Halkin Investments CEO Becomes Non-Executive Chairman As part of ME Developments strategy to deliver £400m of new homes over the next 36 months, the Surrey-based residential developer has announced the formation of an Advisory Board and the appointment of a Non-Executive Chairman. Bashir Ahmad, CEO of Halkin Investments, becomes ME
Providing a complete energy efficient solution for household heating, NIBE Energy Systems has launched a selection Solar PV panels to power its heat pumps and expanded its range of smart home accessories to maximize indoor comfort and climate control. The new range builds on the heat pump manufacturer’s plans to
A £150m not-for-profit regeneration scheme bringing improved community facilities, new affordable homes and an innovative education hub to White City in west London is to begin this month following approval of an agreement between Ark, a national education charity, and Hammersmith & Fulham Council (H&F). The plans include the building
AN ESTABLISHED eight-acre city-centre industrial park has been snapped up following a multi-million-pound deal completed by commercial property agent Innes England. Bar Lane Industrial Park, located in Basford, Nottingham, features 10,497 sq. metres of industrial accommodation with over 20 tenants in situ. Due to its popularity, the unique freehold
The UK suspended ceilings and partitioning systems market was worth an estimated £283m in 2020, having declined by an estimated 16% due to the impact of the pandemic. The overall market for suspended ceiling and partitioning products is relatively mature and primarily dependent on construction and refurbishment activity in the
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of
A social landlord has created its first ever safe house in the Midlands. Platform Property Care – a subsidiary of Platform Housing Group, one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has reinforced a customer’s home after she ended an abusive relationship. The decision was taken to undertake the work so that the customer could remain in her home with her children, allowing
Insulated panels are high-quality building systems for commercial and residential construction. They’re sometimes referred to as structural insulated panels and they have an insulating structure that’s located beneath two structured facings. Insulated panels are made from durable materials, and an excellent feature of these panels is one can fabricate them
Sadly, summer days are not always sunny and bright. As with any season, rain can come and go at the worst times and in the summer especially this can scupper your plans for the day. But when the rain does fall at home, why not consider making the most of
The construction industry is one of the prominent commerce that needs a lot of work. The quality of the materials utilized, particularly in this kind of business, may often make the best of a bad situation. The statement is especially true in the construction industry, where failure may have severe
Halkin Investments CEO Becomes Non-Executive Chairman As part of ME Developments strategy to deliver £400m of new homes over the next 36 months, the Surrey-based residential developer has announced the formation of an Advisory Board and the appointment of a Non-Executive Chairman. Bashir Ahmad, CEO of Halkin Investments, becomes ME Developments Non-Executive Chairman. ME Developments has plans to expand across the Home Counties and outskirts of London, benefitting from a buoyant residential property market. This market activity has increased the availability of innovative funding available from institutions and international investors who recognise the opportunity in the UK’s residential property sector. The company has plans to build over 1,000 houses and apartments over the next three years. ME Developments is a vertically integrated developer with in-house construction, planning and design teams and its chain of estate agencies, all of whom will facilitate the expansion plans. As part of the company’s plans, it has formed a separate division, ‘ME City’, seeking to embark on a series of 200+ unit urban regeneration schemes working in tandem with landowners, shopping centre operators and local authorities. ME City will embark on a plan to revive and bring life back to high streets by combining commercial, residential, and leisure uses. Simon Marshall, Co-founder and CEO of ME Developments commented… “I am delighted His Excellency and Lord Lamont have joined us on our advisory board and that Bashir has accepted the role of Non-Executive Chairman of the board. As we expand, their experience and guidance will be fundamental to our success and help us achieve our 1,000 homes in 36 months target. Beyond that, we are committed to making ME Developments one of the UK’s leading residential developers contributing positively to the UK economy and creating jobs. Gerry Waters, Co-founder and COO of ME Developments, commented… “We continue to build high quality homes across London and the Home Counties that meet the demands of expanding families and the demographic shifts brought on by Covid-19. With considerable opportunities ahead of us to build even more homes, we are delighted to now be working with an Advisory Board of such esteemed individuals who, along with Bashir, can ensure we achieve our aspirations and beyond”. Bashir Ahmad, Non-Executive Chairman, commented… “ME Developments is a tremendously exciting company. They have the skills and drive to become leaders in their field, and I am delighted to be part of the team to deliver much-needed housing across London and the Home Counties. I will be working with ME management team to take the company to the next level and create value for its clients, investors, staff and shareholders. I am very excited to be part of such an enthusiastic group of people! His Excellency Shaukat Aziz and Lord Lamont commented… “It is clear the UK has a desperate need for housing, and we are delighted to advise ME Developments as they strive to deliver homes where supply remains limited. The company’s executives are committed to delivering high-quality homes, and we are looking forward to aiding and advising them on their journey.” About ME Developments ME Developments is a dynamic Surrey-based