Up to nine members of parliamentary staff and even more contractors may have been exposed to asbestos between October and November last year, reports HuffPost UK. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been called in to help following the possible exposure of parliamentary workers and renovation work at the Houses
Sodexo has been appointed as the single supplier on the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) new property services integrator framework which is accessible to all other UK public sector bodies, including the Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioners, the Greater London Authority and its functional bodies to
The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) is delighted to consolidate our collaboration with the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) as project partners launching the AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit (CLR) course in Scotland. The long-established AECB course is designed to help accelerate delivery of the CSIC Low Carbon Learning Programme launched
A new report, Whole Life Carbon Assessment of Homes, published by the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH), www.aimch.co.uk concludes that using sustainably sourced timber panelised MMC methods to build new homes rather than masonry products can reduce the carbon impact of construction. On a whole life
Dealing with damaged or neglected old metal windows can be a genuinely daunting challenge for property owners or their maintenance teams, but replacement – especially using modern alternatives – is rarely the only answer as specialist contractor Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) can attest. In work across the South-East and
Engineer and technical consultant Tony Fox is joining commercial real estate developers Network Space Developments (NSD) as its Technical Director. Tony joins from Tetra Tech/ White Young Green where he has worked for more than 20 years, consulting extensively with Newton Le Willows-headquartered Network Space during that time. Amongst other
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS BUILDER TWO-DAY LIVE ARENA EVENT HOSTED BY CEO OF TRADE MASTERMIND AND WINNER OF BBC’S THE APPRENTICE JOSEPH VALENTE FEATURING GUEST SPEAKERS ALFIE BEST Entrepreneur, philanthropist and TV’s ‘Undercover Big Boss’. Plus KEVIN BYRNE founder and CEO of Checkatrade. February 26th & 27th at East of England Showground
The Irish group Kingspan, the global leader in high performance insulation and building envelope solutions, continues to increase its presence in the Spanish market, this time with the acquisition of 100% of the shares of the Ribarroja company THU Perfil SL. THU PERFIL is a Valencian firm located in the
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes welcomed the Mayor, Councillor Rob Tromans, to a ribbon cutting ceremony at its Exhall Gardens development in Coventry. The launch, which took place on Friday 4th February, celebrated the official opening of the development’s sales centre and show homes. The event consisted of a tour of
Derby-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, has highlighted the success of its annual apprenticeship programme and role as a Cornerstone Employer as it supported 25 apprentices last year alone with employment opportunities. The contractor, which has headquarters in Little Eaton, Derby, operates across the East and West Midlands delivering high-value construction
Up to nine members of parliamentary staff and even more contractors may have been exposed to asbestos between October and November last year, reports HuffPost UK. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been called in to help following the possible exposure of parliamentary workers and renovation work at the Houses of Parliament has been paused. Tim Turney, Global Marketing Manager at industrial hygiene and workplace hazard monitoring expert, Casella, comments “Despite being banned in the UK, asbestos can still be found in older homes and properties, posing a threat to anyone who disturbs the dangerous material. Left alone, the material is not harmful, but once disturbed or disintegrating, it can release asbestos fibres that infiltrate and progressively damage the lungs. The damage results in multiple health defects, such as the lung disease mesothelioma — a cancer that can take up to 20 years to develop, often proving fatal within five years or less. Whenever asbestos is removed, it is a legal requirement to use licenced contractors and to ensure strict regulations and guidance are followed to limit the potential release of dangerous, airborne fibres. The guidance, depending on national practice, typically includes personal air sampling and/or static air sampling, to ensure that there is no exposure during remediation work or during the cleaning and clearance processes at a removal site. In the UK, a four-stage clearance process is used, involving a preliminary check of the site condition and job completeness, a thorough visual inspection inside the enclosure or work area, air monitoring and a final assessment of the post-enclosure or work area following dismantling. Licenced contractors may also take air samples before work is undertaken to establish a background level measurement. Conducting a test before disturbing any materials could save thousands of pounds on decontamination and environmental cleaning fees and help to avoid exposure. Additionally, trained professionals may take air samples during work on or near asbestos to confirm that there is no leakage from the enclosure. Using air sampling pumps with remote connectivity, such as Bluetooth and a mobile ‘phone app, can help while gathering the necessary measurements. For example, the Casella Airwave App works with the ‘Pro’ version of its Vortex3 high flow pump to enable users to remotely start, pause or stop a measurement run, monitor battery life and memory capacity and check measurement progress direct from a mobile device. Ultimately, asbestos monitoring has the power to save lives, and innovations in technology can make this process easier and faster than ever before.”
