In early April, when industrial fires broke out in two different locations, they both had the same devastating outcome. On the 10th April, a fire started in a furniture factory in County Antrim damaging the building. Two days later, a fire swept through a bedmaking factory in Dewsbury. Neither building
Emergency services were called to a 19-storey tower-block over the weekend when a fire broke out at New Providence Wharf development, near Canary Wharf, which reportedly had cladding similar to that found on Grenfell Tower. So far, it appears no lives were lost, but according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), two adults were taken to
The latest research by Warwick Estates has found that detached homes have been outperforming all other property types for at least 15 years, showing that, while recent growth has indeed been strong due to lockdown, detached properties have always been central to the success of the UK housing market. The
Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, welcomes the new ‘Matter’ connectivity standard, which it will begin adopting across its connected home and buildings portfolio. Schneider Electric, recognized by Corporate Knights as the world’s most sustainable corporation, is one of the 180 most innovative companies within the Connectivity Standards
Award-winning Yorkshire housebuilder Ilke Homes has partnered with national training provider Code for a major apprenticeship programme to develop its workforce. Ilke Homes is expanding its Knaresborough-based operation with the addition of 30 apprentices, and the company is currently recruiting for its next intake of production team members. The firm,
Baseline Report for the Future Fens: Flood Risk Management programme is now available Covering the Fens within the River Great Ouse catchment, the programme aims to build a common understanding of the challenges ahead Phase 1 of the flood risk management work started three-years ago to develop a shared understanding
Work has begun on a multi-million pound ambulance service hub for West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) in Sandwell. Leading property developer Stoford is delivering the 76,000 sq ft purpose-built hub, the largest hub of its kind in the country, which will eventually house about 350 operational ambulance staff. Contractor McLaren
In response to the construction industry’s drive to build a more sustainable future, Sika’s Roofing experts are hosting a live online launch event for its new Green Roof systems on 1 June 2021. All attendees will be in with a chance of winning their very own bee hotel. The launch
The employee-owned business has utilised its team of in-house experts to source the sustainable future of bottle packaging. Flexi-Hex sleeves are produced from 85% recycled paper and can be easily recycled after use, supporting the environmentally conscious technology. The pinch top box ensures a completely plastic-free design by eliminating the
Living in New York City can be a dream come true for many people. The bright lights, the celebrities all around, the city that never sleeps. But finding somewhere to live at an affordable rate can be nigh impossible, with the rent trends in New York constantly changing. One option
In early April, when industrial fires broke out in two different locations, they both had the same devastating outcome. On the 10th April, a fire started in a furniture factory in County Antrim damaging the building. Two days later, a fire swept through a bedmaking factory in Dewsbury. Neither building contained a sprinkler system and both businesses are now counting the cost of the damage and dealing with the disruption to their livelihoods. Once again, we must question the understanding of the vulnerability to such fires and the gap in regulations. The fire at Abbey Upholsterers in Carrickfergus started in the early hours of Saturday and completely ravaged a major part of 6,000m2 industrial building, despite the efforts of 70 firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Local roads were closed and residents were asked to close their windows due to smoke. The deputy mayor of the local council expressed his shock at the event as the business is an important local employer, supplying furnishing products to hotels across the UK and Ireland. In Dewsbury on Monday 12th April, eight fire engines and two aerial appliances from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spent several hours putting out a blaze at the 2,800m2 Matza factory, with smoke plumes that could be seen as far away as Huddersfield. The local family-run bedmaking business employed 50 workers, who like the company, face an uncertain future. In both cases, these are industrial buildings that have no guidance for compartment size limits or the need for sprinklers. The Fire Safety Building Regulations (FSBR) guidance envisages unlimited size industrial buildings. In the case of warehouses they can be 14 – 20,000m2 in footprint and in many cases up to 18m tall, without incurring guidance for subdivision or sprinklers. Such buildings are truly enormous, roughly six times the size of your average out-of-town DIY store. But the FSBR makes no consideration for the protection of property or indeed the minimising of the spread of fire within the building. The building will survive for the period it takes to get people out, after which we transition into a period where the inherent resilience diminishes. They have physical limitations when it comes to firefighting due to their compartment size. There is a twisted logic that says the building is disposable in the event of fire. Industrial fires such as these once again highlight the rationale for greater consideration of property protection alongside life safety as a reasonable requirement. Such an expectation would result in more