residential developer focused on delivering quality housing across London and the Home Counties. Established in 2014, the company has already completed £100m of housing projects ranging from luxury homes to urban apartments, each of which demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing quality homes and unrivalled attention to detail. The company was co-founded by ex-Alhokair Plc (Saudi listed) CEO Simon Marshall and Gerry Waters, along with several industry experts across a range of activities from construction through to design and marketing. As a fully integrated organisation, the company delivers all aspects of the design process in-house and ultimately sells completed units via its chain of estate agencies. About His Excellency Shaukat Aziz His Excellency Mr Shaukat Aziz was elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan and served from 2004 – 2007, following five years as Finance Minister from 1999. Mr Aziz was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan to complete a full term in office. Mr Aziz restored his country’s credibility at home and abroad and is renowned for his strategic approach, structural reforms, transparency and ability to focus on what is best, not simply what is politically expedient. His policies were based on liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation, accompanied by strong regulatory oversight. Mr Aziz’s tenure was marked by high economic growth, increased per capita income, poverty reduction, an upsurge in investments and improved debt and economic indicators. He became Finance Minister in 1999 and was named “Finance Minister of the year” for 2001 by Euromoney and The Banker magazine. As Prime Minister, Mr Aziz co-chaired the UN Secretary Generals Committee to promote reform and coherence at the United Nations. In recognition of his services to Pakistan, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by his Alma Mater, The Institute of Business Administration, University of Karachi, Pakistan. In 2014 Mr Aziz was appointed Senior Visiting Research Fellow at Green Templeton College, Oxford University, United Kingdom, where he also chairs their annual Emerging Markets Forum. Having presided over impressive economic growth in his country, Mr Aziz offers an expert view. He is a frequent speaker on the world’s challenges, including structural reforms, diplomacy, geopolitics and security. Mr Aziz is a member of several boards and advisory boards of various commercial and non-profit entities worldwide. About Lord Norman Lamont Lord Lamont (Norman Lamont) was at the centre of British politics for many years. He was a Cabinet Minister under both Margaret Thatcher and John Major and was a member of the House of Commons for twenty-five years. Norman Lamont was Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) from 1990-1993 and introduced three Budgets. He inherited the policy of membership of the ERM, which made it a difficult and controversial time to be Chancellor. This culminated in Britain’s exit from the ERM in September 1992. Many Economists have attributed much of the economic stability and low inflation enjoyed in his first years by Gordon Brown to the
Providing a complete energy efficient solution for household heating, NIBE Energy Systems has launched a selection Solar PV panels to power its heat pumps and expanded its range of smart home accessories to maximize indoor comfort and climate control. The new range builds on the heat pump manufacturer’s plans to offer customers a smarter and more connected home. New NIBE PV Package to Power Heat Pumps Homes with a NIBE heat pump and PV package can benefit from the production of free solar to power heating, hot water and cooling needs, while reducing carbon emissions and energy bills all year round. A key part of the connected home, NIBE solar-powered heat pumps offer greater control over household energy consumption via the NIBE Uplink technology, automatically adjusting the indoor climate for optimal indoor comfort. The NIBE PV package is comprised of monocrystalline silicone cell panels using PERC technology for maximum efficiency, available in two sizes with an elegant all-black design. Each base package consists of 10 panels with a nominal power of 3.6 kW, mounting parts and a suitable inverter with a communication module, all of which are ready for installation. New Smart Home Accessories The new range of myUplink wireless smart home accessories compliments the NIBE S-Series heat pumps, providing more comfortable, precise room-by-room or ‘zone-by-zone’ climate control. Delivering comfort through connectivity, each of the smart home accessories connects in a mesh network arrangement, communicating with each other to create a simpler but more advanced home. Each accessory is a small unit which can easily be mounted on the wall and connected to an S-Series heat pump, automatically adjusting the temperature, humidity and CO2 levels for high comfort and low energy consumption. Included in the range is the myUplink RPP 10 UK Repeater Plug, the THS 10 Temperature Humidity Sensor, the RPP CDS 10 Carbon Dioxide Sensor, the ROT 10 Room Thermostat, and the NIBE RMU S40 Room Unit. Phil Hurley, Managing Director at NIBE Energy Systems commented: “We are really pleased to be launching this new range of myUplink Smart Home Accessories and to be building on our promise to continuously update our products with new functions and accessories. It was a proud moment for us last year when we launched the S-Series range of heat pumps, and it is brilliant to be able to build on their offering today with the launch of accessories that will make sure our customers can truly make the most of them. Technology never stops developing or improving, and neither do we. “The launch of our PV Package is another big moment for us, and we look forward to now being able to offer our customers the full integrated package they need to truly harness the power of nature to heat their home. We are, as ever, committed to making it easy to be smart.” To find out more about the new product range, please visit https://www.nibe.eu/en-gb/products/s-series For more information on NIBE Energy Systems and its range of products, follow @NIBEEnergy on Twitter and NIBE Energy Systems Limited on LinkedIn.
