requirements and overcome any challenges that might arise during the project. In total, UZIN installed over 15,000 m2 of flooring without any issues, enabling the MCHFT facility to improve the quality and safety of patient care. Following the success of the project, UZIN continued to work on all further flooring refurbishments for the subfloor. “The new flooring has helped breathe new life into the facilities which have been refurbished. The finish and look of the flooring materials are first class and I can testify to their durability,” commented Paul Swindells, Senior Capital Project Manager, Estates & Facilities Division at MCHFT. UZIN has an experience of over 100 years and it provides the UK’s flooring professionals with ecological, innovative and high quality products and solutions, from new installations to renovation of all types of floor coverings. Its whole range consists of practical products and solutions for today’s flooring contractors, including smoothing compounds, adhesives, and damp proofing systems. UZIN offers a range of products for all types of flooring requirements, from low emission and eco-friendly products to switchTec® adhesive technology for quick refurbishments. In addition, they also provide a selection of products which can be used on 90% of all flooring installation. The company is committed to investments into basic research, product development, product safety, and application technology.