WISE, the campaign for gender balance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), carried out a research that showed the UK is on track to have 1 million women working in core STEM roles by 2020. There are over 900,000 women working in STEM currently and an estimated 200,000 women
It is not just the actual fitness equipment that is vital for fitness and the comfort of your clients when they are working towards their fitness goals. Just as important is ensuring the flooring for each area is right for specific training areas, getting the right specialist flooring will help
The Scottish Building Contract Committee (SBCC) has elected Alan Wilson, acting managing director of SELECT, the trade body for the electro-technical trade in Scotland, to be its Vice Chair. The election took place at SBCC’s AGM on the 7th of November. “It’s a great honour to our organisation, as well
Demand for housing in the UK’s capital has never been higher, as such there are a number of development projects underway. A major development project taking place along the River Thames will see a collection of high-quality and it is PRS & affordable rent built incorporating modern mechanical, electrical and
Any contractor that will get appointed to the stalled Midland Metropolitan hospital project in Sandwell will have to adhere to the requirements that have been set out by construction union Unite. Originally planned to become operational this month, the hospital project has been stalled since the main contractor Carillion collapsed
Global independent inspection expert Bureau Veritas has announced the strategic appointment of building control veteran, Dave Allen, who will head up the business’ construction-focused division. As business unit director, Dave will lead the 80-strong team across the building control, fire engineering, structural and construction management disciplines. The move comes at
A showcase campus has enabled three schools to co-locate, while also providing a showpiece for a trio of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, including TechZone™, the industry’s first easy-to-specify-and-install ceiling acoustic solution with integrated technical services. The new state-of-the-art Balloch Campus in West Dunbartonshire features three highly acoustic Armstrong Ceiling Solutions throughout
Since we experienced the economic recession, work and productivity within the construction industry had slowly increased. Thought, as productivity increases, so does the competition; more construction companies compete for work so firms need to make sure that they are acquiring the right equipment for the right job at a competitive
The kitchen is often the heart of the home and commonly one of the most social and functional spaces. Kitchens are no longer simply a space for preparing and cooking food, they are often a social and work area too. Whilst a kitchen’s style, look and feel is defined by
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
WISE, the campaign for gender balance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), carried out a research that showed the UK is on track to have 1 million women working in core STEM roles by 2020. There are over 900,000 women working in STEM currently and an estimated 200,000 women with STEM qualifications will reach working age within the next 2 years. The news was announced at WISE 2018 Awards presented by the Patron of WISE, HRH The Princess Royal. WISE’s annual Awards recognise inspiring individuals and organisations who are actively working to promote STEM to girls and women and drive change. Costain, Network Rail, EDF Energy, and BAM Nuttall were among some of the companies who collected Awards. “We need UK employers to do more and follow the great example of our Award winners who are leading the way. They have managed to get more women into engineering and technology, removed barriers preventing women moving up through the ranks and seen the benefits of doing so in terms of improved business performance. The great news is that there are more women than ever before coming onto the labour market with engineering and technology qualifications. If employers manage to recruit just half of these women, the UK will have achieved a major milestone,” explained Helen Wollaston, Chief Executive Officer for WISE. WISE also wants to see an increase in the proportion of girls choosing maths, physics, computer science and engineering, as well as making it easier for women who did not study these subjects at school, college or university, to obtain the relevant qualifications later in life. “A girl studying A level electronics told WISE recently that she feels her generation is on the cusp of finding new and better ways of creating things – in a sustainable way. Science and engineering and tech are fundamental to the future of the planet, we need women to take their rightful place in creating that new future,” concluded Helen at the end of the evening.