A £150m not-for-profit regeneration scheme bringing improved community facilities, new affordable homes and an innovative education hub to White City in west London is to begin this month following approval of an agreement between Ark, a national education charity, and Hammersmith & Fulham Council (H&F). The plans include the building of a new primary school, nursery and adult education centre, as well as a state-of-the-art youth zone and 132 affordable homes. A modern office building will become the future home of Ark and other organisations. Work will begin this month on what has been known as the EdCity scheme following a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will regenerate the site between South Africa Road and Australia Road and include: a new building for Ark Swift Primary Academy with state-of-the art IT and modern classrooms, and access to a range of sports and performing arts facilities; 132 new council-owned affordable homes for local people; a new building for Harmony Nursery to increase capacity to 75 children; a new OnSide Youth Zone providing sporting, creative and social activities and opportunities for local young people; an expanded adult education and community learning centre providing training and life-long learning opportunities for local residents; a new 100,000 sq ft office space for up to 1,000 jobs and a new permanent home for Ark and other organisations and businesses; a new landscaped public square with a pedestrian and cycle route, directly linking residential areas to the redeveloped White City business and transport hubs. H&F Leader Cllr Stephen Cowan said: “This project will bring tangible benefits to the local community with a new school and nursery, a youth zone and improved adult education services. There will be new, affordable homes for local people, improvements to public areas and jobs will be relocated here. Partnerships are a central feature of our Industrial Strategy benefiting this previously-neglected part of the borough, so I am delighted we can now get this work under way.” Ark CEO Lucy Heller said: “These exciting plans will bring significant improvements to education provision in White City, including a new modern building for pupils at Ark Swift primary school. Alongside other community facilities, the scheme will also provide a new home for Ark to support our work with schools and ventures across the country and to foster collaboration with other organisations working in the wider education system.” Mark Davies, Chair of WEST Youth Zone, said: “It’s fantastic that we can now progress with this exciting development, and I am delighted that WEST Youth Zone will be a part of it. Once open, the Youth Zone will provide all young people of the borough with an amazing facility where they can take part in a wide range of activities, make new friends and gain support from our team of dedicated youth workers.” The office building will provide highly efficient Grade A space designed to a BREEAM rating of “Excellent”. Two floors are pre-let to Ark and its partner organisations with a further 80,000 sq ft available to rent. The development will be carried out in two phases with initial works starting this month. Demolition will take place during the summer and autumn. The new school, youth zone and office will be open in the second half of 2023 as well as some of the new homes. The remaining changes will be fully completed in 2025. The plans have been developed following local consultation and final planning approval was granted in 2020. The funding agreements were approved by H&F’s Cabinet on 5 July 2021. The scheme is jointly funded by the Ark charity and H&F and is supported by grants from central government and the GLA.
