Bouygues Energies & Services has been appointed by Westminster City Council to deliver a wide range of services across 160 locations including City Hall, libraries and other community facilities. The five-year contract, which has the potential to be extended, will see Bouygues Energies & Services deliver a diverse range of
Hiab, part of Cargotec, is launching a new crane for the waste collection market. The HIAB S-HiPro 230W will debut at this year’s ReinigingsDemoDagen (RDD) trade show taking place on 5 and 6 June in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Intended for use with underground refuse containers, Hiab has engineered the HIAB
THE Deanes Academy in Benfleet, Essex, expansion will be one of the first projects in East Anglia to be delivered through the Department for Education (DfE) Construction Framework. Pick Everard – the independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – is providing full design and engineering services for the new school
TrustMark, the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme for tradespeople, is today announcing the launch of a new Business and Consumer Portal, providing a secure, free and convenient platform for businesses and their customers to communicate and be transparent with each other. The portals, which are available on the TrustMark website, are
When it comes to managing waste, proactive facilities managers can save their organisations a lot of money while also improving performance. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure – and this is as true for facilities management as any other profession. The ability to anticipate and head off
Yorkshire Water and sister company Keyland Developments Ltd have submitted a planning application to Bradford City Council to transform redundant land around the Esholt waste water treatment works in Bradford into one of the country’s leading sustainable industrial and residential developments. The 32 acre Esholt Waste Water Treatment Works site
Climate change is an issue for governments and businesses alike, with both wrestling with the problem of being competitive whilst being green and sustainable. Energy usage is a major concern as corporations aim to reduce their carbon footprint, and energy costs. This debate is pertinent to the 16% of the
Deemed to be a national crisis by some industry experts and costing the UK economy £1.5 billion a year according to a report published in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the shortages of workers in STEM sectors are a significant point of concern. But could improving and developing STEM apprenticeships
For all operations, controlled bolting is highly important. It ensures that the tightening and loosening of bolts are done in a controlled manner. If you rush through this process, then you could risk complications further down the line. If you correctly use a controlled bolting technique, then it can help
As technology continues to rapidly evolve, across the world we’re experiencing more and more unusual complex buildings and structures being constructed. To go along side these buildings, an increasingly unique set of demands arise for their internal systems, including the vital aspect of climate control. Within this article, we will
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Bouygues Energies & Services has been appointed by Westminster City Council to deliver a wide range of services across 160 locations including City Hall, libraries and other community facilities. The five-year contract, which has the potential to be extended, will see Bouygues Energies & Services deliver a diverse range of services including mechanical and electrical maintenance, helpdesk, cleaning, and security services. Speaking about the contract award, Glynn Newby, Operations Director for Bouygues Energies & Services UK said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded such a prestigious contract developing our Local Government activity in an area where we have already a significant presence. We are proud to be working with a client who places such a strong emphasis on social value.”
Hiab, part of Cargotec, is launching a new crane for the waste collection market. The HIAB S-HiPro 230W will debut at this year’s ReinigingsDemoDagen (RDD) trade show taking place on 5 and 6 June in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Intended for use with underground refuse containers, Hiab has engineered the HIAB S-HiPro 230W to make it easier for operators to efficiently and safely perform their work in increasingly crowded and chaotic urban centres. “As more cities around the world turn to underground containers as an aesthetically pleasant and convenient solution for managing waste, we at Hiab have been listening to customers about the challenges of handling and emptying these containers. Working in traffic on congested streets, they need equipment that allows them to collect the waste quickly, without damaging the truck or posing a risk to operators and the surrounding area. In an industry with high employee turnover, they also need technology that offers simple and intuitive control for beginning operators,” says Hans Ohlsson, Director, Medium Range, HIAB Loader Cranes. Hiab designed the HIAB S-HiPro 230W with exactly these customer demands in mind, resulting in a waste collection crane that ensures stronger, simpler and safer performance. Compared to earlier generations, the new crane provides up to 30% greater lifting capacity in the positions that are most crucial for this specific application. At the same time, Hiab engineers have managed to reduce the dead weight of the crane by around 150 kg. The HIAB S-HiPro 230W comes equipped with Hiab’s advanced HiPro remote control system, which makes it easy to steer the crane with complete precision for novice operators. It also has Hiab’s unique Semi-Automatic Motion system. It simplifies crane operation which in turn increases the level of safety that the crane can offer. “With a crane that practically controls itself, operators can instead concentrate on making sure that they, the truck and the surrounding areas are safe and protected,” adds Hans Ohlsson. “We know that the main focus of fleets working in urban waste collection is to get each job done quickly and without trouble so they can carry on to the next one. As a stronger, simpler and safer crane, we believe the HIAB S-HiPro 230W will make it easier than ever to do just that. This is why we are launching it with the promise that this is a crane that will keep you moving!” Hans Ohlsson concludes. To get a first glimpse of the possibilities of the new HIAB S-HiPro 230W, attendees at RDD are welcome to visit the Hiab stand.