It is not just the actual fitness equipment that is vital for fitness and the comfort of your clients when they are working towards their fitness goals. Just as important is ensuring the flooring for each area is right for specific training areas, getting the right specialist flooring will help clients and customers get even more from their work out, and encourage them to keep coming back. Gyms are expected these days to offer a huge range of activities to suit all their clients’ needs and workout styles. In fact being able to offer more services to clients will keep your gym ahead of the game in a very competitive market. And the same type of flooring is not appropriate for each exercise. Strategize each dedicated workout zone and then select the appropriate flooring Different workouts have very different flooring requirements, and so you will need to divide the gym into dedicated zones for the activity. As an example, you might pick flooring for your cardio and cycling area that can support the machinery, such as rowing machines, exercise bikes and treadmills, and will need high resistance and anti-slip functionality. Whereas the heavyweight’s area will have to be highly durable and resistant to damage, especially as this area is very often subject to many dropped weights as clients push themselves towards their goals. In addition, you will want to diffuse the noise and vibrations to not disturb the yoga class, this becomes even more significant if the heavy weights area is on the upper floor. Then there is the areas of high traffic, corridors, reception areas and so on. The high volume of footfall needs to be durable and easy to clean. And for the wet areas, shower rooms, changing areas, pool and saunas, for example, you need to have the most hygienic and anti-slip which is very major but not necessary for the acoustic reduction properties. Specialise the equipment free zones as well for the best use For the area reserved typically for group-x classes are usually highly active classes which need ease of movement across the floor but also be, Non-slip and durable. However, rubber flooring you would use in other areas wouldn’t work. On the other hand for martial arts, where participants are often falling and exercise barefoot, you would then want to consider a different type of flooring, perhaps even changeable flooring for areas that require dual use. Something such as tatami flooring you can ensure reduced impact and excellent grip for the feet. This is vital for the safety of the participants to avoiding injury while practising karate, judo or kung fu. For some exercises, you may even want to consider some kind of thermal insulation. This would be ideal for exercises for balance, meditation, yoga and tai chi – but almost certainly would not be welcome in some of the other gym areas! Not just a floor, Prama makes the floor part of the fun of exercise Gamifying exercise is one of the hottest trends to work out, especially for those wanting to get the whole family involved in a healthier way of life – and one of the best new ways to do this is through the Prama system. It makes exercise interactive, becoming a cross between a disco, a playground and a gym. The touch-sensitive floor, the lighting and the music are all timed to be truly immersive, it can be set to different patterns to suit every fitness levels of all ages and fitness. This is vital for reaching new audiences and members for your gym. And it is exclusively available from Pavigym, the sole manufacturer of floors particularly dedicated to the fitness industry. Pavigym Gym Flooring has the knowledge and experience to design and create floors for gyms across the world. So it comes to you for designing your gym, by making sure you speak to the experts.
The Scottish Building Contract Committee (SBCC) has elected Alan Wilson, acting managing director of SELECT, the trade body for the electro-technical trade in Scotland, to be its Vice Chair. The election took place at SBCC’s AGM on the 7th of November. “It’s a great honour to our organisation, as well as to our sister body, the Scottish Engineering Contractors Group, (SECG), to have been elected as Vice Chair of SBCC,” said Alan Wilson. Until now its office bearers have been drawn from the membership of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). “We have worked closely for some years with SELECT and SECG and have a high regard for their professionalism and abilities. In our view, the election of Alan to be our new Vice Chair is a timely and appropriate development reflecting our due acknowledgement of his organisation,” commented Chair of the SBCC, Lisa Cattanach, a chartered surveyor who is also a director of Glasgow-based Contract Dispute Resolution. Lisa’s first official role as chair of the SBCC was to host a very successful annual conference which was held in the Merchants House in Glasgow on Wednesday the 14th of November. “We had an outstanding lineup of speakers, including Professor John Cole of Queen’s University, Belfast, who delivered a very thought provoking State of the Nation address, in which he focussed on the findings of two independent enquiries of industry-wide significance established to address major issues of building quality,” said Lisa about the conference. The SBCC, whose role is to provide definitive guidance on building contracts and construction law in Scotland, was founded in the 1960s. SELECT’s 1250-member companies account for around 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland. They have a collective turnover of around £1 billion and provide employment for 15,000 people.
