Citu, a leading sustainable developer, has started construction on a 51 unit MMC scheme of low energy homes, designed using the Passive House Principles, with a Gross Development Value of £16million. Stall, in Kirkstall, Leeds, is set on a brown-field site and is being funded by Close Brothers Property Finance,
Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the June 2023 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of May 2023, covering all underlying projects, with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise indicated), with all figures
With its low cost, timesaving and sustainability-based attributes, modular construction has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Rick Perkins, global technical manager passive fire protection at Sherwin-Williams, examines the advantages of this approach and how intumescent coatings play a key role in ensuring high levels of fire safety in
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has joined the European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF), which promotes the use of industrial insulation as an accepted means of achieving sustainability. TICA, the sole UK trade association representing contractors involved in the application of hot and cold insulation, became a member of the
Installation of retrofit measures – including low energy heating systems, solar and insulation – is key in reducing emissions from Surrey’s buildings, which currently make up around half of all Surrey’s carbon emissions. Over £32m of funding has already been secured to scale-up retrofit across the county. In its Climate
Wyatt Homes is proud to announce that its Charminster Farm development, in Charminster, has received its first Quality Recognition Award. The award, which is ascribed by Premier Guarantee, recognises the exceptional craftmanship provided by the development team, including Site Managers Rod Dunford and Arron Zaple. A presentation ceremony was held
Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System to help enhance operations and improve overall safety at one of the busiest airports in Italy Honeywell and GE.S.A.C., operator of Napoli International Airport (NAP) have recently announced that Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System (A-VDGS) has been selected to be deployed at its
Behind a combination of concepts, briefs and materials, architectural hardware can often tie design projects together, and it’s all in the finish, explains Daniel May of Consort Architectural Hardware. When it comes to door hardware, the details matter. Between levers, pull handles, locks and hinges, correctly specified hardware can elevate
After becoming a member of the CPD certification service on 1st March 2023, DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has announced that it will be holding two accredited CPD Webinars for members on 10th and 24th August. Each webinar demonstrates the required Continuing Professional Development standards and the learning value and
For companies looking to demonstrate forward-thinking design, sustainable construction and feats of precision engineering, submissions for the 2023 Structural Timber Awards are open. Now in its ninth year, these highly recognised awards showcase the best in timber structures and architectural achievements. Free to enter – the window for entries closes
Citu, a leading sustainable developer, has started construction on a 51 unit MMC scheme of low energy homes, designed using the Passive House Principles, with a Gross Development Value of £16million. Stall, in Kirkstall, Leeds, is set on a brown-field site and is being funded by Close Brothers Property Finance, part of the FTSE 250 Close Brothers Group plc, who is a committed supporter of sustainable residential development. The development has an expected 18-month build schedule, with the first homes available for occupation at the end-2023. The modular closed timber frame panels are designed in-house and manufactured in the Citu factory, located just miles from the site. Operating a vertically integrated delivery model focuses on the reduction of embodied carbon and is designed to dramatically reduce operational carbon for incoming home owners. The properties are designed to passive house standards using the passive house planning package (PHPP). The homes will heat the hot water using air source heat pumps and will use Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation (MHRV) units to regulate the internal air quality and temperature. The MHRV units, combined with the high levels of insulation, mean that energy required for heating is around five times lower than the average UK house. The use of 100% on and off site renewable electricity, as opposed to gas, significantly reduces the carbon footprint, whilst also equating to lower bills than the average home. The development will be set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and have a solar array, which will be co-owned by all of the residents and will provide a source of clean, renewable energy on-site. Located on the banks of the Leeds-Liverpool canal, the homes at Stall will border a green corridor that passes Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve and the famous Kirkstall Abbey, providing a convenient route for cyclists and pedestrians directly into central Leeds. There will also be a wealth of natural landscaping and the preservation of existing trees incorporated in the design of the scheme. Jonathan Wilson, Managing Director