THE Deanes Academy in Benfleet, Essex, expansion will be one of the first projects in East Anglia to be delivered through the Department for Education (DfE) Construction Framework. Pick Everard – the independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy – is providing full design and engineering services for the new school block, including architecture, building services and structural and civil engineering, working in partnership with the project’s main contractor, Cadman Construction. Due for completion in summer 2019, the project will see a 1970s school block demolished and a new building constructed, consisting of science laboratories, art, graphics and food rooms, as well as office facilities and special educational needs and disability (SEND) spaces. Paul Darlow, regional director at Pick Everard, said: “Having had little upgrades since its initial build in the 1970s, the technology block at The Deanes Academy was identified as needing significant modernisation. Due to the block not being watertight, energy efficient or up to current regulatory standards, the decision was made to demolish the building and construct a new, state-of-the-art block in its place. “The project proposes to construct a two-storey 1,478m2 new building containing nine specialist classrooms, office and ancillary facilities with a maximum capacity of 344 students and teachers. The new building aspires to high standards of sustainable design and operation optimising passive daylight design, natural ventilation with a high efficiency thermal fabric. “In order to minimise disruption to the site, the construction team has reconfigured car parking and vehicle access to suit the proposals. The project team is working closely with the school to develop a programme of complementary learning activities while the project is on site. “School engagement will enable students to understand the complexities of building design and learn more about developing careers in building design and construction. Work is now progressing well and we look forward to seeing it complete very soon.” Stuart Cadman, framework director at Cadman, said: “There are a number of challenges to consider during this project, such as time constraints and cost efficiencies that must be met – however, we have already developed a close working relationship across the multi-disciplinary team and our collaborative approach has enabled us to fast track the initial planning stages and we are glad to see that works have started on site.” The project has been identified as one of the first jobs in East Anglia on the new DfE Construction Framework and Pick Everard’s first project on the Low Value Band under the Priority School Building Programme. For more information visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
TrustMark, the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme for tradespeople, is today announcing the launch of a new Business and Consumer Portal, providing a secure, free and convenient platform for businesses and their customers to communicate and be transparent with each other. The portals, which are available on the TrustMark website, are part of TrustMark’s commitment to make it as easy as possible for consumers to find reputable tradespeople. They will also be strengthened with advice and guidance that supports the Scheme’s Code of Conduct and Customer Charter. TrustMark Registered Businesses and consumers will now be able to exchange messages, photographs, plans and any other relevant documents through the portal, keeping all communications in one convenient place. This method will ensure total clarity on both sides regarding the nature of the work agreed, costings, delivery dates and expected outcomes. Consumers can now request a quote for work directly through their portal account. By doing so, each selected Registered Business will receive an email inviting them to log into the TrustMark Business Portal where they can view any new enquiries. When quotations have been submitted in response to enquiries, the consumer will be notified through the portal and can accept or reject the quote, or request further information. Businesses will be able to see what enquiries are new or open at any time and will be immediately notified by email if the status of an enquiry changes, for example, if a quote is accepted or a question is asked. Once a quote has been accepted and a project is ongoing, either side can track progress and request info or record updates as and when required. Registered Businesses now have the option to personalise their profile on the TrustMark website, allowing them to add company logos, photographs of previous work and highlight areas of specialism and the locations they cover. Businesses using this service will also have access to a range of free template documents such as contracts and invoices Simon Ayers, Chief Executive Officer of TrustMark, said: “The development of this new functionality of our website is part of our commitment to not only ease consumer access to reputable tradespeople, but to actively champion the businesses we know are doing the right thing. We believe this portal will make choosing to use a TrustMark Registered Business simpler than ever for consumers, and by making the quote request process as simple and barrier-free as possible, this will vastly increase the possibility of enquiries transforming into paying customers. We will retain our status as a not-for-profit social enterprise and have no intention to turn into a paid-for lead generation service – we simply want to provide a service that tangibly benefits each of our businesses and helps consumers.” The portals are part of a series of initiatives designed to help TrustMark Registered businesses and consumers improve their communications. Future releases will also include the ability to accept card payments and provide access to finance options. For further information about TrustMark, visit www.trustmark.org.uk.