Demand for housing in the UK’s capital has never been higher, as such there are a number of development projects underway. A major development project taking place along the River Thames will see a collection of high-quality and it is PRS & affordable rent built incorporating modern mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services. Parker Bromley, the building services contractor on the site, has specified Spelsberg’s innovative IBT system of junction boxes. Parker Bromley is a well established, family owned business specialising in MEP systems. As part of the London development project it has been tasked to deliver embedded MEP solutions including heat recovery (MVHR), smoke ventilation and fire alarm systems as well as an ‘Energy Centre’ to service each apartment block. It was tasked with minimizing installation time to help keep the overall development project to deadline. Jody Parker, Director at Parker Bromley, explains the challenges involved: “Concrete construction is a fast, effective and aesthetic method for building apartment blocks such as the ones being built here. However, when casting panels onsite it is important that considerations are made for the necessary wiring and electrical connections. We chose to specify Spelsberg’s IBT system of junction boxes, which fit to the metal formwork before the concrete is poured. When the concrete is set and the formwork removed, the face of the IBT housing is visible. All the required housings and conduits are then in place, ready for cabling and installation.” A key element of the IBT system is the integral sealing, which prevents concrete fines from getting inside the electrical components. This uses a patented diaphragm system which, after the conduit is inserted, returns to its original position and provides strain relief and sealing without the need for special grommets. Conventional housings do not have such a seal, a sealing arrangement would have to be fitted in-situ, a difficult and costly process. The IBT products are made from halogen-free, high-temperature resistant material which is designed for a long, trouble-free life. The range is available in a wide range of sizes. With more and more projects now requiring extra low voltage (ELV) transformers for LED lighting, loudspeakers and network communications cables, Spelsberg has also developed the complementary IBTronic range. ’Jody continues: “We first approached Spelsberg at the recommendation of another one of their customers. We knew the solutions we were looking for, we just needed to find a supplier that we could trust to deliver quality housings to the right time frame. The customer service from Spelsberg has been perfect, helping us to stick our company ethos of total customer satisfaction.”
Any contractor that will get appointed to the stalled Midland Metropolitan hospital project in Sandwell will have to adhere to the requirements that have been set out by construction union Unite. Originally planned to become operational this month, the hospital project has been stalled since the main contractor Carillion collapsed in January 2018 and it is not expected to be completed until at least 2022. In order to ensure workers are treated fairly and not exploited whenever the project resumes, the union wrote to Toby Lewis, chief executive of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust to seek that any contractor appointed to the project adheres to the following requirements: Adhere to national industrial agreements that govern pay and conditions Use local labour and suppliers Workers are directly employed (not employed under a form of bogus self-employment) Exploitative forms of employment such as umbrella companies are outlawed Trade unions are recognised and are given proper access to the workforce. “Local residents desperately need a new hospital which must become operational as early as possible but this must not be at the expense of the construction workers who will undertake this vitally needed work,” said Unite regional officer Su Lowe. “Exploitation can only be prevented and fair treatment guaranteed by recognising industrial agreements, guaranteeing direct employment and allowing unions proper access to the workforce. Unless workers are treated fairly and decently there is likely to be further problems with the construction of this site, which will create even more delays, causing even greater misery for patients and staff,” So Lowe added. The local NHS Trust is working to appoint a contractor for the project.