at Citu, comments “Our partnership with Close Brothers has enabled our business, and the communities we are building, to grow. We are excited to collaborate on this latest venture in Kirkstall and deliver places and homes with purpose that give equal priority to people, nature and high-standards of living.” Daniel Joyce, Director at Close Brothers Property Finance, comments: “Building sustainable housing has never been more important and we are committed to funding future-proofed homes, which are designed to reduce their carbon footprint as well as energy usage. We have a strong track record of supporting low carbon developments in the UK and working with the very best developers in the industry to move MMC and passive housing from being a one-off bespoke design model, to a reality for everyday homeowners. Developers such as Citu are leading this charge, we’re proud to be supporting them on their journey and look forward to continuing to work with them.” For further information on Stall please visit: https://citu.co.uk/citu-live/citu-arrives-in-kirkstall
Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the June 2023 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of May 2023, covering all underlying projects, with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise indicated), with all figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report which provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the last 12 months. Starts-on-site performance fell even further, down 16% on the preceding three months. Affecting the entire construction sector, these figures present the latest disappointing results in a frustratingly protracted period of decline. Despite stabilising somewhat compared with the steep decline seen during the first quarter of the year, start-levels are still floundering, remaining a significant 42% down on a year ago, as rising interest rates continue to keep public and private investors cautious about starting on new projects. Furthermore, material price inflation, labour shortages and sweeping regulatory changes are holding back shovels from being committed to soil. For example, in the residential sector, the upcoming legal-enforcement of Part L on 27th June and the promise of tighter building safety restrictions has likely resulted in an activity-dip as many implement protocol to stay compliant and bring existing stock up to required standard. Almost at half way through year, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that consistent recovery will be observed until at least Q.4 2023 or, more likely Q.1/Q.2 2024. Commenting on the findings, Glenigan’s Economic Director, Allan Wilen, says, “Despite some stabilisation in the sharp falls in project-starts seen in Q.1 2023, the industry continues to suffer a squeeze in activity with starts remaining significantly down on a year ago. The sector looks to be in for a challenging period, with commercial starts falling back as skyrocketing interest rates and a weak economic outlook continue to dampen investor confidence. “Private housing also looks to be hard hit, as housebuilders focus development on existing sites in response to a reduction in activity across the wider housing market. The pick-up in industrial starts is the silver lining in a distinctly overcast Index, with the rising demand for logistics space expected to drive sector activity in the medium term. On the flipside, it’s especially disappointing to see civil engineering starts hit a wall following a strong burst of activity in recent months, with marked declines in both infrastructure and utilities work.” Taking a closer look at sector verticals and UK regions… Sector Analysis – Residential Residential construction experienced overall decline in the three months to May as starts fell 10% to stand 46% lower than a year ago. Private housing fell back 13% against the preceding three months and registered particularly weak performance against the previous year, finishing 55% down compared with the previous year. Social housing’s fall was less severe, with work starting on site falling a modest 4% against the previous three-month period, down 1% on 2022 levels. Sector Analysis – Non-Residential The value of starts across non-residential sectors fell by 19% during the three months to May, slipping back a third (-31%) on 2022 figures. Overall performance was a mixed bag, with education the only sector vertical to experience growth (9%) on the previous year, yet failed to match this increase against the preceding three month period, declining 18%. Industrial project-starts were also mixed, with the value of project-starts increasing 9% during the three months to May but 20% lower on 2022 levels. Retail performance was especially poor, with project-starts weakening 29% against the preceding three months and 48% against the previous year. It was a similar story for offices, with the value of underlying project-starts falling 20% against the preceding three months to stand 48% down on a year ago. Health starts also slipped back sharply, declining 20% against the preceding three months to stand 52% down on 2022 figures. Hotel & leisure and community & amenity also decreased 34% and 54% against the preceding three months, to stand 10% and 54% down on the previous year, respectively. Civils work starting on-site dropped 30% against the preceding three months to stand 50% down on a year ago. Infrastructure starts dropped 26% against the preceding three-month period, down 56% on