Two engineering services bodies have stepped up their health & safety advice in time for a return to more regular working conditions after ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19. The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and ECA, the engineering and electrotechnical services body, have joined forces to produce free guidance notes
Allscott Meads developer, SJ Roberts Homes, releases more family homes due to huge demand. After the success of the first two phases, Shropshire developer, SJ Roberts Homes Ltd, will be offering new houses to families at, Allscott Meads, Allscott, Shropshire. As part of Phase Three, more spacious family homes are
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed that just one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders has seen an increase in both revenue and homes delivered to the market during a tough year overshadowed by COVID-19. Warwick Estates analysed eight of Britain’s biggest housebuilders based on the latest data available on
Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has developed a digital solution to speedier customer service. The company has designed its own app, named Athena, to enable faster response times to customers and to help deliver key performance indicators. For use by staff internally, Athena was trialled at one of
National contractor Wates Construction has reached its latest significant milestone in the construction of the £73m Sandwell Aquatics Centre, in Smethwick, procured through SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading procurement authorities, with the laying of the first of 190,000 pool tiles. The occasion was marked with a ceremony held at
Building firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. The CLC is calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks
Bringing workers back from furlough is presenting employers everywhere with unique challenges – and increased risks. Claire Price from QMS International takes a closer look at what can employers do to mitigate these risks and reduce the potential for accidents? The results of the HSE’s 2019/20 report on health and
SPONSORED ARTICLE Some employees and businesses may look towards further automation with a certain level of uncertainty and concern; what would it mean for the workers and our business? The recent development of total automation in packaging and manufacturing should perhaps be considered as an opportunity rather than a threat?
SPONSORED ARTICLE When operating in a large-scale industrial environment, dust, gas and various particles can quickly accumulate if you do not have the right system to catch and process them. Industrial businesses will require a proper baghouse filter to effectively contain and eliminate unwelcome particles and harmful gases. But what
Commercial spaces have gone through different design transformations through the years. What used to be conventional office structures with cubicles and private rooms are now looking more modernized. For instance, open spaces and natural lighting are more opted by workers and business owners. Also, the cubicles have turned into working
Two engineering services bodies have stepped up their health & safety advice in time for a return to more regular working conditions after ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19. The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and ECA, the engineering and electrotechnical services body, have joined forces to produce free guidance notes for members and the wider industry alongside a warning that the pandemic has still not relaxed its grip on the industry. This updated advice draws on the expertise of more than 30 health and safety practitioners from the construction and related sectors combined with the latest government guidelines to help employers keep their operatives and members of the public safe. Although the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has announced that its Site Operating Procedures (SOPs) will no longer be mandatory from July 19, BESA and the ECA are still urging caution. “Removing legal requirements does not mean it makes sense to immediately drop all the measures that have kept people safe over the past year,” said BESA’s head of health and safety Becky Crosland. “Common sense should prevail, and we expect most sites will choose to retain a number of voluntary measures including risk assessment, the wearing of face coverings and social distancing wherever possible.” Paul Reeve, ECA’s Director or CSR and Public Affairs added: “Many in construction and wider services sectors are increasingly looking beyond 19 July to 16 August. The government announced that, from that date, double vaccination will begin to provide exemption from having to self-isolate. Implications “Many in the industry would like the 16 August date brought forward, even in the face of the practical difficulties. These range from how to encourage workers to achieve double vaccination, to the implications of government advice that workers should take a PCR test following a ‘COVID positive ping,” he added. The new publication ‘BESA/ECA Health and Safety Guidance Notes and Support for COVID 19’ will help employers navigate the next few months, according to the two bodies. It contains nine separate pieces of guidance designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in workplaces. It covers travel arrangements, working on-site and continues to reflect the latest version of the SOPs. “Although we are seeing a gradual return to something like normal life, this actually increases the risk of another surge in infections in many workplaces,” said Crosland. “That is why it is more important than ever to have robust safety regimes in place and to be aware of the latest guidance on reducing exposure and the possibility of transmission. “The industry has done an amazing job over the past 16 months to keep operating under the most difficult of conditions and