January 7, 2020

How building construction is going green in 2020

There can be no doubt that the environment is something that businesses are increasingly thinking about. Going green is becoming a necessity for organisations across all industries, and this certainly goes for construction. In fact, industry experts predict that the majority of constructions projects will be ‘green’ in the very

Read More »
SD Awarded £600,000 Contract for Bristol’s Temple Quay Enterprise Zone

SD Awarded £600,000 Contract for Bristol’s Temple Quay Enterprise Zone

SD Sealants’ Tiling division has won a prestigious contract worth £600,000 for contemporary flats in Bristol’s city centre. The project, known as ND6 and ND7, is being built by Galliford Try, and will provide 376 high quality, long-term residential apartments in Bristol’s Temple Quay Enterprise Zone and is designed with

Read More »
ENGIE Wins £9m East Grinstead Contract

ENGIE Wins £9m East Grinstead Contract

Leading energy, services and regeneration specialists, ENGIE, has started work on a £9 million project in East Grinstead. The development, named Lingfield Lodge, will comprise of 48 contemporary extra care sheltered apartments, complete with associated communal facilities and landscaping, and will be carried out in partnership with Eldon Housing Association

Read More »

How Contech Is Shaping The Construction Industry

Technology for the construction industry is tipping the scales as technology infiltrates the entire industry. Reports reveal that the global contech economy is estimated at $6.1 billion, and is on the road to further growth. For the construction industry, this is a much-needed boost in terms of making the industry a

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 322 : Nov 2024

January 7, 2020

How building construction is going green in 2020

There can be no doubt that the environment is something that businesses are increasingly thinking about. Going green is becoming a necessity for organisations across all industries, and this certainly goes for construction. In fact, industry experts predict that the majority of constructions projects will be ‘green’ in the very near future. As regulations become more stringent in terms of the need for business to be environmentally friendly, we can expect the rate of green construction to only increase further. So, what does this mean for 2020? In order to meet the challenges of green building construction there are a number of innovative products and new approaches that we are seeing become the norm across the industry. Here we take a look at building construction is becoming increasing eco-friendly in 2020. Smart bricks One very interesting development in green construction to watch out for in 2020 is that of ‘smart bricks’. Researchers are still working on the concept, but it would look to create actually building materials that are able to extract energy from sunlight, as well as resources such as waste water and air. The bricks will be able to react to their surroundings, and carry out a number of different tasks such as cleaning water. They could eventually be rolled out in construction, and would allow buildings to be created to make use of their properties. This would be a huge benefit to the environment, so the faster they can be developed – the better. Self-healing concrete Another innovation that we could begin to see influencing green construction is self-healing concrete. This product is the brainchild of microbiologist Henk Jonkers and concrete specialist Eric Schlangen, and it utilises bacteria in order to close cracks that appear in concrete. This innovation helps to ensure that the concrete does not need to be repaired manually. Reducing the need for regular infrastructure improvement could lead to massive reduction in carbon emissions, and could extend the life of a building. Using recycled materials Increasing architects and developers are looking into innovative ways of re-using materials such as cardboard, plastic and scrap metal. Recycling is essential in terms of reducing the carbon footprint, so anytime that the construction sector can make use of recycled materials it can have a massive impact. We are already seeing examples of recycled paper being used as insulation for buildings which both re-utilises the material and makes new buildings more energy efficient. New approaches to HVAC Of course, it is the case that heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is a major part of constructing any kind of new building – but this is an area that has faced criticism in terms of its environmental impact. Older heating and air conditioning systems have had a significant carbon footprint. In 2020, this has become a major issue that contractors are taking increasingly seriously. Leading HVAC specialists BSE FM have put a focus on “installing low carbon mechanical and electrical schemes means that we are able to assist our clients in meeting their sustainability targets and deliver significant long term value of their property assets”. This shows how seriously the industry is taking the issue. And given the fact that gas boilers are being phased out of new domestic building construction by 2025, it seems likely that this will soon extend to all areas of construction, forcing contractors and developers to look into greener options such as ground source heat pumps and solar heating. The challenges When there is change in any industry it can produce challenges, and as construction goes greener in 2020 it is inevitable that there will be some issues. One of the major ones might be the hurdle of perception that green construction is more expensive. In reality, green construction needn’t be any more expensive than traditional construction, and actually some of the projects – such as fitting an array of solar panels – can actually decrease costs long-term, meaning that this sort of construction can actually be cheaper as time goes one due to lower operating costs. Final thoughts Just as there may be challenges in the construction industry going green, there are also opportunities. As construction evolves to be more environmentally friendly it can make for massive improvement throughout the industry. This is something that we can expect to expand and develop in 2020 and beyond.