When it comes to managing waste, proactive facilities managers can save their organisations a lot of money while also improving performance. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure – and this is as true for facilities management as any other profession. The ability to anticipate and head off problems before they develop into serious business issues is invaluable. Regardless of whether you are in charge of a construction site, an office block or a catering business, waste management is an area that has the potential to present significant challenges for facilities managers. But a proactive approach can make a real difference. A robust waste management plan, for example, will repay you amply in time and cost savings. Just think of the costs that organisations incur. Take the UK hospitality industry, for example. Figures from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) suggest that this sector faces a £2.5bn annual food-waste bill, with 18% of all food served in the sector wasted. According to WRAP, with more effective waste management policies, this figure could be cut to just 5%. Aside from the obvious bottom-line impact of overspending on supplies, this kind of waste also has significant consequences for the environment, with much of it ending up in landfill. From the perspective of an organisation’s corporate social responsibility, this is far from ideal – and with punishing rates of landfill tax, it can prove even more expensive. So, what are the hallmarks of an effective waste-management approach? Identify problems – and nip them in the bud Before you even hire a skip or container to handle your waste, the ideal solution would be to ensure that as little waste as possible is generated. This means that facilities managers need to understand and address the most significant causes of waste within the business. For example, is the equipment being procured by the company long-lasting and reliable? While it might appear cheaper to buy less durable equipment or materials, this could be a false economy once waste-disposal and replacement costs are taken into account. Look also at the way the business obtains its supplies – could over-ordering be avoided by making smaller but more frequent orders? Take a collaborative approach Facilities managers can also seek input from around the business to help identify potentially wasteful practices. Construction firm Carillion, for example, has expanded its Don’t Walk By programme – originally set up to encourage staff to highlight health and safety issues – to cover unnecessary waste generation. Carillion workers have an app they can use to report any instances of wastefulness or inefficient use of resources to senior management. Reuse and recycle When procuring resources, facilities managers should also give serious consideration to whether any excess materials could be used elsewhere in the organisation, for example on future projects. Facilities managers may need to work with procurement teams to make sure that purchasing decisions take into account full life-cycle costs rather than just the initial price. Work with suppliers to find the right solution The relationship between the organisation and its suppliers can also play a crucial role in managing waste. As mentioned above, it is important to strike the right balance between the size and frequency of orders. But consider also what kind of service your suppliers are offering. Will they take back unwanted stock, for example? And will they offer you the flexibility to change the size or timing of orders if necessary? Ultimately, facilities managers who want to successfully deal with waste must work proactively and anticipate problems before they have a significant impact on profitability and efficiency. If you find yourself reacting to waste issues as opposed to heading them off, much of the damage is likely to have been done already. Takeaways: A reactive approach to waste management can cost your business a considerable amount of money – and make it less efficient. Facilities managers should identify the most serious sources of waste and develop strategies to minimize them. The most successful approach will involve collaboration with other parts of the business as well as key suppliers. Source: Reconomy
Yorkshire Water and sister company Keyland Developments Ltd have submitted a planning application to Bradford City Council to transform redundant land around the Esholt waste water treatment works in Bradford into one of the country’s leading sustainable industrial and residential developments. The 32 acre Esholt Waste Water Treatment Works site sits close to both Leeds and Bradford and as a result of advances in technology, the operational footprint of the site has reduced significantly over recent years, leaving large areas of formerly operational land redundant and unused. The project team has undertaken extensive public consultation on the future of the site to ensure the views of local people have been taken into account alongside the vision to create a masterplan for an exceptional and nationally recognised development, which will repurpose the largely brownfield site to deliver a host of economic, social and environmental benefits through homes, employment and open space. The masterplan focuses on ensuring the development fits with the existing landscape and includes innovative ideas relating to Health & Wellbeing, Environment, Social Value, Long-Term Value, Sustainable Transport, Positive Resource Use and Water & Energy. The three broad categories of innovative employment, sustainable housing and community