AN ESTABLISHED eight-acre city-centre industrial park has been snapped up following a multi-million-pound deal completed by commercial property agent Innes England. Bar Lane Industrial Park, located in Basford, Nottingham, features 10,497 sq. metres of industrial accommodation with over 20 tenants in situ. Due to its popularity, the unique freehold opportunity eventually went to best bids and was secured by Meadow Lane Services Ltd, a well-established investor in the region. The industrial park, which will continue to be run as an industrial estate, proved to be highly attractive due to its underlying development potential for a mixed-use scheme. It is in a prime location within a 15-minute drive to the centre of Nottingham and is home to a number of existing local businesses, including shed, metal, fencing and insulation providers as well as other industrial suppliers. Scott Osborne, director at Innes England who secured the sale said: “We are really pleased to have got this substantial deal over the line. It is a sizeable deal with well-established industrial accommodation and is in the perfect location close to the city centre. We received a lot of interest early on, due to the size and scale of the estate but I am now pleased it has been secured for a large amount and we wish Meadow Lane Services the best with the site moving forwards.” Dritan Skenderaj, director at Meadow Lane Services, said: “We are really pleased to have secured the site at Bar Lane Industrial Park. As well offering large industrial space, it is in close proximity to the city centre, and will certainly appeal to a number of businesses looking for somewhere new or to expand. We are excited to provide local businesses with an excellent central hub to grow from and offer the space they need to help their business be a success.” Matt Hannah, managing director at Innes England, said: “We have been advising on the site for some time with our development services reviewing the opportunity, the management team taking over the day-to-day operations and our agency team selecting active buyers with direct approaches leading to a successful sale.” Brett Artus, asset manager for the private vendor, said, “We are delighted with this result. With our professional team at Innes England and Waymark we have worked hard to try and maximise the potential of this site and we are confident that Meadow Lane Services will make the most of that potential. “Innes England and Waymark have provided considerable expertise in preparing the site for sale and managing a very well targeted marketing campaign. Their unrivalled local knowledge generated considerable interest and ultimately secured the sale. My client is very pleased and I would like to thank all involved at Innes England and Waymark for their professionalism and commitment throughout.” Innes England and Heb Surveyors have now been retained by the purchaser to act as agents on the site and continue to let vacant units. Find out more at http://www.innes-england.com or join the conversation at @InnesEngland.
The UK suspended ceilings and partitioning systems market was worth an estimated £283m in 2020, having declined by an estimated 16% due to the impact of the pandemic. The overall market for suspended ceiling and partitioning products is relatively mature and primarily dependent on construction and refurbishment activity in the non-domestic sector, particularly offices, education, retail, entertainment & leisure, and health. Suspended ceilings are typically installed towards the end of a construction project and partitions are generally fitted upon tenant occupation, so there is a delayed impact compared to changes in construction levels. The market experienced growth to 2018 and was relatively static in 2019, before declining significantly in 2020, primarily due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the initial lockdown, construction levels recovered throughout 2020 and have continued into 2021 as government guidance indicated that the manufacturing and construction sectors could continue to work. This led to an improvement in market performance improve with growth forecast for the year to 31 December 2021. During 2020, the pandemic significantly impacted market growth levels, particularly during the first national lockdown from mid-March. At the peak impact of the Covid-19 lockdown measures in the Q2 2020 many working sites were closed although some activity resumed relatively with the easing of lockdown. Despite the implementation of social distancing measures, overall construction and RMI output grew during H2 2020. For the year, however, it is estimated that the suspended ceilings and partitions market fell by around 16% in 2020. Perhaps one of the most significant developments due to the 2020 lockdowns was the change in working patterns, with people working from home where possible. Any permanent shift in where and how people work is likely to have a lasting impact on the market. The office sector was changing prior to the pandemic but faster adoption of more flexible patterns may accelerate this movement further. Construction in the office sector has fluctuated since 2016, being on a downward trajectory overall. Many companies are reviewing their need and use for office space. Recently ministers have said they want to consider proposals for giving office staff a ‘default’ right to work from home. However, there are concerns by some that this would allow companies to employ workers from abroad, which may impact employment levels in the UK. Alex Blagden, Senior Research Analyst at AMA Research, comments “One of the key factors expected to impact on future demand for suspended ceilings and partitioning is the current change in working practices in offices, largely brought about by the pandemic. While some employers have been encouraging staff to return to the office in 2021, others have – including some major employers – have permanently closed many of their offices and/or changed working practices to full-time or part-time remote working.” Due to the current high number of offices that are vacant or with lower density occupation office blocks, combined with uncertainty among investors, speculative office construction activity has fallen. However, Since Q3 2020 in London there has been a marked increase in starts, with more than half being major refurbishments and the remainder mostly pre-let newbuilds. Refurbishment has centred on reformatting offices to make them both more ’eco friendly’ and more Covid-19 secure. Across the UK, it is likely this is being replicated, so generating requirements for partitioning in open plan spaces and hygienic suspended ceiling tiles. Prospects for the suspended ceilings and partitions market into the medium-term are relatively optimistic with forecast growth to around £335m by 2025. Prospects for the short term remain challenging as construction output growth rates fell in 2020, feeding through to reduced demand for suspended ceilings and partitions.
