KNX UK, the association representing the KNX standard within the UK, has announced the findings of its recent extensive survey into the size and scope of the KNX market in the UK. The results show more than 86% of respondents are anticipating growth in 2017, with 41% expecting more than
House prices in the UK increased by 0.6% in August and are now 5.6% above a year ago, according to the latest index figures to be published. This continued growth takes the average price of a home to £206,145, the data from the Nationwide shows, indicating that an expected fall
The Office for National Statistics is investigating why its statistics are so at variance with the results of industry surveys. In particular, the monthly survey of construction industry purchasing managers conducted by economists at Markit for the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) indicates that the UK construction industry
Leanne Wood, Diversity Creative Interiors Design Director, discusses how focusing on the design detail can help you to avoid building regulations pitfalls in commercial spaces. A beautiful new office space with great furniture, stylish lighting and state-of-the-art equipment can be an inspiring place to work – boosting staff creativity, productivity
This brief article is designed to outline which specific transportation vehicle would be ideal for your moving scenario, and predominantly focuses upon ‘Industrial Plant Relocation’. The phrase itself may sound self-explanatory, and indeed many other such blogs tend to simplify the concept by likening industrial plant relocation to moving house
KNX UK, the association representing the KNX standard within the UK, has announced the findings of its recent extensive survey into the size and scope of the KNX market in the UK. The results show more than 86% of respondents are anticipating growth in 2017, with 41% expecting more than a 10% increase in KNX business. The total size of the KNX market stands at approximately £10m. According to the research, 45% of KNX members expect growth of up to 10% in 2016, with 41% expecting growth of over 10% in 2017. This growth will be driven by an appetite and awareness of the Internet of Things, an increase in knowledge from specifiers and the KNX protocol’s proven strength as a versatile, easy to install solution for commercial and residential building control. 50% of respondents expect the use of the KNX protocol to increase in commercial properties whilst 39% anticipate growth in the use of KNX in residential applications. “The research is hugely positive for companies working with KNX, “comments Iain Gordon, KNX UK President. “This is proof that KNX has an important stake in the UK building controls sector and will continue to build on this presence moving forwards. Exciting market opportunities lie ahead, and as an association we will remain active and supportive of manufacturers, wholesalers, integrators and training establishments seeking to build on this platform.”The KNX standard provides an open, reliable and easy to install approach for controlling lighting, blinds, security, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, (HVAC), water supply and irrigation, energy management, smart metering, fault finding and remote monitoring systems as well as household appliances, audio-video technology and more. Today, over 400 manufacturers develop and supply compatible devices and technologies for over 7,000 certified KNX product groups to a customer base of more than 50,000 KNX certified installers, operating in over 125 countries across the globe. Conducted between January and March 2016, the KNX UK research was carried out by Sigma Research Management Group and surveyed 32 companies working with KNX in the UK. The Association plans to repeat the research in 2017. The complete findings of the research are available free of charge as a member benefit to all KNX UK members. Source link
House prices in the UK increased by 0.6% in August and are now 5.6% above a year ago, according to the latest index figures to be published. This continued growth takes the average price of a home to £206,145, the data from the Nationwide shows, indicating that an expected fall due to Brexit has not yet materialised. The pick up in price growth is somewhat at odds with signs that housing market activity has slowed in recent months, according to Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, saying that this includes a softening of new buyer enquiries to the introduction of additional stamp duty on second homes in April and the uncertainty surrounding the EU referendum. Meanwhile, the number of mortgages approved for house purchase fell to an 18 month low in July. ‘However, the decline in demand appears to have been matched by weakness on the supply side of the market. Surveyors report that instructions to sell have also declined and the stock of properties on the market remains close to 30 year lows,’ Gardner explained. ‘This helps to explain why the pace of house price growth has remained broadly stable. What happens next on the demand side will be determined, to a large extent, by the outlook for the labour market and confidence amongst prospective buyers,’ he pointed out. He