still managing health and safety, but we absolutely must not relax now, or we risk another lockdown,” she added. “That is why we are urging everyone across the sector to take advantage of this free guidance and of the expertise both associations can provide on a daily basis.” The notes, which are downloadable for free from the BESA and ECA websites, provide advice on social distancing, hand washing/ sanitising, cleaning of all contactable surfaces and equipment etc. There is also guidance on how employers should plan activities to avoid unnecessary proximity (less than 2m) and carry out risk assessments. Communication is a key part of this planning with employers urged to consult their workforces and remind them of their responsibilities to themselves, colleagues, and the public. BESA was also the first training provider to fully integrate Site Operating Procedures (SOPs) into its health and safety courses. The online BESA Academy embedded a series of mandatory SOP questions into the SKILLcard application process making it a requirement for anyone wanting to work on site. The Academy also developed an online SOP training module which leads to a certificate proving the individual worker understands the requirements and has been trained to work safely on site. This standalone module is freely available to all and can be completed online in 15 minutes. “There has been and continues to be a fantastic collaborative effort to ensure members of both associations and the wider industry are kept updated on the latest safe operating procedures,” said Reeve. “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has given up their time to help with this effort, in particular, members of the BESA Covid-19 Panel, ECA’s Covid Business Recovery team, and the sector’s Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, which has done a fantastic job of co-ordinating all of our effort,” added Crosland. To access the new free guidance visit here and for a wide range of other Covid-19 resources go to: www.theBESA.com/covid19 and www.eca.co.uk/business-industry-support/coronavirus-back-to-work
Allscott Meads developer, SJ Roberts Homes, releases more family homes due to huge demand. After the success of the first two phases, Shropshire developer, SJ Roberts Homes Ltd, will be offering new houses to families at, Allscott Meads, Allscott, Shropshire. As part of Phase Three, more spacious family homes are available to reserve. These homes are part of an ongoing project through which Allscott’s old sugar beet factory is being transformed into a thriving community space giving the 64-acre site a renewed purpose. The team at SJ Roberts Homes, have built up extensive knowledge on how to maximise energy efficiency using cutting edge technology whilst ensuring green credentials are maintained. Their designs promote functional family living, which can be seen in their use of power sockets integrated with USB and C-type charging points and dataplates provided in fourth and fifth bedrooms to accommodate modern families working from home! Phase Three of Allscott Meads is an example of beautifully designed homes across Shropshire catering for all demographics. SJ Roberts Homes’ vision continues to be creating a community that offers people everything they need for their daily life, with the added benefit of a close connection to nature. With 470 new homes, Phase Three includes an array of new house types, including, two, three, four and five-bed, terraced, semi and detached homes – there really is something for every new home buyer. Phase Three showcases a new way of living, ecological benefits, schooling, parks and more! Despite the pandemic, Allscott Meads has seen a huge demand. The team reacted quickly to increased interest in Shropshire’s housing market by ensuring potential buyers can view homes safely and are supported along every step of the buying process. SJ Roberts Homes has built their reputation upon solid foundations – providing quality homes with a quality service to match, at affordable prices. With more than 30 years’ experience and expertise in new home construction, SJ Roberts Homes sees it as their highest priority to ensure customers‘ long-term happiness with their new home. The team behind the business consists of a group of passionate professionals working in construction, interior design, quality control and sales. When it comes to creating modern communities, environmental protection forms a strong part of SJ Roberts Homes’ values. By liaising with renowned landscape architects and understanding the immediate needs of the community, they are able to ensure Allscott Meads offers the perfect backdrop for the local flora and fauna to coexist with its residents. SJ Roberts Homes has spent years partnering with local, independent suppliers to beautifully – and where possible, sustainably – furnish their show homes. Prospective and future residents appreciate the attention to detail and cost-effectiveness of the decor on offer. SJ Roberts Homes continue to encourage the community to live a modern and responsible lifestyle where residents look after each other and create a family-friendly space for everyone. It’s more than just a house. It’s a thriving community everyone is eager to call home. Mr Mike Sambrook, Managing Director of SJ Roberts Homes, said: “The satisfaction of a job well done is best exemplified by our customers’ happiness when they first see their new home. The pride we feel knowing that these homes surpass their expectations motivates the whole team to work even harder so that everyone has the opportunity for beautiful living spaces tailored specifically to them.” To be the first to know more and take a leap with purchasing a new home, with a name you can trust, people can register their interest at: www.sjrobertshomes.com/development/allscott-meads SJ Roberts Homes is currently taking viewings by appointment only to ensure guidelines are adhered to and everyone remains safe.