Global independent inspection expert Bureau Veritas has announced the strategic appointment of building control veteran, Dave Allen, who will head up the business’ construction-focused division. As business unit director, Dave will lead the 80-strong team across the building control, fire engineering, structural and construction management disciplines. The move comes at an important time for the construction industry, as the spotlight falls on the critical need to review the entire approach to fire safety following the Grenfell tragedy. Dave brings with him 34 years’ experience following a leadership and integration tenure with Stroma and 18 years at Butler & Young, some of which as the company’s Managing Director. This comes after dedicating the best part of 15 years to a local authority role at the start of his career. He will now deploy his considerable expertise and clarity to lead the charge on championing a best practice approach to construction compliance. As the secretary of The Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors (ACAI) and actively involved with the Construction Industry Council (CIC), he is ideally placed to share the latest industry insights, cascading from a strategic Government level both internally and with customers who are looking for the highest levels of competency and professionalism in construction compliance. Commenting on his new position, Dave said: “After a great grounding in a local authority building control roles, I’ve established a reputable career in the private building control industry and have vast experience at a strategic leadership level, as well as on-the-ground experience of working on large projects across a range of sectors. My work with the ACAI also means I am involved at the highest level of the discussions around how to make much-needed improvements to how the industry and customers approach and fire safety. “Bureau Veritas, as a leading global inspection body and health and safety expert is therefore an ideal fit, as it allows me to utilise my experience, both in a leadership and industry-expert capacity, and really champion the critical need for giving construction compliance the level of importance it needs. The Grenfell tragedy really highlighted some of the major gaps in the industry and, whilst there is no quick fix, there is a lot to be done. Being part of such a large and well-placed organisation is the ideal place to influence real change and it is my aim to bring both my valued team and Bureau Veritas customers on this crucial journey with me.” Ken Smith, chief executive officer at Bureau Veritas, adds: “With his invaluable industry experience, there was no-one better to head up our construction-focused division and I have no doubt that he is going to support our global capabilities within the construction industry and be instrumental in driving our ambition to be the UK’s number one compliance partner. I am also certain he is going to make real strides in influencing the future of building control and have a positive impact not only internally but for our customers and the wider industry in general.” To find out more about Bureau Veritas please call 0345 600 1828 or email info@uk.bureauveritas.com. Alternatively, please visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
A showcase campus has enabled three schools to co-locate, while also providing a showpiece for a trio of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, including TechZone™, the industry’s first easy-to-specify-and-install ceiling acoustic solution with integrated technical services. The new state-of-the-art Balloch Campus in West Dunbartonshire features three highly acoustic Armstrong Ceiling Solutions throughout – Perla OP 0.95 Tegular mineral tiles on Prelude 24 TLX grid, Parafon Hygien Board mineral tiles on a 24mm corrosion-resistant grid, and Armstrong’s revolutionary TechZone™ integrated ceiling system incorporating Perla OP MicroLook planks. Delivered by main contractor Morgan Sindall, they were specified by architects Holmes Miller for the £16 million campus for “cost and quality” reasons and installed by Armstrong’s Green Omega specialist sub-contractor Brian Hendry Interiors. As part of their membership of Armstrong’s Green Omega network of recycling installers Brian Hendry Interiors also recycled 300m2 of the new ceiling tile off-cuts during the installation process, preventing almost a tonne of material going to landfill and the consumption of an equivalent weight of raw materials. For maximum acoustic comfort some 1,600m2 of Perla OP 0.95 600mm x 600mm tiles with a Tegular edge detail within a standard 24mm grid were used in offices, classrooms and stores. These tiles perform to Sound Absorption Class A and were also the first mineral ceiling tile in Europe to win Cradle to Cradle™ certification as part of the new generation of sustainable and acoustic ceilings offered by Armstrong. In the corridors and breakout areas Armstrong’s TechZone™ integrated ceiling system was specified with a 15mm XL2 grid, fabricated to special lengths of 900, 2100 and 2400mm. Incorporating 800m2 of Perla OP 0.95 1200mm x 300mm MicroLook, the TechZone™ system was specified to achieve the aesthetics of a linear plank system and seamlessly integrate and complement the 100mm wide linear lighting arrangement. In addition, it addressed the clutter of services above in a crowded corridor installation and provided an acoustic Class A product to reduce unwanted noise in the busy ceiling plane. To complete the trio of Armstrong ceiling systems installed at Balloch Campus, 160m2 of Parafon Hygien 600mm x 600mm tiles, which offer Class A sound absorption, 95% humidity resistance and clean room classification to ISO 4, were used within a 24mm corrosion-resistant grid in the high humidity zones, such as the kitchen areas and stores. The new 53,280ft2 campus has been built on the site of the former St Kessog’s Primary and provides a new home for it, along with Haldene Primary and Jamestown Primary, to create the newly-formed school, Balloch Primary Campus*. An Additional Support Needs (ASN) unit and a new Balloch Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC**) are also operating at the site. In total there are 21 open-plan flexible learning spaces for the potential 747 students, as well as a centrally-located shared administrative areas, gym halls and assembly area, while the ASN has capacity to assist 36 pupils with a varying range of support needs. The £16 million campus represents a major investment in the education offering in the area by West Dunbartonshire Council through what is now the Scottish Procurement Alliance. This supports the efficient construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing and public buildings throughout Scotland. With multiple stakeholders across the three schools and the local authority, the framework procurement route afforded early-stage collaboration on design, budget and timescales. The 16-month steel frame build to BIM Level 2 was completed on schedule and to budget. Brian Hendry Interiors had a team of up to 16 operatives, including apprentices, on site for five months.