believes that it is encouraging that the unemployment rate remained at a 10 year low in the three months to June, though labour market trends tend to lag developments in the wider economy and it is also positive that retail sales increased at a healthy rate in July, up almost 6% compared to the previous year, even though consumer confidence fell sharply during the month. ‘However, business surveys suggest that the manufacturing, services and construction sectors all slowed sharply in July, and, if sustained, this is likely to have a negative impact on the labour market and household confidence,’ he said. ‘Most forecasters, including the Bank of England, expect the economy to show little growth over the remainder of the year. Indeed, these concerns prompted the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to implement a range of stimulus measures at the start of August, which will provide support to economic activity and the housing market. Monetary policy measures will provide some support for households and the housing market,’ Gardner commented. ‘The MPC’s decision to lower UK interest rates from 0.5% to a new low of 0.25% will provide an immediate benefit to many mortgage borrowers, though for most the boost will be fairly modest. The MPC’s stimulus measures will also provide indirect support to the housing market, and not just by boosting wider economic activity,’ he added. According to Nicholas Finn, executive director of Garrington Property Finders, the data reveals a property market that is still unsettled rather than upbeat. ‘On the front line we’re seeing some strong intent but a lack of clarity among buyers. The cut in interest rates and resilient levels of consumer confidence mean there are some determined buyers, especially among those who sat on the fence in the run-up to the Brexit vote,’ he said. ‘There’s a growing sense that this is a buyer’s market with the more bold frequently asking for substantial discounts but many are still being cautious as the dust has yet to settle. August is traditionally a slow month among buyers, but as the summer lull ends there is a good chance that momentum will pick up,’ he explained. ‘Crucially, sellers have battened down the hatches rather than abandoned ship. Price growth has eased, and among the top tiers of the market, prices have returned to more genuine market levels. Buyers who had been waiting for the post-Brexit slump to bottom out should act fast, or they risk missing the boat,’ he added. Russell Quirk, chief executive officer of eMoov, believes that the housing market is in a stronger position than it was in August 2015 and he believes that with the school holidays now over the market will kick it up a gear in September. Even more optimistic is Rob Weaver, director of investments at property crowdfunding platform Property Partner, who thinks it is increasingly likely that the predicted collapse of the property market post-Brexit may not happen. ‘The property market has stood up to a strong headwind of political and economic uncertainty, and prices haven’t collapsed as many said they would after the UK voted to leave the EU. The sheer lack of supply has counterbalanced the fall in demand over the summer months,’ he said. ‘There have been seasonal, political and Stamp Duty related reasons for the fall in demand, but the extreme lack of supply has evened things out. The interest rate cut earlier in the month has given the market a confidence boost and eased any post-Brexit jitters. The jobs market has remained strong so far but its performance between now and the New Year will be crucial,’ he explained. ‘It’s still too early to know what the full impact of Brexit will be on the housing market but for the time being, property prices are showing a degree of resilience. If the Bank of England’s chief economist says that owning property is a better bet than a pension, that’s a vote of confidence for the stability of the property market. At the very least it reinforces how many people gravitate towards bricks and mortar in times of economic or political uncertainty,’ he pointed out. ‘Moreover, the government is readying a multi-billion pound package to support housebuilding and stimulate the economy, which demonstrates the importance of the housing market, and further strengthens its longer term prospects,’ he added. Graham Davidson, managing director of Sequre Property Investment, also believes that continued house price growth is further proof, if needed, that the referendum announcement has done little to curb growth. ‘The market is in good health overall, boosted by the recent Bank of England interest rate drop which has helped, however modestly, those on tracker mortgages, including buy to let