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of the past. However, against all odds, amidst a fast-deteriorating retail landscape, one company was able to complete the construction of a mall visited by over two million shoppers in its first three weeks of opening. Westfield Group’s Westfield Shopping Mall, in White City, West London, became the largest covered shopping development in London in October of that year. It began with a retail floor area of 1,600,000 sq. ft., and with additional investment and expansion, by 2018 it became the largest shopping centre in Europe, with an area of 2,600,000 sq. ft. To ensure the mall was completed on time despite the poor economic climate, commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, sought the aid of cloud-based software platform, Zutec, for Phases 1 and 2 of the project from 2007 until present. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was formed in 2018 when Unibail-Rodamco SE, a European company, acquired Australian shopping centre operator Westfield Corporation, and has the largest development pipeline in the industry. Phase 1 In 2007, Westfield Design & Construction (now part of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield) procured Zutec to manage the handover and completion process for the first phase of the shopping centre. When the mall opened the following year, the platform became a powerful tool for the management team, who used it to access interactive and digital operations and maintenance manuals, continuously upload retail fit-out information onto the platform, and update both capital and minor works to maintain a Source of Truth for the entire facility. Phase 2 From 2017 onwards, Westfield D&C once again procured Zutec for the handover and BIM data management and integration of Westfield London’s £600 million Phase 2 retail extension, as well as the URW UK Head Office Building and Newall Court. Early engagement with Westfield’s management team, via workshop sessions held with key management personnel, was crucial to success during the implementation of the software for this phase of the project, which included adding 740,000 sq. ft. of retail space. During this time, Zutec evolved from an interactive folder structure for the capturing of handover information, to a 3D Model Management and Visualisation Solution, and repository for all BIM attributes linked to Asset Registers and Manuals/Documents. Benefits The project was a success due to the multitude of benefits Zutec provides its customers. The platform, which is used for all project data to be defined, captured and managed throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, allowed Westfield quicker access to information, enhanced knowledge of built assets, a reduction in existing condition surveys and a faster reaction time in emergencies. Zutec continues to be utilised as a single Source of Truth, where the as-built records, changes and modifications which take place throughout the facility’s life cycle continue to be updated and maintained. Commenting on the partnership, Zutec’s Global Head of Digitalisation, Tom Boland, said: “This project has been one of our greatest achievements, and we are proud to have been involved from the very beginning. It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication on both sides that Westfield was able to open its doors on time and achieve the level of success that it has experienced to this day. We hope to continue this more than 10-year-long partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and collaborate on equally groundbreaking projects in the coming years.”