Since we experienced the economic recession, work and productivity within the construction industry had slowly increased. Thought, as productivity increases, so does the competition; more construction companies compete for work so firms need to make sure that they are acquiring the right equipment for the right job at a competitive price. With more firms soaking up the market, demand and prices for equipment also start to increase – increasing contractor operating costs. Hiring construction equipment If a company is working on short-term, or one-off project, it is usually better to hire equipment for the amount of time, that’s required. The reason for this is that it benefits the firm’s cash flow, as they are not making a significant one-off payment. Also, the firm does not have to absorb long-term repair, operating, and storage costs for the equipment being hired. Although, from 2012 to 2015 the price in rental costs of cherry pickers, forklifts and earthmoving machines, was set at 5.5% and between 2015/18 this is set to grow by 1.9% at 7.4%. This suggests that renting equipment isn’t getting any cheaper anytime soon. However, construction firms can make a saving when renting when the equipment is specifically utilised for a required job. Hiring the wrong equipment, or equipment that does not fit for the purpose, can be costly for a construction as it wastes time and money when working to deadlines. This is why construction firms are now more and more reliant on third-party services that can help assist them in getting the right equipment that will aid the performance of a job in the most cost effective and efficient manner. For example, Reconomy – specialists in servicing recycling solutions for the construction industry – can help firms with caged tipper and site equipment hire that allows them to rent based on the client’s specific on-the-job requirements, so that the equipment is rented at a cost-efficient price for the right job. Planning a project-specific ethos Rentals for specific projects are desirable for a lot of reasons, as the can save the firm time and money when working on a job that may not be repeated. Whilst being tailored to the requirements of the job, they can provide the highest amount of utilisation possible, based on each machine that is rented if it is used properly. Additionally, if a company has more than one job going on at the same from, then they don’t have to incur the same logistical cost as those who purchase their own equipment and move it from site to site. This makes project planning less time-consuming – as those foreseeing the completion of a job can account for the specific nature of the equipment needed, as the nature of each job changes. However, the annualised price growth of buying equipment from 2012 – 2015 to 2015 – 2018 had dropped by 0.5% from 10.1% to 9.6%, this is still 2.2% more than the projected forecasts of annual rising rental costs. What this suggests, is that construction firms will need to establish whether the equipment they purchase will be able to perform all the necessary jobs on-site through the course of the machine’s lifetime. If it can’t perform a specific task, or a container isn’t fit for the job, then the firm could waste capital on purchasing tasks. It is more than likely that when it comes to more project-specific construction – firms will be more willing to rent a machine that benefits the bespoke nature of a job, rather than purchasing a machine that is less specific in its job-scope and specification. Sources: http://www.tcsconstruction.ca/advantages-of-renting-construction-equipment/ https://www.ibisworld.com/media/2015/07/27/renting-vs-buying-factors-to-consider-when-sourcing-equipment-and-machinery
The kitchen is often the heart of the home and commonly one of the most social and functional spaces. Kitchens are no longer simply a space for preparing and cooking food, they are often a social and work area too. Whilst a kitchen’s style, look and feel is defined by its doors, worktops and appliances, lighting plays a key role in shaping the appearance, ambience and functionality of the room. Well planned and designed lighting schemes can transform a modest kitchen into a spectacular and inviting space. In addition to illuminating the room, kitchen lighting performs many functions from setting the mood and tone, highlighting special features or providing washes to levitate units and illuminate beautiful flooring. However, perhaps the most important function of kitchen lighting is task lighting. Task Lighting For areas in which you plan to complete work or prepare food you will need to clearly see what you are doing. These areas include worktops and kitchen sinks and require task lighting. Task lighting can include under-cupboard lighting above work surfaces, or lights that are directed down at one particular place. They