the previous year’s figures. Faltering on strong activity in previous months, civils general decline can also partly be attributed to a weakening in utilities starts, declining by 35% against the preceding three months to stand 37% down against last year’s results. Regional Analysis Regional performance was poor across most of the UK, with project-starts weakening during the three months to May. The East of England was the only region to post growth on the preceding three-month period, with project-starts increasing 19%, but remaining 39% behind 2022 levels. Wales suffered the heaviest fall, declining 56% against the preceding three months to stand 43% down on a year ago. It was a similar story in Yorkshire & the Humber, with the value of project-starts decreasing 31% against the preceding three months and remaining significantly down (-52%) on the previous year. Project-starts in the North East experienced a fall against both the preceding three months (-27%) and previous year (-26%). London and the South West both weakened against the preceding three months, falling back 1% and 12%, respectively. Both regions were down on the previous year, remaining 20% and 46% lower than a year ago. Scotland was also down on both the preceding three months (-12%) and the previous year (-43%). Northern Ireland, the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East and the North West all crashed compared to both the preceding three months and previous year. To find out more about Glenigan and its construction intelligence services click here. 2023 sees Glenigan celebrate its 50th anniversary, commemorating half a century of delivering the highest-quality construction market intelligence. To find out more about its services and expertise click here.
With its low cost, timesaving and sustainability-based attributes, modular construction has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Rick Perkins, global technical manager passive fire protection at Sherwin-Williams, examines the advantages of this approach and how intumescent coatings play a key role in ensuring high levels of fire safety in modular buildings. Modular construction is the process of creating buildings using off-site prefabricated building components. These components are manufactured in a controlled environment and then transported to the construction site for final assembly. Although this method of construction has been around for decades, in recent years it has gained popularity due to its many advantages. The Need for speed One of the most significant advantages of modular construction is its speed. Building a traditional structure on-site can take months, if not years, to finish. Modular construction, on the other hand, can be completed in a fraction of that time – as modules are manufactured in a factory the construction process can be carried out much more quickly and efficiently. Central to its popularity is the realisation that modular construction does not necessarily result in buildings of a temporary nature. The materials used and methods of constructing them mean that they are built to extremely high standards. The majority of today’s modular buildings have steel frames and a design life of 50 years. However, it is highly likely that they will last longer than that – longer, in fact, than some so-called permanent buildings constructed in traditional ways. Another advantage of modular construction is its cost effectiveness. Since modules are manufactured in a controlled environment, there is less waste and fewer materials are needed. These cost savings can be between 10-35 per cent less than traditional methods, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Safety first Being produced in a factory also means there are fewer hazards than on a traditional construction site – modular buildings are built to strict safety standards to ensure that they are structurally sound and safe for occupants. This is especially evident in their ability to protect against the potentially devastating effects of fire. A large part of this is due to the intumescent coatings that are applied to the structural steel frames that are used in their construction. These are designed to expand when exposed to high temperatures, forming a thick, insulating layer that helps to protect the underlying steel from the heat of a fire. This delays, or prevents, structural failure and collapse, giving occupants longer to evacuate and firefighters more time to respond. Every second counts Since assembled modules are transported and erected as a unit, intumescent coatings make a great choice for fire protection as they are the lightest and most compact form of fire protection available. There are several types of intumescent coatings available, each with their own unique properties and application methods. It is important to engage with a coatings manufacturer as early in the design stage as possible in order to ensure that the most appropriate solution is applied. Depending on the building’s design and structure, intumescent paint has the ability to protect steelwork for 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes in a fire, as required by the designer and building regulations. It is applied by airless spray to a thickness according to the level of protection required, and if the steelwork is visible in the final design it will not detract from the appearance. Application form When applying an intumescent coating, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and