Sodexo has been appointed as the single supplier on the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) new property services integrator framework which is accessible to all other UK public sector bodies, including the Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioners, the Greater London Authority and its functional bodies to buy a range of strategic property-related services. Through the framework UK public sector bodies have access to Sodexo’s expertise and strategic advice through a range of property-related services, including: Strategic property support services Contract management Operational management Financial management Provision and management of IT systems including building management systems Procurement of supply chain services Audit of the supply chain Dan Weiss, Managing Director, Sodexo’s Property Professional Services said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to this framework. Occupiers are now expected to find solutions on how they adapt their portfolios to achieve net zero, make changes to their workplaces to accommodate hybrid working, balancing the imperative to support employee wellbeing, talent attraction and retention whilst also identifying cost savings measures to combat rising inflation. “We look forward to working in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to promote the benefits that we can bring to helping the public sector with these workplace and property challenges. “Sodexo is very well placed to work in partnership with organisations who wish to explore the potential this new framework offers.” Over the past three years Sodexo has worked with clients to: Exit PFI and long-term contracts and successfully move to new operating models. Produce tangible strategies, roadmaps, processes and procedures to meet the government’s Greening Government Commitments and Net Zero targets. Complete whole estate detailed condition survey programme. Compile 15-year lifecycle maintenance plan to inform future asset management plans and estate strategy. Develop estates strategies to support clients with their transformation vision. Provide assurance for planned maintenance and statutory compliance moving one client with nearly 1,200 buildings to a position of 65% to 97% satisfactory state of compliance in six months. Develop a conceptual design for a police station of the future. Deliver over 500 capital projects in 2020-21 and £93 million of investment in life cycle works, capital projects and minors works. For more information about the new MOPAC Framework contact: Taz.Arif@sodexo.com
The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) is delighted to consolidate our collaboration with the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) as project partners launching the AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit (CLR) course in Scotland. The long-established AECB course is designed to help accelerate delivery of the CSIC Low Carbon Learning Programme launched at COP26 in November 2021. The Programme is designed to provide Scotland with the low carbon skills for the future. The AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit (CLR) course is the UK industry-leading course for advanced Net Zero carbon retrofit training aimed at construction professionals and contractors familiar with the challenges of repair, maintenance and improvement of existing buildings. The course aligns with the emphasis on addressing both energy efficiency and good quality building fabric recognised in the Scottish Government’s ‘Heat in Buildings Strategy – achieving net zero emissions in Scotland’s buildings’ (October 2021). AECB is delighted to join strategic partners the Passivhaus Trust (PHT), patrons of CSIC and WARM who run theAECB CarbonLite™ Passivhaus Contractor Training programme in the CSIC Low Carbon Learning Programme. As a signatory to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)’s High-Performance Buildings Initiative, the AECB is joining a collaborative global network of 26 international Centres of Excellence of High Performance Buildings (including CSIC) to provide education, training, and other critical resources to regional building industry practitioners, supporting local industry in the rapid development of buildings consistent with the UN Framework for energy efficiency standards in buildings. Caitriona Jordan, Head of Retrofit Programmes at CSICsaid: “Skills will be an absolutely critical part of helping the construction sector as well as the UK and Scottish economies move towards a Net Zero future. We want to help construction workers develop their knowledge and expertise of the gold standard for energy efficient homes, and the AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit (CLR) course assists in gaining a deeper insight into the fields of retrofit and sustainable building standards.” “More people in the sector with knowledge of these types of building and the skills necessary to deliver solutions will help energy efficiency become mainstream. It will also help ensure we have a workforce fit for the future and could contribute to creating new jobs in the construction supply chain while addressing societal issues such as fuel poverty.” Trish Andrews, AECB CarbonLite™ Training Manager said: “The AECB is delighted to work in partnership with Construction Scotland Innovation Centre’s Low Carbon Learning Programme. The AECB is building educational partnerships that work effectively to put the built environment and retrofit skills at the heart of addressing the climate change agenda. We offer industry-leading low carbon retrofit training to