need to be bright, well positioned to reduce shadows, and have a higher colour temperature (something around 4100k works well here). Also, it is important to have lighting with a high CRI, ideally >90. CRI (Colour Render Index) is a measure of how accurately the light source displays an objects true colours and this is clearly important for preparing food and assessing its freshness. An LED contour strip is a great way of lighting work surfaces below cabinets as this provides a continuous wash lighting effect. This is especially fitting in modern and contemporary kitchens. General Lighting Kitchens need the most flexible lighting scheme in the entire home as it needs to cater to the wide range of functions. The most popular forms of kitchen ceiling lights these days are recessed down lights, pendant lights or directional spot lights. Ceiling lights should be placed in multiple positions to reduce shadows, but the brightness can often cause issues, as certain situations call for brighter light than others. One way around this is to have dimmer switches in your kitchen. If you are choosing modern LED lighting, however, make sure your dimmer switch is compatible with LED technology. It’s generally better to choose an intelligent trailing dimmer when using LED. Another way to make your kitchen lighting flexible is smart lighting. Smart lighting is lighting that you can control with an app on your phone, or a device like Google Home or Alexa. If you have a high ceiling in your kitchen, consider using pendant lighting to bring the light source lower and to create a centre show piece for the room – the downward directional light of many pendants make them perfect for illuminating worktop space where under cupboard lighting is not available. Pendants come in a variety of styles to suit traditional, modern or contemporary settings. It is not uncommon these days to see a series of decorative pendant lights above a kitchen island, breakfast bar or adjoining dining room table. For best effect and performance, a minimum distance of 850mm is best from the bottom of the pendant to the worktop surface. Recessed downlights have become ubiquitous in kitchens and are effective in providing directional light to an area, particularly if you have low ceilings. It is common practice to fit multiple downlights in equally spaced rows to create a continuous zone of light with minimal shadows. Tiltable downlights are also available and can be very useful in directing light to required areas of workspaces. Downlights are available with different coloured bezels/rims to fit with your kitchens design theme and style. When fitted, recessed lights breach the ceiling structure (often plaster board) and as such it may be a requirement of building regulations that you fit fire rated down lights, your local building control department can advise you. Fire rated downlights are classified as either 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes. It is important that you check the rating of the downlights to meet the requirement you need as a 90 minute fire rated downlights may not be rated for 30 or 60 minutes. Directional spot lights can be an easy and effective way of fitting multiple tiltable lights on one rail or fitting. However, many people feel these units are unsightly and do not compliment more traditional style kitchens. Accent Lighting Accent lighting is an effective way to accentuate features in the kitchen or an adjoining open plan room. These might include illuminating inside glass cabinets or highlighting recessed shelving, alcoves or pictures. A variety of lighting from LED strip lights, to directional lighting can be used, but consideration needs to be made about the appropriate colour temperature of the lights used and the overall effect this has on the total lighting scheme. Using ambient lighting well can highlight features that you want to stand out, adding an extra dimension to your kitchen. It can also be used either alone or with worktop lighting to create a low-level background glow for romantic and intimate evenings. Ambient Lighting When completing tasks in the kitchen, you’ll no doubt need a bluer, cleaner light, for example a daylight bulb, but in areas in which you plan on socialising, eating and chatting, you may wish to create more of an ambience. This is especially true in kitchen diners. For areas like this, you should look at using a warmer light, for example a 3000k warm white bulb. You may want to also choose an even warmer bulb as well, possibly in a floor lamp. It is common to use an 1800k vintage style bulb in a floor lamp, and a 3000k bulb in a ceiling light fitting. These two styles of bulb not only complement each other, but also offer two options depending on the brightness needed at any point. Get creative and use your imagination to find places where the source of light won’t be