enhancements have been devised based on the economic and social needs of the locality. The innovative employment element of the masterplan details the creation of 100,000m2 of quality, sustainable work spaces to accommodate a mix of industry, with a particular focus on bio-tech businesses and other industries that can make the most of heat, power and water generated by the treatment works to maximise sustainabilty. This element of the masterplan is key to addressing the shortage of employment space in the surrounding area for growing Bradford businesses or relocating companies, with neighbouring business parks operating at full or close to capacity. The sustainable housing element of the masterplan has been led by the drive to create an exemplar residential development which will be one of the most sustainable in the UK. The masterplan outlines 150 homes, covering a wide spectrum from 1 bedroom maisonettes to 5 bedroom detached houses to allow for a diverse community. The sensitive use of local materials along with an innovative blend of technologies and intelligent energy use, landscaping, living with nature through visible water management and shared recreation spaces will result in a community that can sit seamlessly with the nearby Esholt Village. A key focus is on showing how homes and businesses can reduce their water consumption through innovative design, in a move that Yorkshire Water hopes will influence how developments in future can contribute to meeting the challenge of supplying a growing region with the water it needs, without impacting the environment. The masterplan also showcases a number of community enhancements designed to create a new community connected to nature and with a real and visible relationship with water, with shared recreation spaces as well as sustainable transport routes to encourage walking and cycling through the site. Luke Axe, Planning Manager at Keyland Developments Ltd, said; “We have always known that Esholt has the potential to be one of the most significant developments in the UK, so to be at the stage where we are submitting our plans for this innovative sustainable development is incredibly exciting. “We have worked extremely hard with our valued project team over the last few months, undertaking extensive public consultations and stakeholder engagement to ensure that the plans will enable Esholt to reach its potential and deliver far reaching social, environmental and economic benefits. This development demonstrates how sustainability can drive design and we are looking forward to being able to deliver this ambitious project.” The Esholt team comprises of; Tate Harmer, a leading UK firm of architects on sustainability and natural environments, sustainability consultants 3 ADAPT and pioneering independent integrated planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore. The Esholt project team has a collective wealth of experience delivering exceptional projects across the UK including The Eden Project Cornwall, the Natural History Museum London, the Dyson Campus Malmesbury, City Fields Wakefield and Museum of Scouting Gillwell to name a few.
Climate change is an issue for governments and businesses alike, with both wrestling with the problem of being competitive whilst being green and sustainable. Energy usage is a major concern as corporations aim to reduce their carbon footprint, and energy costs. This debate is pertinent to the 16% of the UK not serviced by the main gas grid, which relies on alternative fuels to meet its energy needs. For the majority of off-grid operations, this means a choice between oil, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or LNG (liquefied natural gas) for high-volume commercial applications. But what exactly are the differences between these fuels – and what should off-grid users consider when making decisions about their energy supply? Here, business gas supplier, Flogas, take a look at the issue: Oil and climate change With the Committee on Climate Change urging the UK government to legislate as soon as possible to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the pressure is on all industries to adopt greener energy policies. What this means for off-grid businesses in practical terms is moving away from conventional, carbon-heavy fossil fuels. When considering the key features of oil, it’s not hard to see why it’s becoming an outdated off-grid option: •Increased carbon emissions: As a major contributor to climate change, the burning of oil for heating and cooking purposes releases far higher levels of carbon into the atmosphere than more efficient off-grid fuels like LPG. •Cost: Through a combination of factors such as dwindling oil reserves, environmental pressures and strained international relations, the price of oil remains volatile. This makes it difficult for businesses to forecast the cost of fuel and can cast doubts over the future of their supply chain. •Maintenance: Due to its viscous nature, machines that operate on oil often take a large amount of maintenance to ensure they are running at optimum performance. This can also mean messy repairs if anything goes wrong. Looking at LPG and LNG With so many factors now working against businesses that are still using oil, it’s no surprise that many are now looking for an alternative fuel supply. The good news is that there are viable off-grid alternatives that offer compelling economic, environmental and logistical benefits. LPG and LNG are two such fuels. So, what are they, and how do they compare to oil? •Chemical makeup – LPG is a blanket term for two types of natural gas (Propane and Butane) and is a natural by-product of gas and oil extraction (66%) and oil refining (34%). LNG is composed primarily of methane and is created by cooling natural gas to an extremely low temperature (-162°C). •Finance: Businesses can make immediate savings when switching to LPG or LNG through a reduction in energy usage. •Carbon emissions: LPG and LNG have the lowest CO2 emissions of any 0ff-grid fossil fuels: LPG emits 36% fewer than gas oil, 22% fewer than kerosene and 17% fewer than heating oil. It also emits no black carbon (a significant contributor to climate change). •Cleaner air: LPG and LNG are clean, smoke-free burning fuels, that emit fewer pollutant emissions, including NOx, Sox and particulate matter (PM). •Compliant: Because they’re cleaner, LPG and LNG help businesses to meet carbon and pollutant reduction targets set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, ULEZ, Marpol and Medium Combustion Plant Directive. •Efficiency: With a higher calorific value per tonne than other liquid fuels, an LPG and LNG flame can burn hotter, releasing energy quicker. When used in conjunction with the likes of a steam boiler this can produce even greater efficiencies. •Extensive supply: LPG and LNG are in global abundance, so business owners can rest assured that they will have a dependable source of energy when they need it most. Flogas will be significantly increasing the UK’s total LPG storage capability with its new Avonmouth storage facility – the largest of its kind. •Easy Installation: For businesses looking to switch from oil to gas, the process isn’t complicated. Specialist LPG companies can design and install a replacement heating system to meet your business’ needs. From the initial brief process to installation and even the removal of your old oil tank, with the right supplier there’s the option to have everything taken care of with minimal downtime. •Versatility: One of the main attractions of LPG is its versatility. From leisure and hospitality to agriculture and industrial heating, and even fuel for forklift trucks and fleet vehicles, LPG can be used as an energy supply for all manner of industries. A brighter future? As the cleanest, most efficient and effective fuel compared to conventional off-grid fuels like coal, oil and electricity, switching from oil to LPG (or LNG) could help businesses energy savings, ensuring compliance with government energy policies, and cutting down on maintenance time. Sources
Deemed to be a national crisis by some industry experts and costing the UK economy £1.5 billion a year according to a report published in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the shortages of workers in STEM sectors are a significant point of concern. But could improving and developing STEM apprenticeships be the solution? Apprenticeships are rocketing as a recruitment option for most UK industries. But perhaps due to their focus on offering hands-on and practical learning processes, apprenticeship programmes are ideally suited to STEM — science, technology, engineering, and maths — sectors. Alongside engineering firm, Houghton International, which specialises in high voltage coil, we’ll explore the statistics behind this nationwide problem and look at how employers, organisations and the government can boost STEM apprenticeship enrolments and reduce the pressure on these industries’ workforces. The scale of the STEM skills gap So just how problematic is the STEM skills gap at present — and how much worse could it become in the future if not remedied? According to a response by the Royal Academy of Engineering, more than half of engineering companies say they have had problems recruiting the experienced engineers they need. This demand for skilled and experienced engineers is set to increase considerably over the next three to five years — 90% of engineering, science and hi-tech businesses expect this to be the case. But what is causing this gap? STEM businesses suffer greatly from an aging workforce. As skilled and experienced engineers retire, it is increasing vacancies across thousands of engineering roles. Putting a more exact figure on this is EngineeringUK, which — through detailed analysis — has determined that there are annually 29,000 too few workers with level 3 skills and an even greater shortage of more qualified engineers — 40,000 of those with level 4 and above skills. With a skills shortage already evident, businesses have another worry to consider — Brexit. As uncertainty remains, the UK’s exit from the European Union could create an even bigger headache for those in STEM sectors. A key action point for businesses hoping to close the STEM gap is to encourage more diversity. At present, under 10% of the engineering workforce is female, while those from minority ethnic backgrounds make up just 6% of the workforce. STEM companies have roles to fill — so could apprenticeships be the answer? Apprenticeships in the UK In the past, you left school and got a job. Nowadays, students have a wealth of opportunities to choose from, whether it’s A-levels, BTECs or apprenticeships — and the latter is growing in popularity. In the 2016-2017 academic year, 491,300 people started an apprenticeship, with almost a quarter of those under the age of 19. Each month, an average of 23,000 apprenticeship opportunities are listed on the government’s Find an Apprenticeship site, while organisations — such as WISE, which campaigns for gender balance in science, technology and engineering — are continually driving initiatives to help grow the number of apprentices in these sectors. However, a