buildings being designed to be resilient to disproportionate damage, using combinations of passive and active fire safety measures. The BSA believes that sprinkler systems would be a major part of this change and should be considered more readily as a viable option right across the built environment, whether it is a care home, block of flats, hospital, school, retail or leisure facility or a commercial and industrial building. We must always be thankful when a fire is contained and extinguished with no loss of life, but it is not enough. Lives are still affected regardless, and we must strive to minimise the effect that fire has in all circumstances. When we minimise fire spread we not only protect lives, we protect property, businesses and jobs. A properly controlled fire can be the difference between a building requiring renovation or demolition. Halting the spread of fire when it is first detected is the best way to limit damage and minimise costs and impacts. Sprinklers have been shown to contain, control or extinguish fires in 99% of cases1. The impacted business can be operational within hours, avoiding the economic and social costs. Given the availability of solutions, it begs the question as to why do we continue to repeat the same actions over and over again and expect different results? We need to break the chain and have the discussion on minimising fire damage and property protection for the benefit of our wider communities, the environment, longer-term business security, and the mutual benefits it will bring. For more information about the BSA visit the www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org 1Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom: An Analysis from Fire Service Data – Optimal Economics May 2017
Emergency services were called to a 19-storey tower-block over the weekend when a fire broke out at New Providence Wharf development, near Canary Wharf, which reportedly had cladding similar to that found on Grenfell Tower. So far, it appears no lives were lost, but according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), two adults were taken to hospital to be treated for the effects of smoke inhalation with a further 38 adults and four children receiving treatment at the scene. The fire broke out just days before the cladding had been scheduled to be removed. Roughly 22% of the building’s facade features aluminium composite material polyethylene (ACM PE) cladding panels, which were found to be a key factor in the 2017 Grenfell fire that killed 72 people. Apsana Begum, the Poplar & Limehouse Labour MP, commented: “For years now, constituents at New Providence Wharf, where there are 1,500 apartments, have been left vulnerable and unsafe due to numerous fire safety and building safety defects and the fact that ACM cladding remains on these buildings. “The fire this morning shows just how serious this issue is and why constituents have been right to continue to raise alarm bells for so many months. ‘The developer Ballymore have promised action, but to date, constituents have not received information on fire engineer reports and details of any remediation works.” In a statement, developers Ballymore said the safety of its residents was “paramount”, but argued that the cladding “played no part” in the fire: “A fire broke out in an apartment on the 8th floor of a building in the New Providence Wharf development. Thanks to the rapid and professional response of the London Fire Brigade the fire was quickly contained, with all residents evacuated from the building in a timely manner, in accordance with the building’s fire safety protocols. Due to the fire brigade response and to the performance of the fire safety systems on the building, the fire damage was contained to one apartment and to two balconies of apartments above. Although we expect most residents to return to their homes this evening, Ballymore is providing accommodation in a nearby hotel for those who require it. “We understand how difficult and distressing today has been for our residents and we are grateful for the patience they have demonstrated. Our response team on the ground will continue to support them in any way we can. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and we continue to work closely with the London Fire Brigade during their investigations. We can however confirm that the ACM cladding on the building did not combust and played no part in causing or facilitating the fire. Enabling works to remove the ACM cladding have been underway for two weeks prior to today’s incident. The works will recommence as soon as possible.” Besides the cladding, another disturbing element is that residents are reporting that there was no alarm and no reporting system. 33-year-old resident James said: “I didn’t know at first, when I opened my window this morning I could see and smell the smoke, it was thick black smoke, even at the side of the building, where I live. But what I don’t get is that there was no alarm, no alert, had I not opened my window I might not have clocked it. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, or how my flat looks, but I know for sure some people are going to be very unhappy and devastated when they see the damage to their flat.” Andrew, a 47-year old resident in the adjoining block, told reporters that he only found out when neighbours sounded the alarm from their balconies. “There was no functioning sprinkler system or fire alarm,” he said. “It was neighbours and the resident Whatsapp group which got people out. My understanding is there were one or two members of the waking watch knocking on doors, but this isn’t the solution to alerting a huge number of people to evacuate a building. We have known since 2017 that we have the same cladding as Grenfell, knowing we are risking our lives in the building.”