coating specification carefully to ensure that it is used correctly and provides the desired level of fire protection. This may involve applying multiple layers of the coating, preparing and priming the surface before application and allowing the coating to dry and cure properly. Using an appropriate intumescent product will mean that it is durable both once in service in the finished building, as well as during construction/erection phase, when it may be exposed to weathering. Some of the latest generations of intumescent coatings are not only very fast drying, they also have excellent mechanical resilience, making them a fantastic option when steelwork may need to be further worked on quickly after coating application. Look ahead The future of modular construction looks bright, with increased adoption likely to transform the way we build and design buildings long-term. However, like any other type of building, fire protection should be a primary concern, so intumescent coatings from leading manufacturers should be used to provide an effective, versatile and reliable solution. By providing a layer of insulation that protects the steel framework from heat, intumescent coatings can help to prevent structural damage and save lives in the event of a fire. For further information please visit https://bit.ly/3iovJNg Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) has joined the European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF), which promotes the use of industrial insulation as an accepted means of achieving sustainability. TICA, the sole UK trade association representing contractors involved in the application of hot and cold insulation, became a member of the Switzerland-based not-for-profit organisation to share best practice – which includes gaining access to its TIPCHECK Programme. Standing for Technical Insulation Performance Check, TIPCHECK is a high quality thermal energy auditing tool in line with EN 16247 and ISO 50002, used to evaluate the performance of industrial insulation systems. It can be applied to existing facilities, planned projects and retrofits and is able to identify efficiency improvements and safety risks. Since its foundation in 2009, EiiF has established itself as a resource for industries seeking to reduce CO2 emissions and save energy. Its activities are focused on raising awareness of the multiple benefits and cost-effective nature of industrial insulation. It is comprised of more than 60 leading industrial insulation companies from global players to small and medium-sized companies and consultants. Chris Ridge, TICA’s Technical Policy Manager said: “The opportunity to share knowledge and experience with the EiiF network will be an important factor as we seek to promote thermal insulation best practice in the UK. “Tools such as TIPCHECK can, and should, play a significant role in decarbonising the UK energy and industrial sectors. “However, with 23% of UK total carbon production tied in with heating of buildings, TIPCHECK could also play a key role in highlighting the energy saving potential of thermal insulation in building services applications. “As a tool, TIPCHECK can help to highlight the energy and financial savings that can result from insulating pipework correctly. This is good news for the thermal insulation industry, and good news for clients who wish to reduce energy consumption, costs whilst benefiting the wider environment – a real win-win”. Andrea Guertler, EiiF’s Foundation Director, added: ““We are very happy to count TICA as an EiiF Member. Cooperation between TICA and EiiF will greatly benefit both organisations, bringing user-friendly digital tools with the focus on sustainability to the TICA curriculum and at the same time promoting TIPCHECK and EiiF to UK contractors. “Most importantly, our co-operation will fulfil one of our foundation purposes: supporting the young generation with education and training.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Installation of retrofit measures – including low energy heating systems, solar and insulation – is key in reducing emissions from Surrey’s buildings, which currently make up around half of all Surrey’s carbon emissions. Over £32m of funding has already been secured to scale-up retrofit across the county. In its Climate Change Strategy published in 2020, Surrey County Council (Surrey CC) recognised the importance of retrofit to “meet more demanding energy efficiency standards…whilst delivering significant savings to residents” (Strategic Priority 1). At the heart of the Council’s retrofit plans is a focus on building the supply chain, without which its ambitious target of 66% emissions reduction in the domestic housing sector by 2035 cannot be met. Spending on retrofit has the potential to make a significant contribution to Surrey’s economy, providing significant new business opportunities for Surrey enterprises. With this in mind the Council has partnered with The Retrofit Academy and Low Carbon Homes to produce the first Surrey Retrofit Summit over the mornings of Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 June 2023 for daily online sessions from 9am-12pm. Attendees will learn more from Surrey CC’s team about the plans to meet the skills, supply chain and financial opportunities, and the innovative solutions being developed in the market to meet future retrofit demand – and how local businesses and residents can navigate the complex topic and benefit from the County’s focus on the low carbon