report by Financial Times makes for more negative reading. Between May and July 2017, parliamentary statistics show that only 43,600 people began an apprenticeship, which is a 61% reduction from the 113,000 that started in the same period in 2016. This has been largely accredited to an apprenticeship levy that was introduced in April 2017, which every employer with a pay bill of more than £3 million a year must adhere to if they want to employ apprentices. But has this affected the level of apprentices specifically in the engineering and related sectors? Apparently not. In 2016/17, 112,000 people started a STEM apprenticeship — up from 95,000 in 2012/13. This growth is impressive and may be a sign that STEM employers are taking on board the warning that they must be creative with their recruitment processes. Rod Kenyon, former director of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network, once said: “The traditional recruitment pool is diminishing at the same time as work-based learning routes are facing increasing competition from alternative post-16-year-old provision. Employers wishing to attract quality applicants in sufficient numbers to meet their skills requirements have to look beyond their traditional sources.” But are STEM employers simply not focusing on demographics that could significantly reduce their skills gaps? Overall, women account for 50% of all apprentices in the UK. However, for STEM apprenticeships, they make up just 8%. STEM employers are overlooking a great talent pool if they don’t concentrate on encouraging women into their companies. According to WISE, 5,080 women achieved a Core-STEM apprenticeship in 2016/2017, while 62,060 men accomplished the same in the same period. What makes this statistic even more concerning is that, according to an Apprenticeships in England report published by the House of Commons Library, 54% of overall apprenticeships starts were women in 2016/2017. Evidently, women are opting for apprenticeships in different fields, which means that STEM industries are missing out on thousands of potential workers if they don’t try to make their apprenticeship programmes as attractive to women apprentices as they clearly are to men. How to improve STEM apprenticeships and reduce the skills gap The government has an aim of achieving three million apprenticeship starts by 2020 — so does this mean we can expect more initiatives that encourage programmes like these in all sectors, including engineering? Possibly, but more work must be done to hit this lofty figure. Apprenticeships in STEM industries must be advocated and discussed in schools in order to instil a sense of enthusiasm from a younger age. Career advisors should make it clearer to kids that a university degree is not the only avenue to success and that the same level of fulfilment and opportunity is available with STEM apprenticeship programmes. Perhaps this means a stronger relationship between STEM firms and educational establishments, which can grant more opportunities for schoolchildren to get first-hand experience of how these companies work in practice prior to having to make an official decision. Already, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) offers around
For all operations, controlled bolting is highly important. It ensures that the tightening and loosening of bolts are done in a controlled manner. If you rush through this process, then you could risk complications further down the line. If you correctly use a controlled bolting technique, then it can help you meet tighter deadlines and also has a number of benefits and advantages. Together, with Bolt Torque specialists, HTL Group, we cover the advantages of controlled bolting techniques: Improves SafetyFirst of all priority in any equipment, is safety. The controlled bolting equipment in this scenario can take away any unsafe actions of manual uncontrolled tightening. This is because the equipment requires highly-skilled and trained operators who follow specific procedures. Reduces timeBecause controlled bolting has an automated set-up, there’s no heavy loading and manual effort required. This means that fatigue won’t set in, which in turn would lower productivity levels. Not only is the manual labour a lot more strenuous on workers, it’s also a lot more time consuming for a human to do this task. Consistency When dealing with joints which have gaskets, consistency is crucial. This is because an even and consistent compression is required so there’s no damage and so that the gasket can work effectively. Human error is one of most common cause of error in engineering. This in itself would mean the task could take a lot longer. But, controlled bolting eliminates this risk. With this bolting technique, you can feel assured that you will be correctly operating every time. This is possible thanks to skilled operators using calibrated and tested equipment and follow specific procedures. Accurate calculations can also be provided by controlled bolting, which can help give the operator the required tool setting so that usability is easier. It’s essential to bare in mind before you undergo any tightening procedures, that give the equipment a full inspection. It’s also imperative to check the lubrication of any nuts and bolts and to make sure they’re flush against the flange. Be sure to check for uneven bolt tensioning as this can result in bolts being overloaded or too loose, a gasket leakage, and less than 100% tensioning. Even though controlled bolting is more consistent, time-effective and safe, you must ensure that you’re correctly trained in the method used. Sources https://www.hiretorque.co.uk/advantages-of-controlled-bolting-techniques/