The latest research by Warwick Estates has found that detached homes have been outperforming all other property types for at least 15 years, showing that, while recent growth has indeed been strong due to lockdown, detached properties have always been central to the success of the UK housing market. The past year has seen property prices rise at remarkable speed and none so much as detached homes. It has been reported that the value of detached homes is outperforming all other property types as buyers seek out bigger homes with gardens as a result of being locked down for the best part of a year. However, the research by Warwick Estates shows that, while recent growth has indeed been strong, detached properties have historically outperformed all other types of home for the past 15 years. Since 2006, the value of detached homes in England has increased by 63%, equivalent to a rise of £158,165. This is more than semi-detached (60%), terraced (62%), and flats (57%), although all have proved a solid investment. With bigger rises still, the value of detached homes in Scotland has increased by 65%, or £112,410, while semi-detached (59%), terraced (58%), and flats (36%) lag behind. It’s worth noting that Scotland’s percentage rise is bigger than England’s, but due to the vast difference in property prices in each region, England’s pounds-and-pence growth is the greater of the two (£158,165). In both Wales and Northern Ireland, the trend remains the same, with the value of detached homes rising by 39% and 18% respectively, more than all other property types. Regionally, London has seen the most extraordinary price growth with a rise of 119% over 15 years, followed by the South East (81%), East (77%), South West (60%), and the East Midlands (55%) completing the top 5. One interesting point to note, and the only anomaly in the data, the value of detached homes in the South West has risen by 60%, but so too has the value of semi-detached homes. This makes the South West the only region in the UK where the rising value of detached homes has been matched by another property type. Finally, it’s hard to ignore the difference between price growth in London, number one on the list, and the North East which sits at the very bottom. With just 19% growth in the value of detached homes, the North East trails 100% behind London, further demonstrating the historic regional disparity that exists in the UK. COO of Warwick Estates, Emma Power, commented: “Detached properties appear to be flavour of the month right now with buyers keen to find bigger homes in the wake of COVID-19 lockdowns. But this data shows us that the important role detached homes now have in driving our market forward is not a new phenomenon: they have long been the backbone of residential property. ”The vast gulf between growth in London and growth in the North East is, of course, concerning as it highlights, once again, something we’ve known for a long time about the very different fortunes of our northern and southern markets. But, we can feel quite optimistic that things will soon have more balance as, in recent months, the North East has shown some very strong growth while London’s market has sputtered. It won’t remain that way for long, of course, but as we move forward, I’m hopeful the gap will be somewhat narrower.” Table shows the best performing property type based on house price increase in the last 15 years Location Detached Price Change (£) Detached Price Change (%) Semi Detached Price Change (£) Semi Detached Price Change (%) Terraced Price Change (£) Terraced Price Change (%) Flat Price Change (£) Flat Price Change (%) Scotland £112,410 65% £62,960 59% £49,805 58% £29,914 36% England £158,165 63% £94,937 60% £84,137 62% £85,888 57% Wales £76,748 39% £47,342 38% £38,292 37% £16,863 16% Northern Ireland £33,058 18% £19,080 15% £8,649 9% £747 1% By Region London £532,161 119% £332,134 115% £293,223 123% £209,081 97% South East £267,909 81% £160,624 77% £124,196 75% £70,064 49% East of England £201,956 77% £134,020 75% £109,692 74% £66,130 50% South West £163,023 60% £106,604 60% £85,601 58% £47,856 37% East Midlands £109,528 55% £69,496 54% £56,347 53% £29,753 30% West Midlands region £118,046 50% £68,835 49% £54,265 47% £24,949 23% Yorkshire and the Humber £91,671 45% £53,218 42% £41,005 40% £19,705 18% North West £97,559 45% £60,447 44% £40,387 40% £26,089 24% North East £37,780 19% £21,043 18% £13,865 14% -£908 -1% House price data sourced from the UK House Price Index – Feb 2006 to Feb 2021 (latest available data)
Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, welcomes the new ‘Matter’ connectivity standard, which it will begin adopting across its connected home and buildings portfolio. Schneider Electric, recognized by Corporate Knights as the world’s most sustainable corporation, is one of the 180 most innovative companies within the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) that have contributed to the creation and testing of the new Matter standard. The industry-unifying standard builds upon market-proven technologies and best practices. It aims to simplify connected experiences and provide greater interoperability in smart homes and buildings. Schneider is consistently among the top three certifiers of CSA products, therefore well positioned to adopt the new standard. The new open-source, unified connectivity protocol, Matter, previously named CHIP (Connected Home over IP), will be applicable to many smart home and building solutions including lighting, locks, speakers, HVAC controls, security systems, and routers. With Matter, instead of being limited to only those products that work with the smart system already in place, homes and businesses will now have the choice to integrate the new Matter certified devices that best fit their needs, regardless of brand. Matter is built using IP, the native network technology of the internet and backed by major ecosystem providers. Products with the Matter mark will deliver improved cyber security, native cloud connectivity and device interoperability to consumers, manufacturers, product designers and developers alike. Additionally, with standard definitions for device models, and lifecycle events such as provisioning/onboarding, removal, error recovery, and software update, developers can also be more confident in the consistency and quality of their users’ experiences across ecosystems. Putting consumers in the driving seat in the race to net zero However, longer-term benefits don’t end there. It is estimated that electricity demand will double by 2040 if we follow the same trajectory. As digitalization becomes the norm, we are also witnessing an increased desire to produce and use more renewable energy. This is coupled with increasing regulatory pressure to make cooking, heating and car charging fully electric. Electricity is the most efficient form of energy and the best vector for decarbonization. When paired with digital, it also offers unrivalled potential to eliminate energy waste. With increased interoperability of the IoT connected devices in the smart home ecosystem, homeowners and builders can create homes of tomorrow with a flexible, future-proof architecture that leverages Matter-connected devices across ecosystems to gain reliable, consolidated and secure visibility of energy consumption. This visibility, coupled with the help of AI-enabled and software-driven smart energy management solutions, puts consumers in the driving seat when it comes to how energy in the home is produced, stored, distributed and consumed. It can also enable the smart home system to prioritize green energy, ensuring power-hungry appliances and devices, such as Electric Vehicles (EVs), consume most of their energy from solar or decarbonized energy sources in the home. This is yet another way for the consumer and the planet to benefit from this initiative. Bruno Zerbib, Chief Technology and Digital Officer at Schneider Electric, says: “As the World’s Most Sustainable Corporation recognized by Corporate Knights, it is our firm belief that the path to a net-zero future is both electric and digital. With software-based smart energy management solutions, our customers can accelerate their journey towards sustainable net zero homes and buildings of the future. “Using open, global standards is essential to achieve digital transformation. Organizations like the Connectivity Standards Alliance are key to creating such standards and we are delighted to partner with other industry leaders to develop IP-based standards, like Matter, that will increase IoT device interoperability in connected smart building ecosystems.” Open-source standards shouldn’t be limited to smart homes and buildings Schneider Electric is strong advocate of open-source standards. Matter offers adopters and developers a number of benefits, including faster time to market (by leveraging an implementation of the spec), improved quality (as code is tested early and often), and more robust security (as the full development community has transparency to identify and commit patches). Beyond homes and buildings, Schneider Electric has recently pioneered an open-source portable standard for industries of the future, calling for widespread adoption of universal automation. Schneider Electric is fully committed to long-term compatibility with its legacy platforms, whilst continually innovating and collaborating with visionary partners like CSA to ensure customers have a smart, connected, sustainable future.