transition of homes. Cllr Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment who’ll be opening the event on Tuesday 13th June states: “Retrofitting our homes and buildings will help all Surrey residents to reduce emissions and, at the same time, save money on energy bills, something which is key to the Council’s Climate Change Delivery Plan. We know we need to significantly scale the retrofit supply chain to meet the growing demand for energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures. The Surrey Retrofit Summit will bring together professionals from across the retrofit sector to understand the opportunities provided by retrofit, share best practice and hear what else is needed to meet the scale of retrofit required.” With updates from Surrey CC’s energy team, and expert advice from The Retrofit Academy and other market experts the event will show supply chain businesses how to scale up their operations, and improve processes to win more business. Three mornings of online presentations and in-event meetings provide a flexible means of participation and learning for those working in the housing and construction sectors who want to be part of this exciting opportunity. The Summit schedule will include – on morning one – an update on Surrey’s decarbonisation plans and retrofit one-stop-shop ambitions, supply chain opportunities and a showcase of recent retrofit success stories. On morning two speakers will focus on the skills, support and finance available to businesses to help them scale to install high volumes of housing fabric energy efficiency measures. On the final morning, attention will be on heating and energy businesses looking to pivot towards low carbon heat and storage, the scale of the retrofit market opportunity and how to access it. We’ll hear from those who are building successful retrofit businesses each day, with plenty of insights and lessons shared to inspire those looking to grow their business or to enter the fast-emerging retrofit market. The Surrey Retrofit Summit is free to attend online using the dynamic REMO event platform across three mornings from 0900-1130 from Tuesday 13 June to Thursday 15 June, enabling housing professionals, installers, contractors, consultants, architects, and surveyors to drop in from any location to suit their schedules. Q&A sessions with a panel of the morning’s speakers and mingling with peers, speakers and sponsors at the virtual conference tables provide high quality networking without the travel time. To sign up to attend this free online event, go to https://lowcarbonhomes.uk/events. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wyatt Homes is proud to announce that its Charminster Farm development, in Charminster, has received its first Quality Recognition Award. The award, which is ascribed by Premier Guarantee, recognises the exceptional craftmanship provided by the development team, including Site Managers Rod Dunford and Arron Zaple. A presentation ceremony was held recently at Charminster Farm, where representatives from Wyatt Homes and Premier Guarantee were in attendance to celebrate this achievement. The Quality Recognition Award is scored during each inspection visit and is based on the following categories: the standard of site management, the standard of workmanship, health and safety, site tidiness, and general cooperation. Tara Kelly, Sales Director at Wyatt Homes said, “We are thrilled to achieve this Quality Recognition Award for Charminster Farm. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to ensure that every aspect of the development, from the design of the homes to the landscaping of surrounding areas, meets our exact standards. This award is a reflection of the commitment and expertise of our team, and we are proud to see their effort recognised in this way.” Aaron and Rod, site managers at Charminster Farm, have been instrumental in ensuring the development meets the high standards required for the Quality Recognition Award. Their attention to detail and ability to manage the complex logistics of a large-scale development has been critical to the project’s success. Rod, Site Manager at Charminster Farm said, “We are delighted to have played a part in securing the Quality Recognition Award. “Charminster Farm has been a truly rewarding project, and we are proud to see it as a leader in quality and craftmanship.” Aaron, Site Manager at Charminster Farm said, “We would like to thank the entire development team for their hard work and dedication, as well as our partners and suppliers for their support throughout this project.” Charminster Farm is a development of beautiful two, three, four and five bedroom homes located in Charminster, Dorchester. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System to help enhance operations and improve overall safety at one of the busiest airports in Italy Honeywell and GE.S.A.C., operator of Napoli International Airport (NAP) have recently announced that Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System (A-VDGS) has been selected to be deployed at its gates. The guidance system, which enables aircrafts to safely and efficiently come to parking positions after landing to improve turnaround management performance, is the result of a tender process that saw Honeywell excel, from a technical and economic point of view. The docking technology will allow NAP to increase operational efficiency and enhance the customer experience and overall airport safety. “Today’s airports increasingly rely on efficient gate assignment and real-time views of gate activity to optimise performance,” said Alexander Cowen, general manager, Global Airports, Honeywell. “We’ve worked with Napoli Airport to enhance its indoor airport operations or terminal, and now it’s time to deliver our technologies for airside. With our proprietary A-VDGS, Napoli will increase its capability of safe gate operations, benefitting both travelers and airlines.” Honeywell is set to deploy the A-VDGS units at four contact parking stands. A-VDGS will be integrated to help optimise gate usage and airport operations by capturing real-time aircraft gate arrival and departure times, as well as increase the capability of the airport’s existing passenger terminal resources. Combining highly specialised, customised hardware and software components, the system will be integrated into a one-gate ecosystem, meeting the airport’s concept of operation (ConOps). Additionally, through advanced safety algorithms that can detect moving or stationary objects up to 100 metres, A-VDGS provides enhanced guidance to pilots to help detect obstacles that could pose risks to an aircraft, allowing for efficient docking. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Behind a combination of concepts, briefs and materials, architectural hardware can often tie design projects together, and it’s all in the finish, explains Daniel May of Consort Architectural Hardware. When it comes to door hardware, the details matter. Between levers, pull handles, locks and hinges, correctly specified hardware can elevate any space – enhancing aesthetics, accessibility and functionality. Typical design projects can house tens – if not hundreds – of doors and their supplementary furniture, each playing a fundamental functional role while also having a significant impact on the overall feel and flow of the building. As such, design professionals are encouraged to put careful consideration into door furniture selection, ensuring they deliver reliable, eloquent solutions that meet user requirements. While final design decisions may depend on project, preference and budget, it always pays to get your material scheme right the first-time round. From colour matching to durability, there are a number of key components to consider when choosing door hardware finishes, and so, with that in mind, what should design teams be on the lookout for? The finishing touch Aesthetically speaking, more often than not, a high-quality, consistent finish is more essential to a building’s interior atmosphere than the design characteristics of the door furniture itself. Whether opting for a classic or contemporary feel, the right material scheme can completely invigorate a space while unifying a project’s overarching design theme. Today, there is an expanding catalogue of popular hardware finishes, each differing for a range of aesthetic and practical reasons. In recent years for example, there has been an influx of dark-toned, contemporary surfaces, with matt black finishes in high demand. And while the popularity of matt black and even granite material schemes has risen recently, they may not always be suitable for certain settings and may soon be displaced by another leading style. This revolving door of interior design trends and an ever-growing market of available finishes means the specification process is conceivably more complex than ever before. While juggling the latest styles, modern design teams must also be mindful of the disparity in quality between different suppliers, material grades and price points. At surface level, different manufacturers may offer the same styles and material schemes, but upon delivery, each may vary in colour shades, characteristics and overall consistency. Consequently, this can leave projects suffering from discord in their design, with end-users later requiring replacements or full redesigns to match their original plans. Colour matching carries even more weight when meeting the needs of visually impaired users, for example. Under the Equality Act 2010, it’s stated all new and refurbished public buildings must offer equal access to all users, ensuring safe entry and passage through a building regardless of disability, age of gender. Where only 5% of people that are blind can’t see anything at all, most have limited colour vision and perception of light and shade, and for this, an adequate level of visual contrast between building surfaces and their surrounding areas is mandatory. With this, design professionals must be conscious of Light Reflectance Values (LRV). LRV is understood as the universal scale used in architecture and interior design and is a way of measuring the amount of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source. In essence, it is important to assess the contrast between the door facings and ironmongery throughout specification, with standards recommending an LRV contrast of at least 30 points in order to comply with BS 8300-2:2018. Consistent by design The purpose of a consistent finish runs deeper than aesthetics alone. Together with its design benefits, a high-quality, durable material scheme can add value to a project by offering high wear and abrasion resistance, improving the overall usability of door furniture throughout a building’s lifecycle. Here, the specification of material schemes is often determined by project type and the location of the door itself. Stainless steel finishes for example, while offering clean aesthetics, are