As technology continues to rapidly evolve, across the world we’re experiencing more and more unusual complex buildings and structures being constructed. To go along side these buildings, an increasingly unique set of demands arise for their internal systems, including the vital aspect of climate control. Within this article, we will delve into the various approaches to climate control for advance buildings from around the world. Burj KhalifaThe tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa, towering at 2,716.5 feet tall, under an average desert temperature of 41°C. The tower is truly triumph of technology and to keep it cool is a task in and of itself, let alone with the surrounding temperature being so extreme. So, how do they do it? The secret comes down a number of variables. Primarily, ice-chilled water is used to cool the building, and this is supplied by three plants. During off-peak hours, the central water plant creates an ice slurry that makes the water colder than a chiller could manage. This chilly water is sent through the tower in a series of pipes to heat exchangers at three different levels. Once the cold water has cooled the air for the air conditioning unit to use, it is sent back down to the central water plant again. There are a few key benefits to this approach: It is better for the environment, as it allows the tower to make savings on energy use It reduces the amount of space needed to dedicate to cooling equipment Originally, the air conditioning system had to be turned on steadily over a one-week period. This was to prevent pockets of warm air from forming in the building. There are also safety regulations implemented too. As a back-up, the tower also has four air-cooled chillers to support the data centres if needed. Amazon’s Seattle OfficesKnown for their innovating approach to heating, Amazon’s Seattle offices are heated by capturing the warm air produced by its data centres – a phenomenal way to re-use waste for a key purpose! What’s extraordinary, is that the data centres aren’t actually Amazon’s own. The heat is collected from the Westin building across the street from their offices. It’s a two-fold victory, as it helps Amazon to save energy and gives Westin a good way of sustainably dealing with waste heat. The heated water is piped from the data centres to a central plant belonging to Amazon, and is put through heat-reclaiming chillers. This is then used to supply the office’s heating needs, and the now-cold water is sent back to Westin to help cool their data centres. Amazon is set to save 65 million pounds of coal’s worth of CO2 emissions over 25 years with this approach. British Airways i360Based in Brighton, the 450-foot British Airways i360, which is the tallest moving observation tower and sets a new challenge for climate control. — the structure houses a restaurant, a shop, conference rooms, exhibition spaces, wedding venues, and of course, a 360° panoramic view in its moving 94-ton pod. To power the buildings heating, is done via renewable energy thanks to the Daikin VRV IV system installed within it. A constant supply of fresh air is circulated by heat recovery ventilation units throughout the building — this is crucial for reducing the demand on each air conditioning unit that needs to balance the indoor temperature with a significantly different outside temperature. The building has a few location-based requirements to work around too. One, the units need to be out of sight. Two, they need to be able to withstand the corrosive nature of salty sea air! Therefore, the VRV IV outdoor units have been installed out of sight, and are treated with a specialist factory-applied Blygold coating, to protect them from the salt in the air. The result is an energy-efficient, streamlined, and sea-air-ready HVAC system that supports this complex and unique building. What the future of climate control looks like Evidentially, with buildings becoming larger and more complicated, so must our climate control to methods to adapt to them. The Independent reported on another ambitious project blossoming in Dubai — the world’s largest shopping centre. But calling it a shopping centre seems a little unfair; the project intends to cover 48 million square feet, making it a shopping city. With the world’s largest theme park, a Broadway-style theatre district, and an Oxford Street inspired shopping area, the Mall of the World is a gargantuan undertaking on so many levels. Crucially, it is being touted as the first climate-controlled city in the world. How much further will we see climate control methods blend natural resources with new technology? The world’s structures are only going to get more complex, so it will be interesting to see how requirements like heating and cooling are addressed in such builds. Sources: https://www.alfalaval.com/media/stories/industries/worlds-tallest-building-stays-cool-with-innovative-ice-storage-system/ https://www.airah.org.au/Content_Files/HVACRNation/2010/March2010/HVACRNation2010-03-F01.pdf https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/cool-job-air-conditioning-burj-dubai-1.559999 https://www.greenbiz.com/article/ultra-efficient-hidden-heat-source-amazons-new-hq https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/can-t-stand-the-heat-come-to-world-s-first-climate-controlled-city-9588211.html https://www.daikin.co.uk/en_gb/case-studies/vrv/ba-i360.html file:///C:/Users/amy.hodgetts/Downloads/Leisure_Newbuild_VRVHR_British%20Airways%20i360%20Case%20Study.pdf