Award-winning Yorkshire housebuilder Ilke Homes has partnered with national training provider Code for a major apprenticeship programme to develop its workforce. Ilke Homes is expanding its Knaresborough-based operation with the addition of 30 apprentices, and the company is currently recruiting for its next intake of production team members. The firm, which builds zero-carbon modular houses and apartments, has teamed up with Code, a national digital skills training academy based in Sunderland, which delivers apprenticeship schemes for a range of employers. It specialises in training solutions around digital skills, such as digital support technicians, cyber security technologists, software developers and network engineers. With monthly starts available from May through to July, successful applicants for the Ilke Homes scheme will be enrolled upon a 12-month recognised training and development programme. Once training is completed, apprentices can expect a permanent position with a salary of around £22,000-per-year, plus associated benefits. Code works with companies of all sizes based throughout England to upskill their staff, supporting firms to find the best way to use their Apprenticeship Levy – a government scheme introduced in 2017. Employers can benefit from current government incentives of £3,000 per new apprentice start, and will have access to funding available to offset the costs associated with training their apprentices through recognised training provider Code. Code is the apprenticeships division of Rebuyer, which works with companies across the UK to recycle their old IT equipment to protect the environment and support families who don’t have access to laptops, tablets or PCs. Simon Howatson, chief executive of Code digital skills academy, said: “Companies are increasingly recognising the value of apprenticeship programmes to upskill their workforces. “Apprenticeships are a great way for people to learn vital new skills, and they are rewarding for businesses – leading to greater productivity and allowing firms to expand their operations. “As an employer, you can also get funding from the government to help pay for apprenticeship training. “We’re proud to have partnered with Ilke Homes and look forward to helping equip their workforce with the skills of the future.” Julia Norton, head of human resources at Ilke Homes, said: “We here at Ilke Homes are delighted to partner with Code in order to bring our current recruitment drive to life. “We see apprenticeships as an integral component of our expansion plan for 2021, starting with the introduction of apprentices to our core roles within the production and manufacturing team. “We are proud of both our product and our people; with our homes being built to the highest quality and specification. “I am confident that our apprentices will bring with them a wide range of skills and behaviours needed to drive the business, and operation, forward into the future – being efficient, effective and strengthening our already industry award-winning processes.”
Baseline Report for the Future Fens: Flood Risk Management programme is now available Covering the Fens within the River Great Ouse catchment, the programme aims to build a common understanding of the challenges ahead Phase 1 of the flood risk management work started three-years ago to develop a shared understanding of the flood risk challenges in the Great Ouse Fens of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Future activity will build on this baselining work to develop flood management options that can deliver flood and drainage infrastructure needed for future generations. This work is delivering on key commitments to the Fens as featured in the National Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy published in 2020. With one-third of the Fens currently below sea level, the area has a network of flood protection assets that are owned and managed by different organisations. Much of this infrastructure is nearing the end of its design life and will soon need significant investment. With the increasing effects of climate change, flood infrastructure is key in providing water resources, environmental, navigation and wider amenity services. Fens flood infrastructure is also important within the Oxford-Cambridge arc in enabling some of the fastest growing places in the UK to maximise their economic potential. The organisations involved in Phase 1 either own or are responsible for the area’s flood risk assets. These assets include: 138 pumping stations 24 sets of sluice gates 95km of coastaldefences and 405kmof river embankments. The Baseline Report is part of the first of the programme’s three main phases. Scenarios have been developed to describe the ‘do nothing’ and ‘do minimum’ approaches for the next 100 years across a huge geography of approximately 300 flood assets. These are owned and operated by more than 40 risk management authorities. In this area a third of land is currently below sea level and this will double by 2100 with rising sea levels. Paul Burrows, Environment Agency spokesperson for Future Fens said: “The Fens is a complex environment that has been heavily engineered over hundreds of years. Understanding how the large systems of assets work together to provide protection from flooding is difficult and being able to articulate this to inform future flood infrastructure choices is even more challenging. “That is why our early focus has been on ‘baselining’ and I am delighted that our collaborative report is now available and that ADA (The Association of Drainage Authorities) are hosting it on their website. “This work showcases the flood infrastructure within the Great Ouse Fens, explores the economics of a do-nothing and do-minimum