A social landlord has created its first ever safe house in the Midlands. Platform Property Care – a subsidiary of Platform Housing Group, one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has reinforced a customer’s home after she ended an abusive relationship. The decision was taken to undertake the work so that the customer could remain in her home with her children, allowing her to keep living in the local area where her support network is, and, crucially, to feel safe and secure. Glyn Howard, Lead Engineer at Platform Property Care and the initiative’s designer and project manager said : “Keeping our customers safe and ensuring they have the right level of home security to suit their circumstances is a vital part of the service we provide. We are absolutely delighted with the finished product and wish our customer and her family many safe and happy years in their home.” The work included : Iron gates and slatted wooden gates to the side of the property with secure latches; A dusk to dawn light above the front door; An outward opening 44mm solid core fire rated door on the main bedroom. The organisation currently supports customers who are victims of domestic abuse by listening, providing advice, signposting to other specialist agencies, operating safety checks in homes to ensure survivors feel safe as well as dealing directly with perpetrators. This latest project will be included in the company’s application to DAHA – or the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance; this year, will see the social landlord become accredited within best practice guidelines as set out by the government backed DAHA initiative. Having established the first accreditation for housing providers, as a member of DAHA, Platform Housing Group will aim to always deal with victims of domestic abuse in a fair, patient and consistent manner. It will also show its commitment to the issue as well as providing ongoing employee training. The housing association is part of The Drive Partnership which is made up of Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance. It challenges perpetrators of domestic abuse aiming to fundamentally change perpetrator behaviour to make victims and families safe. Duncan Palmer, Head of Responsive Repairs at Platform Property Care concluded : “We firmly believe that all of our customers and employees should not live in fear of violence or abuse from a partner, former partner or any other member of their household. As a large provider of affordable housing we have a significant role to play in tackling and preventing domestic abuse. “Domestic abuse impacts upon all communities, creating a sense of fear and the potential for reprisals and criminal activity. It is a serious and widespread crime affecting all members of our society, including children.” Statistics surrounding domestic abuse in the UK make for sobering reading : 1 in 4 women will experience some form of domestic abuse within their lives; A staggering 2 women a week are killed by their partner or former partner; 1in 4 LGBT relationships is abusive; The average victim will suffer more than 50 incidents before reporting; Worryingly, the number one barrier preventing women from leaving abusive situations is housing. Platform Housing Group – which owns 46,000 homes in total – completed 1448 homes in 2019/20 (1,598 in 2018/19) at an investment of £258m (£228m in 2018/19). The Group also built more social rented homes – at a figure of 981 – during the past 2 years in England than any other provider, 523 in 2019/20, almost 33% of the total homes built. Platform Housing Group’s operating area is from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South. If you are a Platform Housing Group customer and is experiencing domestic abuse, please call 0333 200 7304. For further information please contact Duncan Palmer, Head of Responsive Repairs at Platform Property Care on Duncan.Palmer@Platformhg.com.
Insulated panels are high-quality building systems for commercial and residential construction. They’re sometimes referred to as structural insulated panels and they have an insulating structure that’s located beneath two structured facings. Insulated panels are made from durable materials, and an excellent feature of these panels is one can fabricate them to suit almost all building designs. The panels aren’t only affordable but they’re also energy-friendly and they usually yield a very strong building. Precisely, building your structures using insulated panels saves you labor, money, and time. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are employed in several businesses such as construction, aerospace, and automotive. When the panels are brought to you right from the factory, they’re ready for use instantly. The good news is one can use them for roof, ceiling, or wall. One can fit them as a supportive structure and use them as a covering at the same time. When this is done, be sure that the insulation properties are being maximized. Due to the aforementioned properties, insulated panels are popular today for their use as roofs in residential houses, construction of lightweight halls, and soundproof materials in drywall buildings. Read on to know more about choosing and installing insulated panels. Factors To Consider When Choosing Insulated Panels Insulated panels aren’t hard to be found. Initially, these panels were limited to be used in the industrial sector. However, their use today is diverse as they’re now employed in gyms, schools, churches, homes, transport terminals, and sports centers. Still, deciding which insulated panel to use can be a technical task. The most affordable panel like polystyrene may not be your best choice at times. Worse, it can compromise productivity, interfering with the efficiency of the building or even risking the life of the users. With this, several factors should be considered before choosing an insulating panel. Here are the following: 1. Purpose Of The Building Considering the use of the structure, a panel for both wall and ceiling will differ. For instance, office buildings require smoother panels in comparison to product warehouses. Thus, it’s important to identify the purpose of the building before choosing an insulated panel as this will help determine the best material to choose. No one wants to risk their lives or have a structure that won’t last because of using poor materials. 