Read More »
SD Awarded £600,000 Contract for Bristol’s Temple Quay Enterprise Zone

SD Awarded £600,000 Contract for Bristol’s Temple Quay Enterprise Zone

SD Sealants’ Tiling division has won a prestigious contract worth £600,000 for contemporary flats in Bristol’s city centre. The project, known as ND6 and ND7, is being built by Galliford Try, and will provide 376 high quality, long-term residential apartments in Bristol’s Temple Quay Enterprise Zone and is designed with a green infrastructure in mind. SD Sealants will be carrying out intensive tiling work across the apartments and communal areas for the 11-floor building, which will have a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom flats for private rentals as well as a commercial space on the ground floor for retail, food and drink, office and leisure use. Andre Hunt, Tiling Division Manager at SD Sealants, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious project. The development is set to transform the area in Temple Quay and we’re looking forward to working on the apartments and helping them take shape over the coming months. Work has already begun and it’s likely to be completed by June 2020.” The new flats will be all rentals and all-living, which means tenants have access to free Wi-Fi, a car club, gym, cafes and a lobby. Managing Director at SD Sealants, Nick Jones, added: “It’s amazing to see what the team has achieved since the tiling service launched in early 2017. They worked with Cala Homes recently on an incredibly unique and impressive collection of million-pound homes in Gloucestershire and it’s great to be in the vibrant city of Bristol to help with this project.”

Read More »
ENGIE Wins £9m East Grinstead Contract

ENGIE Wins £9m East Grinstead Contract

Leading energy, services and regeneration specialists, ENGIE, has started work on a £9 million project in East Grinstead. The development, named Lingfield Lodge, will comprise of 48 contemporary extra care sheltered apartments, complete with associated communal facilities and landscaping, and will be carried out in partnership with Eldon Housing Association in addition to local charitable providers. Work is set to be completed in January 2021, with the scheme aiming to provide a better standard of affordable housing and facilities for residents and the community, with ENGIE working in partnership with Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council through Eldon Housing Association.   The site, located in East Grinstead, saw the demolition of the existing apartments to make way for the new modern facilities. Simon Lacey, Regional Managing Director at ENGIE, commented: “It’s great to be involved in a project that will make a real difference to residents’ living standards with brand new apartments and the development of communal areas. “The project will see us make the most efficient use of the land, without disrupting existing amenities in the surrounding area. It’s an exciting project, and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact providing 100% affordable homes will have on the local area.” Working in conjunction with FUSE Architects, ENGIE plans to build a variety of high quality properties, ranging from 1 – 2 bedroom appartments. 

Read More »

How Contech Is Shaping The Construction Industry

Technology for the construction industry is tipping the scales as technology infiltrates the entire industry. Reports reveal that the global contech economy is estimated at $6.1 billion, and is on the road to further growth. For the construction industry, this is a much-needed boost in terms of making the industry a little less fickle and more secure. When the construction industry thrives, it sets the tone for further growth in the economy. Whether the technology is geared towards safety applications or to manage the site as a turnkey operation, the possibilities stretch far beyond CAD and the motorization of construction equipment.  Reducing Site Downtime  One of the hardest hitters in the construction industry is the effective management of productivity on site. Whether the site is plagued by injuries or strikes, employee truancy or natural events, missing deadlines can have far-reaching effects on a construction project. Construction site management can now rely on technology to manage the productivity of the site, thanks to apps and software that integrate with the project scope and do away with some of the most admin and time-intensive issues on site. These include request for information (RFI) slips, time sheets, and even human resources and occupational health and safety processes.  Introducing The Right Solutions First Time  Rework on a construction site not only wastes valuable time, but also has the potential to drain other resources and ruin the firm’s reputation. One of the areas where sites can face substantial downtime is where components integral to the site are fabricated off-site. These could include special balustrades, gates, and even rods and bolts for intricate design details. Made CNC describes the fabrication process as the heart of the industry, and thanks to technology, the time needed for fabrication can be reduced significantly. Technology combined with machine learning, for instance, can also ensure that the components are site-specific and take into consideration the natural shape of a site. Modern construction sites often integrate their design into the landscape, which often means building around natural granite or using the flow of the land to dictate the design.  Improving Site Safety  One of the most integral components of a successful construction site is site safety. While there are innumerable safety measures on these sites, human error sometimes comes into play, and can compromise the safety of an individual or an entire team. Contech developments such as the Internet of Things (IoT) can provide sites with an added layer of security by connecting each section of the site. The use of sensors and compatible software can alert the individual or team that there is a safety breach or potential hazard. If you include AI in this setup, it can also collect valuable data to indicate sensitive areas on the site that workers need to pay special attention to.  The evolution of the construction industry is exciting, and with contech gaining momentum, some interesting construction feats are already making their appearance.

Read More »