the construction sector to meet Net Zero carbon goals. The AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit (CLR) course addresses the energy crisis we are facing right now.” The CSIC is launching the course on Tuesday 15th March. The CSIC is running an open competition offering 20 fully funded (FREE) places on an accelerated e-learning AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit (CLR) course over the coming months completing at the end of July. Funding for the 20 places on the accelerated e-learning AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit Course is thanks to the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government, through the National Transition Fund. The open competition to secure a FREE place on the accelerated e-learning AECB CarbonLite™ Retrofit Course is online today Thursday 17th February please click here on a strictly first come/first served basis closing on Thursday 10th March. The 20 participants will start the course on Tuesday 15th March with completion required end of July 2022. Students have access to the AECB Knowledgebase, webinars, links to national and international reading material and networking opportunities. They have access to the Low Energy Buildings Database (LEBD) that includes 150 retrofit case studies. On completion, they will join the growing community of UK CarbonLite™ Graduates.
A new report, Whole Life Carbon Assessment of Homes, published by the Advanced Industrialised Methods for the Construction of Homes (AIMCH), www.aimch.co.uk concludes that using sustainably sourced timber panelised MMC methods to build new homes rather than masonry products can reduce the carbon impact of construction. On a whole life carbon basis, the study predicts that up to 5t CO2e per 4 bed dwelling, equivalent to 16,500 road miles, could be saved.when using timber panelised MMC methods.* AIMCH is a £6.5m collaborative R&D project which aims to promote and develop industrialised off-site modern construction methods to build homes quickly and viably. Participating partners are Stewart Milne Group, Barratt Developments PLC, L&Q, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and Forster Roofing Services Ltd. Stewart Dalgarno, AIMCH Project Director and Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Stewart Milne Group said, “The comprehensiveness of this report provides valuable insights into where developers, house builders and the supply chain can make a positive contribution to reducing the whole and embodied carbon contributions of new build homes. “AIMCH commissioned the report to understand the differences in whole life carbon emissions over 60 years, to current building regulation standards, between open and closed panel timber MMC systems and aerated concrete blockwork used in masonry construction. All processes relevant to the construction cycle, in line with the RICS model have been considered — materials, manufacture, transport, usage through to the end-of life and disposal stages. The resulting comprehensive analysis provides invaluable data to inform house builders on the carbon intensity of the two construction methods.” Using the RICS Standard for Whole Life Carbon Assessment, the report represents a rigorous cradle-to-grave assessment of the carbon impact of both types of construction materials and their respective methodologies. 82% of emissions are generated from the homes operational use over 60 years, which is the same for both methods. 14% of emissions are generated from the materials and construction process. A small proportion of emissions are generated at end of life. The study, authored by green energy consultancy Verco, examined four types of home utilising either: masonry – aerated blockwork and offsite manufactured open and closed panel timber MMC, both with brick cladding. Areas investigated included: · Production stage – raw materials, manufacture, transport · Construction stage – energy, transport, waste disposal during construction · In use stage – use emissions, maintenance, repair, replacement, refurbishment, operational energy use · End-of-life – demolition, transport, waste processing, disposal Carbon sequestration benefits of timber, in line with RICS protocols, were applied to all methods of construction, for example benefiting masonry homes bult with timber floors and roofs. End of life assumptions used identical 90% recycle/re-use and 10% to landfill ratio across both material types. Cementitious products including roof tiles, concrete blocks, brick cladding, strip foundations and floor slabs, were found generally to have the highest lifecycle embodied emissions. Conversely, timber frame wall elements sent to landfill, were found to produce 0.5 tCO2e emissions at end of life, compared to aerated concrete blocks. Panelised timber MMC construction methods outperformed masonry construction on a whole-life carbon basis, when comparing the direct substitution of various wall elements – external, load bearing and party wall elements. Embodied emissions of these wall elements being as much as 82% less than that of the masonry construction. In addition, timber MMC key properties contributing to reduced emissions include: · Lower embodied emissions of materials · Lower emissions from transport to site · Less energy and time spent on site · Benefits of carbon sequestration during the life of the building Further Research is being conducted, assessing the impact from new building regulations coming into force in Jun 22 and the Future Homes Standard. A detailed summary of AIMCH Whole Life Carbon Assessment of Homes can be viewed on AIMCH’s website.