The Office for National Statistics is investigating why its statistics are so at variance with the results of industry surveys. In particular, the monthly survey of construction industry purchasing managers conducted by economists at Markit for the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) indicates that the UK construction industry has now grown every month for the past 35 months. But according to the government’s own Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, also based on sample surveys, construction output has been much more up and down, falling in May 2015, November 2015, January 2016 and February 2016. In fact, in May 2015 the industry was officially in recession, according to ONS economists. The ONS has now produced a report* comparing its own data with the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) produced by Markit/CIPS. ONS says that “the Markit’s PMI is the more timely estimate, but our slower release of data enables us to provide a more comprehensive coverage of the industry”. It adds: “There are clear conceptual differences between the underlying methodologies of the two measures that make a direct comparison very difficult but, post 2013, both show an underlying upwards trend for output in the construction industry.” ONS said that it would now explore the differences further to determine why the ONS headline and Markit PMI month-on-month measures have diverged so much since 2013. In particular, it is going to explore the relative weighting given to the responses of different sized firms in each survey. It is also going to “take a wider look” at other sentiment surveys on the construction industry, such as the state of trade survey published by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). * Output in the Construction Industry: A comparison of construction output and Market CIPS data […click to view] ONS Monthly Business Survey month on month diffusion index compared with Markit construction PMI, 2010 to 2015 Great Britain (MBS), UK (PMI) Source: Office for National Statistics Further Images This article was published on 18 Apr 2016 (last updated on 18 Apr 2016). Source link
Leanne Wood, Diversity Creative Interiors Design Director, discusses how focusing on the design detail can help you to avoid building regulations pitfalls in commercial spaces. A beautiful new office space with great furniture, stylish lighting and state-of-the-art equipment can be an inspiring place to work – boosting staff creativity, productivity and not least the feel-good factor. However, renovation is a time-consuming and costly business and companies always aim to keep staff downtime and disruption to an absolute minimum. The last thing the manager of a busy workplace needs to hear once their staff are settled at shiny new workstations is that the business is in breach of building regulations. As well as having to start from scratch, you could face a fine or even prosecution. So, what can you do to ensure you don’t run into any problems? Keep reading to find out more. Make building regulations a key part of the design process Building regulations are minimum standards for the design, construction or alteration of almost any building. They are designed to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings. Diversity Creative Interiors work with clients from the very beginning of any refurbishment or renovation project to ensure this crucial aspect of design detail is spot on. Planning permission and compliance with building regulations are always given absolute priority in the design process. Leanne says: “Getting the basics right at the very start of a project is fundamental to its success. Cutting corners to race ahead and save money can be false economy and have disastrous implications longer term.” “We work on the client’s behalf to ensure that renovation plans adhere to building regulations from the offset. At Diversity Creative Interiors we manage the whole process from start to finish, working closely with local authorities. This gives our clients peace of mind that their project has the building regulations stamp of approval.” Having worked in the industry for eight years, Leanne finds that the same stumbling blocks come up time after time when clients want to renovate a commercial space. For example, building stud walls are great for partitioning and re-allocation of space, but they can create building regulations problems. The fitter must consider a raft of issues such as ventilation – as you are creating a new room you must take into account the need for adequate ventilation in the new space you have created. Fire safety and soundproofing are also frequently overlooked when constructing a stud wall. For example, it is important to use fire-resistant plasterboard, and you must ensure there are suitable escape routes and that the new wall does not block access. The other issue with building new stud walls is overcrowding the space with too many desks and too much furniture. Leanne adds: “You may have a beautiful new office, but the space may not be functional or safe. And, it might not meet building regulations or work effectively for the staff actually using the space.” Disabled access and fire safety are often overlooked in renovations Appropriate access for disabled users is another area this is often overlooked at the start of the design process. Designs often fail to allow for the 1500mm turning circle required for wheelchairs, and there must be room for movement between corridors, desks with chairs pulled out, and also within disabled toilets and doors. Additionally, if someone using a wheelchair is working at first floor level, having enough fire doors between a fire and