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed that just one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders has seen an increase in both revenue and homes delivered to the market during a tough year overshadowed by COVID-19. Warwick Estates analysed eight of Britain’s biggest housebuilders based on the latest data available on revenues and how they performed in 2020 when compared to 2019. Homes built Where the number of homes delivered is concerned, just one managed to go above and beyond their pre-Covid performance in 2020. Vistry Group built 6,131 homes in 2020, 59% more than the previous year. However, it was Persimmon that delivered the most homes in total at 13,575 although this was 14% less than the previous year. Barrat also delivered 12,604 homes to the market despite seeing a 29% drop compared to 2019, with Bellway seeing a 9% year on year decline despite building 11,921 homes. Taylor Wimpey endured the biggest decline in the number of homes built during the pandemic. The 9,799 built in 2020 resulted in a 39% year on year drop when compared to their pre-pandemic performance. Revenues Vistry Group’s positive pandemic performance means the housebuilder enjoyed a 79% uplift in revenues in 2020 – the only housebuilder to see positive movement. Unfortunately for Redrow, the housebuilder saw a 37% drop in revenues, the biggest drop of the lot as a result of the pandemic. COO of Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, commented: “Despite the residential property market rebounding at an alarming rate since the launch of the stamp duty holiday, the pandemic has been problematic for the nation’s housebuilders, to say the least. As a result of ongoing and ever-changing restrictions, the vast majority have seen a decline in the number of homes built and the knock-on effect this has had on revenues. However, now that we are working our way back to some form of total normality, we expect these vital cogs of the property market to dust themselves down, roll up their sleeves and bounce back.” Developer Total homes built (2019) Total homes built (2020) Annual change (%) Annual revenue £m (2019) Annual revenue £m (2020) Annual change (%) Sources Vistry Group 3,867 6,131 59% £1,137 £2,040 79% Link Persimmon 15,855 13,575 -14% £3,650 £3,330 -9% Link Barratt 17,856 12,604 -29% £4,763 £3,419 -28% Link Countryside 5,733 4,053 -29% £1,423 £989 -31% Link Bellway 13,113 11,921 -9% £3,213 £2,225 -31% Link Berkeley 3,698 2,723 -26% £2,957 £1,920 -35% Link Taylor Wimpey 16,042 9,799 -39% £4,341 £2,790 -36% Link Redrow 6,443 4,032 -37% £2,112 £1,339 -37% Link
Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, has developed a digital solution to speedier customer service. The company has designed its own app, named Athena, to enable faster response times to customers and to help deliver key performance indicators. For use by staff internally, Athena was trialled at one of the company’s regional offices and has now been rolled out across Designer Contract’s remaining 14 regions. Said md, Peter Kelsey: “As we move further into a digital age, we felt the Athena app would be an easy and instant solution for our team to provide an enhanced customer experience. “It was designed in-house so that we could build it to our exact specification and requirements and we’re looking forward to offering our clients quicker query response times.” Designer Contracts, which was recently named as a finalist in the 2020 Lloyds Bank Business Awards, operates across 15 UK regional facilities. As well as flooring, the company provides curtains and blinds, furniture and lighting, and operates a showhome interior design services division.