scenario and gives a high level overview of how current government flood funding policy would play out. It presents the initial asset management and investment challenge ahead. “The next steps are to bring it to life through visualisation tools and develop the scope for the appraisal of the long-term choices for flood protection and resilience as climate change takes hold and society’s wider aspirations for the Fens become clearer.” Rob Wise, the National Farmers Union East Anglia Environment Adviser said: “The NFU has been pleased to be working with the Environment Agency and other partners on the Future Fens project given the vital national importance of food production in the Fens. “Across the Fens as a whole the food chain is worth over £3 billion and employs 80,000 people. It is crucial that this strategic UK asset and the people who are part of it are protected from future flood risk. “The project has already produced tangible benefits in suggesting new ways to value these assets to maximise government funding, but there are important conversations to be had about filling the remaining funding gaps identified in the report.” Benefits and future funding To better understand the funding position, the project has looked at the Government’s Partnership Funding policy strategically and also worked with the National Farmers Union to create an improved approach to valuing agricultural land against the traditional method. Key findings in the report are: £17.1 billion worth of benefits from the current flood risk management measures; A further £5.3 billion of benefits to the local economy over the next 10 years; £1.8 billion investment needed over the next 100 years to sustain the current standard of service from the existing flood risk management assets; To meet this level of investment there is an additional funding requirement from beneficiaries of flood infrastructure of between £611 million and £946 million, with eligibility between £722 million and £1.1 billion of government Flood Risk Management Grant in Aid funding. (NB costs are present value) Next Phases The final elements of Phase 1 will be to work with others to develop the scope for Phase 2. Phase 2 will be a long term adaptive plan for flood infrastructure in the Fens. This will build on the approaches outlined in the National FCERM Strategy and appraise the flood infrastructure choices available for decision makers and prospective funders. What happens in the meantime? Phase 2 will start to work on a long term plan. Tactical plans have been developed for the continued management of existing flood assets between now and 2031/32. These plans identify that around £230m of capital investment is required. Report availability A copy of the Baseline Report and a Summary document can be downloaded from the Association of Drainage Authorities website
Work has begun on a multi-million pound ambulance service hub for West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) in Sandwell. Leading property developer Stoford is delivering the 76,000 sq ft purpose-built hub, the largest hub of its kind in the country, which will eventually house about 350 operational ambulance staff. Contractor McLaren Construction is now on the seven-acre site in Shidas Lane, Oldbury, and aims to complete the hub, which will also include a facility for the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), fleet maintenance and vehicle preparation areas, the Trust’s Education and Training Academy and central stores, next spring. It will be open in time for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which kicks off in July 2022, and will be used as a staging point for the Trust’s preparations for one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Tony Nash, Director at Stoford, said: “This is a significant development for West Midlands Ambulance Service and an important national infrastructure project, so we’re pleased to have made a start on delivering the scheme, just a short time after we received planning approval. “As a former quarry site that was undeveloped for 15 years, it is a technically challenging building project, so receiving financial support from the West Midlands Combined Authority to make it viable has been crucial in getting it ready for development.” Craig Cooke, WMAS Director of Strategic Operations, added: “This is an important hub for the Service not just for the Commonwealth Games but for our ongoing ability to deliver high quality care to the people of Birmingham and the Black Country. “It will also see a major upgrade in our central stores facility, which has played such a vital role during the pandemic, but also a big step forward in facilities for our Education & Training team and the Hazardous Area Response Team. “Talking to staff, they are excited to see the new building developed and we will be working with them to ensure it fully meets their needs.” The development is the first of its kind for funding partner Assura, as it continues to expand the range of local healthcare infrastructure it supports for primary care networks and NHS Trusts. Jonathan Murphy, Assura CEO, said: “This hub will provide a much-needed new base for emergency health services in the West Midlands. We are particularly proud to be playing our part in such an important piece of the health infrastructure that will sit around the Commonwealth Games, at a time when the eyes of the world will be on the region.” WMAS serves a population of 5.6 million people and covers an area of more than 5,000 square miles, comprising Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands. The hub will achieve the BREEAM Excellence rating and will accommodate 365 parking spaces, including ten disabled spaces and 70 ambulance spaces.