Dealing with damaged or neglected old metal windows can be a genuinely daunting challenge for property owners or their maintenance teams, but replacement – especially using modern alternatives – is rarely the only answer as specialist contractor Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) can attest. In work across the South-East and further afield, the London-based company carries out a wide variety of contracts, addressing everything from heritage steel windows in listed buildings, to the maintenance of more modern W40 section and aluminium frame fenestration and curtain walling. Crucially, in almost all circumstances, timely intervention by ASWS can greatly extend the working life of windows; saving building owners from the cost and greater inconvenience of full replacement. Aside from the financial and logistical advantages, there are wider environmental benefits to refurbishing older windows which are becoming more valued, as the properties where we live and work come under scrutiny for their contribution to climate change. Straightforward routine maintenance will help ensure that opening lights close correctly and that weather-stripping is replaced when necessary; both cutting down on unwanted air and heat leakage. It is also possible to replace damaged or corroded sections and straighten or ‘reset’ distorted frames; either on site or in the workshop. Single glazing, which was standard in most steel windows until late last century, can be replaced with varying thicknesses of double-glazed unit, depending on the size of the rebate. Conventional IG starts at a slender 3-4-3mm make up and can benefit from warm edge spacer bars and gas filling, but new generation vacuum glazing offers much better performance, though at considerable cost. There is also a health and environmental benefit to removing all of the original lead paint still covering many older windows along with its responsible disposal. So the question is what to do with windows which really are beyond economic repair? While the price of scrap metal continues to fluctuate, the value of recycling has never been higher, with responsible contractors ensuring that they have separate skips for clean and dirty metal in order to maximise recovery. ASWS, however, goes much further having operated its own salvage operation for decades. Wherever possible, the team saves everything from old ironmongery, beads and even ‘Whitworth’ screws for reuse at a later date. In fact, the recent replacement of an old building at the front of the London premises has created even more room for this library of spare parts to be further expanded. As Laura Mercer, Managing Director of ASWS, observes: “We have got handles and other ironmongery from 40 years ago which we can reuse for current jobs when new replacements simply aren’t available, as well as the skills to make a full range of repairs and improvements. The best recycling you can do is re-using components to extend the useful life of windows and improving their performance at the same time.” Associated Steel Window Services is a member of The Steel Window Association (www.steel-window-association.co.uk). For further information on Associated Steel Window Services, please visit www.asws.co.uk or call 020 8665 5335.
Engineer and technical consultant Tony Fox is joining commercial real estate developers Network Space Developments (NSD) as its Technical Director. Tony joins from Tetra Tech/ White Young Green where he has worked for more than 20 years, consulting extensively with Newton Le Willows-headquartered Network Space during that time. Amongst other responsibilities Tony will lead on all the technical work on Network Space’s major projects and acquisitions, as well as advance and develop the company’s sustainability strategy. NSD’s short term industrial and urban logistics development pipeline across the north totals some 2.5m sq. ft of space including schemes like Tunstall Arrow North in Stoke, Glass Futures in St Helens, Sovereign Industry Park in Knowsley, Broadheath Network Centre in Altrincham, Ashroyd Business Park in Barnsley, Estuary Business Park in Speke and Woodhouse Link in Rotherham. His new position at Network Space will also allow him to be involved in projects across its sister companies, asset managers NSM and Network Space Investments Network Space Managing Director (Development) Stephen Barnes said: “‘Tony has worked as our primary consultant engineer for more than 20 years now and has been involved with nearly all our major projects. It feels a very natural appointment to bring him in-house as we embark on an ever growing, ambitious and exciting development pipeline. “His experience and knowledge of our sector is extensive and we’re delighted to have him on board.” Tony commented: I am absolutely delighted to join Network Space after such a long standing and successful client/consultant relationship. I’m looking forward to supporting the Business’s ambitious future growth programme, strengthening its technical delivery and ensuring it delivers a positive response to an evolving sustainability agenda.