where the person is located is critical. Provision must be made to ensure the person can wait safely until the fire brigade can extinguish the fire or help the person get out of the building. General fire safety is often not given enough consideration, despite being a key part of building regulations. Renovators must design in signage, extinguishers and correctly-located smoke alarms as well as clearly indicating exit routes. Protect period detail in older properties Older properties are most often in need of renovation. And, if you’re working on the renovation of an older property, attention needs to be paid to preserving and protecting the building’s period details. Removing period details can destroy the character and the market value of a property. In period property refurbishments it is worth observing the techniques and materials used in the building’s original construction. Always try and repair, or replace sympathetically, on a like-for-like basis. If you do this, conservation is both cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly. If they are still intact, you can preserve internal original doors, floorboards, fireplaces and plaster mouldings. It is also important to remember that features are not always purely decorative, but often have a practical and structural purpose. Removal may only necessitate an alternative solution. You should also keep in mind that work involving drainage, heat-producing appliances, cavity wall insulation and electrics generally requires approval. So, for your peace of mind, to ensure the wellbeing of your workforce, and to keep on the right side of building regulations, Diversity Creative Interiors advise that you start with the basics. If you’re embarking on a renovation project in a commercial space, build on these common sense and solid foundations. For further advice or to discuss you project visit www.diversitycreativeinteriors.co.uk or call 0115 967 3767.
This brief article is designed to outline which specific transportation vehicle would be ideal for your moving scenario, and predominantly focuses upon ‘Industrial Plant Relocation’. The phrase itself may sound self-explanatory, and indeed many other such blogs tend to simplify the concept by likening industrial plant relocation to moving house – but on a larger scale. However, this analogy does not capture the complexity of the operation. Industrial plant relocation is an incredibly complex process involving expensive machinery, and potentially dangerous objects if not handled correctly. In order to smoothly and successfully carry out this transition one will need high quality specialist equipment, operated by industry professionals. In the following paragraphs we have carefully selected examples of such equipment and highlighted their specific uses. The Liebherr LTM 1100-5.2 An innovative and global leader in mobile crane technology, the Liebherr LTM 1100-5.2 is an extremely useful transportation vehicle to deploy during your plant relocation. Firstly, it has the obvious advantage of being a mobile crane – which means more than mere mobility: a mobile crane takes less time to set-up than a tower crane. Meaning if you are on a strict schedule for your industrial plant relocation, the Leibherr LTM 1100-5.2 can be quickly utilised and works well in a compact space. The optimisation of space will prove vital on a site in the midst of relocation, what’s more, this mobile, compact crane can lift up to 100 tonnes on its 52 metre telescopic boom – making this mobile crane one of the most versatile pieces of equipment available to heavy machine movers in the UK. The Spierings SK599-AT5 If your needs are somewhat smaller, then the Spierings SK599-AT5 may well be the ideal crane to assist your relocation. An extremely compact mobile tower crane, the Spierings has a tower height of 34.6 metres and can lift up to 9 tonnes – one of the major advantages of this crane is its ability to operate not just in extremely tight spaces, but also at half its tower height if necessary. A more compact option, which will no doubt prove especially useful for relocations that consist of lighter loads in smaller spaces. The Versa-lift 25-35 Chart Of course, cranes are not the only means of heavy lifting, and cannot reach every area in your current plant layout – the Versa-lift 25-35 provides an effective solution for transportation in tight quarters, usually within a warehouse itself. The Versa-lift carries up to 25,000 lbs with its base retracted or up to 35,000 lbs with its base extended. As well as being ideal for reaching congested areas cranes wouldn’t have access to, the Versa-lift is (as its name implies) incredibly versatile and would be useful for scenarios on a scale smaller than industrial plant relocation, such as the moving of heavy gym equipment – a service many professional machine movers offer. To Summarise… We highly recommend you enlist the services of professional machine movers when undertaking large scale industrial relocation projects, relying solely on in house equipment and staff could potentially cause unnecessary strain on resources, and possibly incur further costs that specialist equipment (like the examples above) could have otherwise saved.