In response to the construction industry’s drive to build a more sustainable future, Sika’s Roofing experts are hosting a live online launch event for its new Green Roof systems on 1 June 2021. All attendees will be in with a chance of winning their very own bee hotel. The launch will cover everything an architect or contractor needs to know about the sustainability and economic benefits of green roofs and what to consider when specifying one. The event is free to attend and suitable for any construction professionals who are interested in the future of sustainable building solutions. During the 45 min session, experts from Sika’s Roofing Team, including Sustainability Manager Sarah Peake, will cover a number of topics, including understanding what constitutes a green roof, the benefits they provide, the different types Sika will provide and their suitability to certain applications, as well as the required design considerations. The launch will close with a Q&A session. Sika’s new systems, available from June, provide solutions for three types of green roofing build-ups – extensive, intensive and biodiverse. These systems will be available as part of a complete, high-performance package from Sika that also includes the waterproofing element of the roof – whether this is hotmelt, reinforced bitumen membrane, single ply or cold-applied liquid solutions. The new Sika Green Roof will be backed by the same trusted technical support that the company has continuously provided over the years. From initial design and specification through to installation, site inspections and final sign off of the roof, Sika’s technical expertise is available every step of the way. As an added bonus, Sika is giving ten lucky attendees the chance to win a bee hotel to aid biodiversity in their own gardens and outdoor spaces. These small structures are designed to be the perfect breeding places for solitary bees, which naturally nest in hollow stems, earth banks or dead wood.
The employee-owned business has utilised its team of in-house experts to source the sustainable future of bottle packaging. Flexi-Hex sleeves are produced from 85% recycled paper and can be easily recycled after use, supporting the environmentally conscious technology. The pinch top box ensures a completely plastic-free design by eliminating the need for tape while providing a safe and secure fastening. Used in conjunction, these products provide excellent protection while minimising environmental impact. The unique honeycomb-inspired structure features expandable hexagonal cells, demonstrating professional engineering and innovation alongside a sensitivity to the environment: ideal values to convey to your customer. Flexi-Hex products significantly enhance the unboxing experience, which is crucial for securing repeat customers and establishing a reputable brand image. Hexagons are renowned for their structural strength. Hence, this sleeve is perfectly tailored toward delicate items including glass bottles, ceramics or homeware. The cellular construction intertwines optimal strength with incredible flexibility, enabling you to compress the sleeves for space-saving storage before opening them up to protect your goods. This versatility is tailormade for guarding against any knocks and drops that can occur in transit, granting your goods an exceptional level of protection. Balance environmental values, excellent functionality and maximum value for money with the Flexi-Hex sleeves, complete with the additional pinch top box. For more information on Kite Packaging please visit kitepackaging.co.uk.