National contractor Wates Construction has reached its latest significant milestone in the construction of the £73m Sandwell Aquatics Centre, in Smethwick, procured through SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading procurement authorities, with the laying of the first of 190,000 pool tiles. The occasion was marked with a ceremony held at the site, attended by the Minister for Sport and Tourism, Nigel Huddleston and the leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Rajbir Singh and other partners. The first tile was laid by Nigel Huddleston, MP and Councillor Rajbir Singh, leader of Sandwell Council, along with other dignitaries and two work experience students Howard Dunn and Kye Roseblade. With less than a year till handover, Wates is now focused on completing the interior of the state-of-the-art facility and finishing its three pools. This will see up to 190,000 tiles laid carefully to waterproof the 50m Olympic-sized pool, 25m diving pool and community swimming pool ready for use. Some 3,000m3 of concrete were used in the pools’ creation, which had to be carefully poured to an accuracy of mere millimetres to comply with Olympic standards. Initially starting on site in September 2019, the project is being accelerated through SCAPE Construction, a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings. So far Wates has fully completed the external structure and roof of the site, which included installing 14 steel trusses, each spanning 75m and weighing around 30 tonnes. The team has also installed the 10m dive tower earlier in the year and recent work has included the completion of the building facades. Internally, high-level works within the pool hall have been ongoing, including lighting, fire alarm cabling and ventilation and heating duct work. Sandwell Aquatics Centre is a landmark development for the Midlands, featuring the only Olympic-sized pool in the region and has been designed to create a lasting legacy for community health and wellbeing, with its three pools and seats for up to 1,000 spectators. Other facilities at the aquatics centre will include three activity studios, two 4-court sports halls, a 108-station fitness suite with a 25-station ladies-only gym, dry diving facilities, an indoor cycling studio, a new football pitch, a café, and changing facilities including a sauna and steam room. Externally, a new urban park will feature a children’s play area. Throughout construction, Wates has worked closely with Sandwell Council, its supply chain and SCAPE to ensure the project is delivered safely and provides maximum benefit to the community. This includes supporting 34 local students with work experience across the construction of the site to support NVQs, creating 12 new apprenticeships, along with investing nearly £190,000 so far into Social Enterprise initiatives close to the region. The project is on schedule and set to complete in spring 2022, before opening to the public in the spring of 2023. Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport and Tourism said: “Fantastic progress has been made on the Sandwell Aquatics Centre since I was last here in February 2020. It will be an outstanding new leisure centre for the community. It is a great example of how we are levelling up across the country, by investing money in new world-class facilities that leave a lasting legacy for local people.” Councillor Rajbir Singh, Leader of Sandwell Council said: “It was amazing seeing the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre and looking at the scale of the work being undertaken. The venue, which is located in Smethwick, is impressive and will be well used by local residents and the wider region for generations to come.” John Carlin, regional managing director for the Midlands at Wates Construction, said: “Now tiles are going in, you can start to see properly how the facility will look once it’s completed, and ensuring all 190,000 are laid perfectly is the latest in a long line of technically complex features which we’ve delivered as part of this ambitious build. “As we get closer to our handover date, we’re focused on not only finalising this landmark site, but ensuring as many local people play a part in its completion as possible. I’d like to sincerely thank all our local apprentices and supply chain partners for contributing to the success of the build so far, and look forward to its next milestone.” Mark Robinson, group chief executive of SCAPE and who recently visited the site, said: “Our world class athletes deserve world class facilities and this is what I saw when I visited Sandwell Aquatic Centre. The collaboration between Wates Group and Sandwell Council was clear to see, and the facility will be a true jewel in our nations crown. The progress made is fantastic and I very much look forward to my next visit. “At SCAPE we are proud to be a part of this landmark project that will not only bring investment and a lasting legacy to the local area but help to train our next generation of sporting heroes.”
Building firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council, CLC. The CLC is calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks relax from the 19th of July. “It is recommended the good practices the industry had adopted over the last 18 months are retained,” said the CLC in their public statement released today. It advises employers to make face coverings available for staff when they are working in crowded or enclosed spaces but are no longer wearing respiratory protective equipment. The CLC said its site operating procedures were still available as a reference to offer businesses across the supply chain consistency. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said SME builders were likely to support mask-wearing to protect staff and keep sick leave levels low – something property development finance lenders would also support. Government toughens face mask guidance The government appears to have backtracked on earlier announcements when it said face masks would no longer be necessary post the 19th of July. Yesterday it advised people to wear masks in shops and at work and that table service would remain at bars. London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that mask-wearing would continue to be mandatory for tube and bus travellers. Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham has said that passengers using the city’s tram service would have to wear masks. Major retailers such as Sainsbury’s and Waterstones have asked customers visiting their outlets to wear masks. Mask-wearing in enclosed spaces and on public transport will continue to be mandatory in Wales and Scotland.