2. Technical Considerations This refers to the factors affecting the safety of the construction. One of these is the features of the panel regarding load resistance on the roof. This is a crucial parameter for those living in areas with harsh winters. Another factor is wind resistance. For all buildings with a huge height or those on the coast, this too should be considered. For locations with hurricanes or other related phenomena, the panel to be used should be wind-resistant as well. Again, water tightness and major and secondary structures of the construction should be taken into account too. 3. Climate The climate is a key determinant in choosing the panel to install in your building. For example, the coast has considerably salty air, so this aspect is vital to determine the type of paint to be used. If your residence is in a hot area, an insulating panel that’s reflective is the best option. In addition, rain, snow, humidity, and wind need to be assessed to choose the best panel. 4. Insulation Features The thermal feature is important and determined by the form core used, the material, and the thickness. For example, one can’t use a similar panel for a cold warehouse and a furniture store. With this said, before picking a panel for one’s building, it’s crucial to consider the R-value. R-value refers to a rating that’s used in defining the thermal resistance of a material per square inch. There are usually minimum fixed R-values for all new residences, and they vary among different jurisdictions. To lower energy bills, one is advised to set the R-value above the lowest specified value. To determine one’s R-value, get a professional to provide it, which is usually after considering one’s specification in mind. 5. Aesthetics Aesthetics is a principal factor in architecture. The appealing effect of a building covers the combined aspects of a building’s size, texture, shape, unity, color, balance, contrast, emphasis, space, symmetry, proportion, decoration, pattern, alignment, context, and culture. A building shouldn’t only satisfy durability, safety, serviceability, but also aesthetics. Though peoples’ needs vary, it’s important to pick insulated panels that’ll give your building a stylish and modern appearance. 6. Ecological Aspects The insulating panel to be used should have recycling properties, reduced energy use, and a low effect on the environment. Consumers and businesses are opting for green choices. Thus, pick a panel with reduced carbon footprints. Rest assured that this doesn’t mean the panel will be low in efficiency and productivity. 7. Materials Used To Build Your Home The materials used in constructing your residence pose a big impact on the thermal mass you’ll be tackling. Materials like concrete and brick have the potential to store heat and release it slowly. Thus, the building material is a key factor to consider before picking an insulated panel. Again, one should also examine windows and doors. This is because double-glazed windows will result in saving huge amounts of heat in one’s home. Insulating panels aren’t similar. They come in different materials, among other differences. The most expensive panel may not always be the best one for your building, so it’s advisable to go through the characteristics of the insulated panels to choose one that fully fits your project. The above-discussed factors will greatly help one in picking ideal panels. Installing Insulated Panels A crew of 3-4 people is needed in the installation process of these panels. A few types of equipment are required other than construction tools, including sealant guns, circular saws, band saws, and other materials. One can install the panels from a lift or the ground. Materials may be staged on the ground level or interior floors. Typically, panel installation results
Sadly, summer days are not always sunny and bright. As with any season, rain can come and go at the worst times and in the summer especially this can scupper your plans for the day. But when the rain does fall at home, why not consider making the most of a rainy day by doing a few DIYs? Whether before or during a rainy day, these DIYs will help you spruce up the home and bring it back to life. Repaint the house Repainting your house now and again is an important piece of maintenance to make your house shine. You can take all of those random half paint tins you have around the house and use them to top up the paint colours in every room. Even if you think your walls are white, once you apply a fresh coat you’ll see how much it has faded! Clean your grout Grout between the tiles of your bathroom or kitchen can be a pain to keep clean, and over time the brig white grout will turn to a greyish colour that looks mucky and dull. To prevent this happening, why not consider cleaning your grout this week while it’s raining outside? A mixture of baking soda and water can be used as a thick paste and applied with a toothbrush to your grout. Scrub well and rinse off to reveal bright white colour once more. This will make a big difference to your tiles and it will make the whole room look cleaner. Fix the roof This is not a tip for the rainy day itself – but rather in preparation for it. Getting round to fixing a leaking roof can be an arduous task, but it is important to do this as soon as you spot an issue to keep the structural integrity of your property. The next time you see that rain is around the corner, make sure to fix the roof and ensure that it is sealed and dry ready for the downpour. Deep clean the carpets One great task for you to do now and again at home is deep cleaning the carpets. This is a job you can do once or twice a year – but a rainy day is the ideal time to do this. Use a vax machine to steam clean your carpets and get rid of any dirt that is deep within the fibres. Make sure to turn the heating on afterwards to help the house dry and keep you cosy. Rearrange the space On a rainy day you might want to play around with the arrangement of your home and consider different ways to place furniture in your rooms. This is a great idea now and again because it will instantly refresh the home and ensure that it looks clean, tidy, and spacious once more. Plus, it can be fun changing things up once in a while. Use some of these ideas to perform DIY on your home for a rainy day.