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS BUILDER TWO-DAY LIVE ARENA EVENT HOSTED BY CEO OF TRADE MASTERMIND AND WINNER OF BBC’S THE APPRENTICE JOSEPH VALENTE FEATURING GUEST SPEAKERS ALFIE BEST Entrepreneur, philanthropist and TV’s ‘Undercover Big Boss’. Plus KEVIN BYRNE founder and CEO of Checkatrade. February 26th & 27th at East of England Showground Arena, East of England Way, Peterborough, PE2 6HE. The biggest live construction event is taking place at Peterborough’s East of England Showground Arena on February 26th & 27th. It promises to be the ultimate showcase for business owners in the construction industry from all over the UK. Trade Mastermind CEO Joseph Valente has helped thousands of construction businesses to scale-up and triple annual turnovers, and this live two-day event is going to be the biggest and best yet. More than 200 plumbers, boiler installers, landscapers, builders, painter and decorators and many others, will be arriving in Peterborough to participate. The event is also going international and is being shown live around the world for those unable to attend. Joseph Valente, from Peterborough who won BBC’s The Apprentice in 2015 said: “I’m so excited to be hosting our live arena event in Peterborough over two days. And to have industry figureheads and leading entrepreneurs Alfie Best, plus CEO and founder of Checkatrade Kevin Byrne join us too, has seen a significantly huge demand from business owners to attend. The live two-day event is aimed at all construction business owners who are determined to get off the tools and increase turnover – we have helped thousands of tradespeople scale-up to become successful businesspeople. Our Construction Business Builder event will provide all the expertise advice and education you will ever need to achieve it.” “The demand to attend has been immense, so we’ve decided to offer virtual attendance for business owners around the world who can’t be here in person. The response from within the construction industry has simply been incredible,” he added. For full details and to book a seat at the live Construction Business Builder event, visit: www.construction-event.com Joseph Valente is available for immediate interview. For more details email: paul.fenech@trademastermind.co.uk FOR A PRESS PASS TO THE EVENT: paul.fenech@trademastermind.co.uk The live event is scheduled for February 26th & 27th at the East of England Showground Arena, East of England Way, Peterborough, PE2 6HE.