Bringing workers back from furlough is presenting employers everywhere with unique challenges – and increased risks. Claire Price from QMS International takes a closer look at what can employers do to mitigate these risks and reduce the potential for accidents? The results of the HSE’s 2019/20 report on health and safety at work revealed that 0.7 million workers sustained injuries at work, with another 111 losing their lives due to a work-related accident. Thanks to COVID-19 and lengthy furlough periods, it is possible that in the year 2020/21, these figures could rise. Returning furloughed workers to the workplace presents employers with unique risks, which could lead to an increase in accidents if not properly managed. These risks include out of date training, a deteriorated workplace, and distraction caused by stress and anxiety. Leaving these risks to develop could not only damage a company’s reputation, but also hit their bottom line. According to the HSE, non-fatal accidents can cost an average of £1,400, which rises steeply to £5,100 if the employee is incapacitated for at least seven days. Fatal injuries can ruin a business, costing just shy of £100,000, a figure that does not also consider the emotional and reputational fallout from such an incident. Bringing furloughed workers back to work safely is paramount. So, what can business do to mitigate the risks? Communicate After a long time on furlough, it is very possible that workers may find their former tasks unfamiliar. They may also be unaware of any new processes. This poses a risk to your business – if your team doesn’t know how to carry out a task properly, there is a chance that something could go wrong. To mitigate this risk, communication is key. An induction programme similar to that of new starters will be useful here. This can include a health & safety briefing which can also highlight any new COVID-security measures. The programme should also feature a reminder of company practices and flag up any changes to company rules and procedures. To help returning workers familiarise themselves with their roles, you may want to try a phased return. This may also mean that you can implement increased supervision, partnering up returning workers with more senior members of the team to ensure tasks are carried out safely. Offer training While furloughed, it is very likely that some training certificates may have expired or that additional training is needed due to changes within the business. Inadequate training can easily lead to accidents. Depending on your business, you may need to offer refreshers on fire awareness, manual handling, working at height and COSHH, among others. It is likely that training companies are booked up as a result of many businesses re-opening, so you may want to explore eLearning options so that you can train your team before they even set foot in the workplace. Provide support Anxiety and stress can lead to inattention, distraction and fatigue, all of which can increase the likelihood of mistakes being made and an accident occurring. Isolation during furlough and multiple lockdowns, financial anxiety, grief over lost loved ones, and stress over the uncertainty of their job status may have led to an increase in mental ill health among your furloughed workers, which could now affect their performance at work. Offering well-being and mental health support is therefore crucial, although it seems that this is overlooked by many businesses. For example, in Lloyd Register’s Employee well-being during a pandemic: global insights for health and safety at work report, it found that only 15% respondents had received information and resources on employee well-being. Speaking with returning workers and gaining an understanding of their concerns will help you to determine the type and amount of support needed. Training mental health first aiders and communicating clearly about the returning process will also help you to support them. Assess the risks Any change in your workplace should be followed by a risk assessment. As you bring workers back, it would be wise to carry them out regularly until all of your staff are re-established. Bear in mind that your COVID-security measures may create risks elsewhere in your business. For instance, the need for greater ventilation may lead to more doors being left open. In the event of a fire, this could enable it to spread more easily. You may also still be lacking a number of fire marshals if not all workers have returned. If you’d like a more formal process to controlling risk, you may like to think about ISO 31000, the international Standard for risk management. By building a framework that enables you to manage risks and opportunities, you can help to protect your business from internal and external threats and reduce the risk of accidents. Check your workplace If a significant portion of your workforce has been furloughed for some time, it is possible that your workplace and its equipment may no longer be in peak condition. Machines may have succumbed to rust or seizure, or their parts fallen out of calibration. Process liquids may also have separated or solidified. In terms of your building, ventilation, fire protection and site services (such as water and electricity) need to be checked. If these fall out of condition, you could be increasing the risk of fire, explosions or collapse. For this reason, you need to carry out a detailed hands-on assessment of your equipment and building. Process materials should also be checked, secondary or back-up systems tested, and extractors, vents and exhausts investigated. Build stronger health & safety processes If controlling risk and developing stronger health & safety processes is a priority for you when bringing workers back from furlough, you may like to gather all the guidance above and create a robust system of processes that can ensure you keep the risk of accidents to an absolute minimum. By doing so, you can go on to create an occupational health & safety management system that meets the requirements of Standards such as ISO 45001. This Standard