The construction industry is one of the prominent commerce that needs a lot of work. The quality of the materials utilized, particularly in this kind of business, may often make the best of a bad situation. The statement is especially true in the construction industry, where failure may have severe ramifications. Materials testing applications are usually included in the research and development process to verify that the final product satisfies quality and safety requirements. Balances and scales play a crucial function in the testing of building materials. What is the purpose of testing construction materials? There is a wide range of circumstances to evaluate the properties and behaviour of substances such as metals, masonry, concrete, and asphalt during a material testing procedure. The most apparent purpose of testing is to ensure that the finished product will perform as planned and will be able to withstand the pressures associated with that purpose. In addition to safety and economic considerations, professionals should perform material testing to verify that material is appropriate for the design and structure made on a particular place or site. How to Set Up a Field Laboratory for the Testing of Construction Materials Establishing a field laboratory to test building materials is often required in the contract agreements for large-scale construction projects. Launching a remote place may help to alleviate specific logistical difficulties. The Advantages of Using a Field Laboratory Transporting large quantities of samples or test elements to the main lab is quite expensive, time-consuming, and fraught with the possibility of materials lost or specimens bound to be damaged. Time restrictions may apply to the execution of specified tests and the reporting of findings. When the sheer number of tests needed on a single project needs to be a part of the everyday workload of a central lab, it may be difficult for them to handle. Planning the Place and Procedures Most central building materials labs begin with a few essential things and gradually add additional equipment as the demand for it arises over many years. When you have to set up a testing lab from the ground up in a short period, you must think differently. In some instances, reassigning existing equipment from the main facility may be possible if the needs are simple and will only be in place for a brief period. However, the little provision will go a long way toward securing the launch of a well-equipped remote lab and assurance of the safety of the people and the raw materials. What Methods Do We Use to Examine the Extent of Construction Materials? Materials examination and testing encompass a wide range of applications investigating the composition, biological properties, and chemical characteristics of several different materials. Even though the specific tests used vary from industry to industry, popular methods include specific gravity, unit mass tests, and density measurement. It also provides compression strength, flexural strength, permeability, tensile strength, and elasticity. Other tests might include heat capacity, thermal expansion, and drying shrinkage for some minimal materials. When determining the specific gravity of cured materials, such as concrete or asphalt, precision balances from Nimbus may be utilized. Specific gravity’s definition is a relationship between the density of a material and the density of a liquid, such as water for liquid or air, including gasses. When used with a weigh-below hook in the field, the CKT and Highland are equally effective. Still, the Highland has the additional advantage of having an internal rechargeable battery for mobility and usage on the job site. For specific gravity testing with the Nimbus precision balance, a sample needs to weigh the balance’s pan, and you need to record the resulting value. The model is then put in a basket connected to the balance’s weigh-below hook and dropped into a water container below, with Nimbus set on a tabletop with a cutout. After recording the weight of the submerged sample, comparing it to the first result, and calculating the specific gravity of the model, you need to turn off the equipment. In addition, the same procedure goes to estimate the density of a liquid. Material testing is critical in concrete production, a composite material that comes from many distinct components. Concrete is an excellent example of a product whose quality is highly reliant on materials testing results. Water, cement, and air are all used in concrete production, while good bits such as sand and coarse aggregates like gravel account for most of the total volume. To determine the hardness of the concrete, you need to consider the mix and kinds of aggregates used in its production. Examining the particular gravity of concrete is a reliable method to verify that it will withstand the weight of a structure without breaking or crumbling. What Is the Purpose of a Weighing Scale in Construction? When working on design and construction projects, it is beneficial to have an accurate weighing scale. When managing your supply of construction and design materials, keeping track of stock levels is critical. An insufficient supply of materials may prevent the project from moving further. Because of an overabundance of inventory, building goods may lie unused for extended periods, resulting in a waste of money and space. It is possible to plan and buy the appropriate supplies to accomplish your project if you weigh the items before using them. Establishing a Space for Research and Development Before purchasing equipment, consider the available space, the anticipated workload, and production, as well as the number of personnel who will be required to operate it. The ability to anticipate equipment footprints, ergonomics and test technique needs enables for more effective planning moving ahead. Their manufacturers may specify individual devices in terms of their size and operating space needs. Because it is essential to the viability and safety of a building project, it deserves special attention. Construction materials testing may show a wide range of problems relating to the overall building quality. Engineers and stakeholders may use it to identify potential hazards in the future, categorize a construction site,