The Irish group Kingspan, the global leader in high performance insulation and building envelope solutions, continues to increase its presence in the Spanish market, this time with the acquisition of 100% of the shares of the Ribarroja company THU Perfil SL. THU PERFIL is a Valencian firm located in the Polígono Industrial Masia Baló in Ribarroja de Turia (Valencia) of more than 30 years in the manufacture of metal ceiling profiles and solutions. The acquisition of THU by the Irish Kingspan Group opens a new stage after 7 years of management in the hands of the investment company ZRISER, which allowed THU to innovate in new product lines and reach new markets. The transaction has been closed after the approval of the National Commission of Markets and Competition. This operation will promote the international development of THU while complementing Kingspan’s current offer in enclosure solutions with the incorporation of technical ceilings and profiles. Gabriel García, General Director of THU, says: “I am very pleased to be part of Kingspan’s industrial project, which is also a clear global market leader. I am convinced that this integration will bring additional benefits to our clients, boost our international development and offer great professional opportunities to THU employees”. For further information, please visit www.kingspan.com
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes welcomed the Mayor, Councillor Rob Tromans, to a ribbon cutting ceremony at its Exhall Gardens development in Coventry. The launch, which took place on Friday 4th February, celebrated the official opening of the development’s sales centre and show homes. The event consisted of a tour of the development and a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch its newly built sales centre and 2-bedroom Pixton and 3-bedroom Embleton show homes. “It was a delight to join Keepmoat Homes in the launch of their sales centre and show homes, and look forward to welcoming the new residents,” commented Mayor Rob Tromans. The new development, consisting of 129 new homes, comprises a mixed tenure of two, three and four-bedroom houses and apartments, 25% of which will be made affordable and available for Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent. “We’re absolutely delighted to launch our brand-new sales centre and show homes here at Exhall Gardens. Our array of homes are perfect for first time buyers, growing families and downsizers, and we encourage everyone to book a viewing of our stylish new show homes,” added Charlotte Goode, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes. Keepmoat Homes is a top 10 UK home builder and leading partnership home builder providing high quality and affordable homes across the country. Committed to a multi-tenure strategy, the company partners with local authorities and registered providers to deliver much needed new homes for sale, affordable rent, and the private rental sector.
Derby-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, has highlighted the success of its annual apprenticeship programme and role as a Cornerstone Employer as it supported 25 apprentices last year alone with employment opportunities. The contractor, which has headquarters in Little Eaton, Derby, operates across the East and West Midlands delivering high-value construction projects in various sectors including healthcare, education, commercial, industrial, restoration, leisure and residential. Its annual apprenticeship programme enables G F Tomlinson to offer young people employment opportunities and mentor them through hands-on work in the business whilst also supporting them to achieve their professional qualifications. One of those young persons is Ed Smith, who was employed by G F Tomlinson aged 16 whilst undertaking a level 3 course. Now aged 22 Ed has completed his HNC course (Higher National Certificate) and his HND (Higher National Diploma) in Construction in the Built Environment at Derby College, whilst working on site four days a week. Following the completion of his studies with the college, Ed has become the first Derby College apprentice to achieve the new level 4 construction site supervisor higher apprenticeship standard. During his time with G F Tomlinson to date, Ed has progressed to the role of assistant site manager, helping to successfully deliver high-profile schemes, including the Advanced Manufacturing Building and Biodiscovery Institute for the University of Nottingham and most recently the major extension to Barr’s Hill School in Coventry. On his role and experience, Ed says: “I spent time getting to know all the departments, including design, estimating and quantity surveying and have since decided to progress my career within a site management role.” “One of the best things about working as an assistant site manager at G F Tomlinson is the chance to work in lots of different places, meet many different people and work on some very interesting projects. I’ll be studying for my degree for the next three years at Nottingham Trent University, and once I’ve got my degree I’d like to work as a project manager, eventually managing £20 million plus projects.” Another apprentice, employed by G F Tomlinson in 2019 is Tiarna Powell, who completed her HNC course at the Roundhouse with a distinction, and is now studying for her HND with the Derby College Group. Tiarna is working four days a week, gaining hands-on experience within the quantity surveying team having worked on projects including the Blythe Valley M2 residential mixed-use scheme in Solihull and a large industrial scheme on the new Wakefield Hub for developers HBD and Yorkcourt. She will also be starting her degree in quantity surveying at Nottingham Trent University this year. Tiarna says: “Through my work at G F Tomlinson I have been able to start my career in quantity surveying and study at the same time to gain my professional qualifications. “I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to meet and work with so many different people at G F Tomlinson, and have the chance to work on a range of projects including Derbyshire Care Homes and Tunstall Town Hall – both exciting restoration projects which are bringing the buildings back to their former glory, whilst providing a modern upgrade to the interiors. I’m looking forward to starting my degree at Nottingham Trent University this year and continuing to progress in my career at G F Tomlinson.” Working with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership as well as local businesses and education providers, G F Tomlinson’s status as a founding member of the Cornerstone Employers group sees the contractor provide employment opportunities for younger people to gain knowledge and experience that can help them on their path towards a career in the construction industry.