SPONSORED ARTICLE Some employees and businesses may look towards further automation with a certain level of uncertainty and concern; what would it mean for the workers and our business? The recent development of total automation in packaging and manufacturing should perhaps be considered as an opportunity rather than a threat? In this article, we will try to answer exactly that question. What is the current outlook for the future of automation? Is the rise of automated packaging systems a result of companies simply looking to get richer or are there other reasons for investing in this replacement of manual packaging processes? There are many opposing viewpoints on what the integration of fully automated systems would mean for their business operations and the future of manual labour. According to the British Chambers of Commerce, many British companies will have increased problems with finding enough labour with the right skills to operate key processes in manufacturing and packaging, among others. The latest innovation in automated systems provide companies with an ideal opportunity for combatting this growing issue. What should you consider when choosing a new packaging system? Before jumping to investing in a new and highly advanced automatic packaging system, you should as a business ask yourself a few key questions. Every business has unique needs and challenges; therefore, it is important to identify both. Perhaps you may find that a semi-automatic system is more suited for your products? Choosing the right packaging and bagging machine for your needs requires you to work closely with a supplier of packaging systems in finding the optimal solution. Packaging systems can be rather complex, and every little detail should be carefully accounted for when designing your new fully automated packaging setup. Furthermore, you should also find the right bagging machine that matches your unique product and its packaging requirements. What are the benefits of fully automated packaging systems? So, what are the exact benefits of integrating a fully automated packaging system into your operations? Here are a few of the possible benefits: ● Increase productivity and efficiency – Automation can both improve production speed and eliminate the risk of bottlenecks in the production line. The flow will be more constant, and the risk of human error will also be removed. ● Remove downtime – Automated packaging systems can practically work around the clock and the real-time feedback from the machines can help you better schedule your maintenance. ● Revamp manual tasks – The replacement of repetitious actions from packing and filling bags with human labour can also provide benefits for your employees. By letting the machine handle the repetitive task, the risk of strain injury will also decrease. In conclusion, automated packaging systems can not only help drive growth for your company but can also change your employees’ tasks and responsibilities where human input can be used to greater effect. Automated systems may both improve staff morale and your competitiveness to help drive a healthy business.
SPONSORED ARTICLE When operating in a large-scale industrial environment, dust, gas and various particles can quickly accumulate if you do not have the right system to catch and process them. Industrial businesses will require a proper baghouse filter to effectively contain and eliminate unwelcome particles and harmful gases. But what do you need to look out for to make sure that you get the most out of your baghouse filters? In this article, we’ll walk you through key elements of the filter system to ensure optimal performance. The checklist for troubleshooting potential issues The industrial-sized air pollution control devices are quite complex systems that require significant maintenance and supervision to ensure a safe and clean working environment. If you are having problems with your baghouse filters, it may be due to the overloading of dust or simply unreliable cleaning systems. To maintain a reliable industrial dust collector, you should pay special attention to: Airflow – If the level of cleaning for the filters do not match the dust loading, it may cause issues with the airflow. Some may install a longer bag or a new collector with an increased bag capacity, while others switch to pleated bags to enlarge the filter area. Cleaning air – A way for you to ensure better cleaning from the baghouse filter, is to ensure that the tanks are completely free of any moisture and debris, which can negatively affect the cleaning performance. Drop-out box – The larger the distance between the bottom of your filters and the hopper, which is called the drop-out box, the fewer larger particles reach the filter surface area which can negatively influence the airflow. you can optimise this by switching to smaller pleated bags or increasing the surface area. Emission – A change of your regular filter media may be required due to emission regulations. This provides an ideal opportunity for upgrading your filter to help reduce emissions. Filter media choice – Dust is not just dust. The size of the particles can vary a lot and each type has its own characteristics. Be sure to select a proper material that can filter the intended particles. Your choice may depend on the level of humidity and temperature as well as the requirement for resistance to dust particles and chemicals. Pulse sequence & frequency – The selected pulse sequence should prevent cross-contamination, where dust from dirty filters spread to clean filters. Your baghouse filter also should never have a pulsing frequency that is faster than the reservoir can handle without hurting performance. Reservoir – Too small and restrictive components can result in poor filter cleaning. Make sure that there are no restrictions from the compressor to the reservoir. Your tank size should also be able to handle your requirements for cleaning. Avoid underperforming baghouse filters If you do not respond to performance issues in a timely manner, you may increase the risk of causing bottlenecks and negatively impact your production costs. There are no complete guarantees, but you can help ensure a long service life for your baghouse filter with efficient troubleshooting.