Living in New York City can be a dream come true for many people. The bright lights, the celebrities all around, the city that never sleeps. But finding somewhere to live at an affordable rate can be nigh impossible, with the rent trends in New York constantly changing. One option that can help with that is renting a no fee apartment from the owner rather than a property management team or developer. By-owner apartments in NYC can typically be found at a cheaper rate even in a potentially better location. Best of all, by owner apartments have no broker fees. But they can be hard to find sometimes. To make it easier, we’ve created this comprehensive guide on finding by-owner apartments in NYC. We’ll cover everything you need to know to make the process far less daunting and hopefully get you into a great apartment in no time. So let’s dive right into here, here’s everything to keep in mind when looking for by-owner apartments in New York City. Finding For Rent By-Owner Apartments in NYC New York City has one of the most lively real estate markets in the entire world, so you won’t have trouble finding apartments for rent throughout the city. But the vast majority of the apartments on the market are owned by developers, real estate companies, or property developers. So finding by-owner apartments for rent can be a bit of a struggle, but here a few tips and tricks to keep in mind that will make it much easier: Ask friends and other people from the area — One of the most effective ways to find apartments for rent by the owner in NYC is just through word of mouth. NYC is a big place, sure. But word travels fast, so if you put the word out there to friends and other people that you know, you’ll be surprised at how fast you can hear something. People that are looking to rent out the apartments that they own want to find someone to move in, so it works both ways. Check social media and online posting boards — Facebook Marketplace has become one of the best places not only to find good deals on items or vehicles but also for homes to rent or buy. Similarly, checking online posting boards like Craigslist will go a long way towards finding a great place. Since big companies won’t use these means to advertise, almost all of the deals you find will be for rent by-owner, making the search way easier. Use real estate listing sites — NYC real estate sites like Streeteasy and PropertyClub can be a great place to find by owner listings. Listing sites like these usually also have filters that allow you to only look for options that are listed as by-owner or no fee to skip the need to sift through all the extra stuff. Things to Keep in Mind When Looking at NYC By-Owner Apartments If you’re looking to score a good deal on a high-quality New York City apartment, then by-owner units will typically be your best bet. But sometimes people get caught up in the great value and end up being part of a scam. Here are a few things to keep in the back of your mind during your search for by-owner apartments in NYC: Ensure that the person who’s listing the apartment for rent is actually the owner of the unit. Do a quick online property search to see if you can find the current owner of the property while simultaneously confirming that the address is a legitimate place that can be rented out. Never pay cash for anything that has to do with the transaction, including the deposit. If you give someone cash because they’ve convinced you that they’re the owner, they could easily walk off with your money and you will never hear from them again. Use something that can be traced, such as a check. Verify the landlord/owner’s photo identification before making a deal and starting to transfer any money between parties. Ensure that the person you’re dealing with truly is who they’re claiming to be. Benefits of Looking for By-Owner Apartments in NYC If there were no benefits to renting by-owner apartments in NYC, then there’d be no reason to do so! Let’s take a look at a few of the key reasons why it might be worth it to look for one. Affordability By far the biggest reason to consider looking for a by-owner apartment in NYC is the lower rent that typically comes with them. As one of the most expensive real estate locales in the world, finding a deal in NYC can be tough. But by-owner apartments can often be rented for a lower price, and you also won’t have to worry about broker fees. Easier to Negotiate This one goes hand in hand with being more affordable, but it’s often far easier to negotiate rent when you’re dealing with a single landlord. The big property management companies that own most of the apartments in the city need to charge certain prices to cover all of their bills while also ensuring that they aren’t giving deals to some people and not others. That could lead to a whole slew of issues for them that they just simply don’t want to deal with. More Accommodating Landlords A single landlord is also typically going to be a bit more accommodating for their tenants. If you’re a great tenant and you end up being a day or two late on rent one month, many of them won’t mind as long as you communicate the delay and let them know. They’ll also typically have far fewer rules and regulations when it comes to living in their unit than the standards put in place by established property management companies. Are There Any Reasons for Not Renting By-Owner Apartments? Fortunately, the benefits of renting by-owner apartments in NYC greatly outweigh the potential disadvantages, as long as you’re vigilant and careful during your search. The