Commercial spaces have gone through different design transformations through the years. What used to be conventional office structures with cubicles and private rooms are now looking more modernized. For instance, open spaces and natural lighting are more opted by workers and business owners. Also, the cubicles have turned into working pods that allow better collaboration and concentration while working. As contemporary as all these changes may be, there’s one essential component that could be affected as your office adopt a more non-traditional design—the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. So, whether you’re planning to renovate an existing office or build a new commercial space, make sure you consider how you can better strategize your heating and cooling system in a way that it would still efficiently function despite the changes you’re making. Heating And Cooling Design Tips Ideally, how you plan on heating, ventilating, and cooling the area should be taken into consideration in the early stages of building your commercial space. Such considerations could go a long way in cutting back your expenses down the road. Aside from purchasing bulk or refurbished air conditioning systems and accessories from online companies, such as PTAC4Less, you should also be open to trying other design tips that could maximize the heating and cooling system of your workspace. Here are some tips to note: 1. Choosing The Right Type Of Commercial HVAC Systems Commercial HVAC systems typically come in three types. The single split system is suitable for small commercial spaces as it gives you the flexibility to control the heating in each room. This is perfect if you plan to have server rooms or small offices in the building. Aside from being affordable, the single split system allows other units to remain functioning even when a single unit breaks. The multi-split system, on the other hand, is almost similar to the single split one but the difference is that you can connect up to nine indoor units to an outdoor unit, which clearly helps in preserving outdoor space. Additionally, this system is more aesthetically pleasing compared to the single split one. The last type is the variable refrigerant flow/variable refrigerant volume (VRF/VRV) system, which is ideal for medium to large commercial buildings. Under this HVAC system, you can choose from two different types. The first one is the Heat Pump System wherein you’ll need to choose if you prefer to heat or cool the space. The other system is the Heat Recovery System, which can provide both heating and cooling. This type is perfect for commercial buildings that are partitioned into smaller rooms. 2. Knowing What HVAC System Size To Choose As you design and plan your heating and cooling system, you also need to take into consideration the heating loads that the system will be taking in, depending on where you plan on installing it. To gather this information, you’ll have to determine the size of your commercial space, the number of workers or people who’ll be occupying it, and your purpose in installing the HVAC system. Keep in mind that the purpose will be of great help in potentially knowing the level of heating and cooling that your building will need. Take note that when it comes to choosing the size of an HVAC system, bigger isn’t always better. Air-conditioning equipment that’s bigger than the required load for your building will only provide poor comfort conditions. What’ll most likely happen is your system will constantly turn on and off. Moreover, it’s never going to run long enough to get rid of or even eliminate humidity. What you’ll get instead is a commercial space that’s perforated with cold and hot spot. 3. Ventilate For Better Indoor Air Quality A modern commercial space isn’t just about thermal comfort. It’s also important to maintain good indoor air quality or make it better. To do this, your mechanical ventilation system must be useful in controlling humidity, removing contaminants (viruses, bacteria, dust, and carbon dioxide), and eliminating odors. This function is particularly helpful in these trying times. That being said, your heating and cooling system design need to allow for sufficient intake and distribution of air that’s coming from the outside. Likewise, the conditioned air inside needs to be distributed well. Ensuring that the system works exactly this way should adequately ventilate the space. Final Words Designing and installing the right heating and cooling system for your commercial space is not an easy task. You need to acquire specific knowledge about the process so you can ensure that your office space will get the right HVAC system that it needs. If you’re not too confident that you can handle it on your own, you can leave the task at the hands of professionals. Whichever way you choose, make sure that you’re involved in the process so you’ll be at ease knowing that you’re not compromising the comfort and safety of your employees.