designed to add value in kitchen and bathroom spaces by offering naturally high resistance to moisture corrosion. On the other hand, stainless steel can often succumb to the harsh exposure of sunlight and as such, its use should generally be avoided in outside environments. Similarly, a high-grade physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating is also naturally corrosion resistant, but in addition, it offers users an extremely scratch resistant surface – making it suitable for high traffic environments such as hospitals and schools. With this in mind, design professionals must seek the most applicable material scheme throughout their project, opting for higher grades of materials where necessary. And where a single manufacturer may offer a continuous range of finishes of the same quality, the use of multiple suppliers can truly have the adverse effect. Comparably, low-cost substitutes are unlikely to match the reliability that premium finishes can offer. Much like users expect the mechanisms of door hardware to last throughout a building’s lifecycle, it is essential for material schemes stand the test of time too. Where ‘natural living’ finishes (such as unlacquered bronze and brass) are purposefully designed to react to the external environment and develop over time with the building, low-quality finishes may begin to fade unintentionally. Protective coatings (such as PVD or lacquered finishes) are designed to retain their quality regardless of the environment in which they’re installed. Even in high traffic areas, durable designs are more likely to retain their operational benefits over time, while also enduring decorative trends and leaving interiors intact for years to come. Inherently, decision makers are urged to chase quality above trends and low-cost substitutes. Where door hardware finishes are concerned, durability and cohesion are key in offering longer-lasting benefits and design professionals must look to work closely with trusted manufacturers and supply chains to ensure their choices match expectations. Because, while styles change and trends come and go, the basis for a high quality, consistent finish lies within the manufacturing process. After all, the details are always in the design. Building, Design &
After becoming a member of the CPD certification service on 1st March 2023, DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has announced that it will be holding two accredited CPD Webinars for members on 10th and 24th August. Each webinar demonstrates the required Continuing Professional Development standards and the learning value and practicality of each course has been examined thoroughly to ensure both are of high quality and comply with CPD requirements. The complimentary webinars will feature force limitation and non-contact presence detection for doors, gates, and traffic barriers respectively and will be aimed at installation and maintenance engineers of industrial & garage doors, powered gates, and traffic barriers, as well as managers of installation and maintenance engineers; business owners of installation and maintenance companies, and facilities managers, retail landlords/managers with responsibility for maintenance teams. The force limitation webinar explains how to assess force limitation on industrial & garage doors, powered gates, and traffic barriers under EN 12453 including what safe force and time limits apply in a range of hazard locations, how to test at the main closing edges and how to verify safe force at hazards that cannot be easily or safely measured directly to achieve legal compliance. The non-contact presence detection webinar covers one of three ways in which powered doors, gates and barriers can be prevented from injuring people and how compliance with EN 12453 can be achieved. It explains how to assess non-contact presence detection on industrial & garage doors, powered gates, and traffic barriers under EN 12453 and will enable delegates to understand what non-contact presence detection is, how non-contact presence can be used to prevent powered doors, gates and barriers harming people and how to test it for compliance in a range of hazard locations. The webinars are delivered via Teams and last around an hour and a half, including time for a Q&A session. Although the webinars are delivered electronically, these can also be delivered at members’ open days, face-to-face upon request, and is a further benefit of membership. “DHF continues to stress the importance of a competent workforce and that the correct training is sourced, including increasing knowledge on important topics like those covered in our webinars,” says DHF’s Commercial Director, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “We encourage companies involved in the installation and maintenance of doors, gates, and traffic barriers to ensure they are meeting safety standards, as well as recognising when to bring in a specialist contractor. Our CPD-accredited webinars offer information on topics that enable staff to understand how these safety elements can be used to ensure doors, gates or traffic barriers are safe and we are delighted to be able to provide these for our members.” To enquire about membership of DHF to gain access to these webinars free of charge, visit www.dhfonline.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
For companies looking to demonstrate forward-thinking design, sustainable construction and feats of precision engineering, submissions for the 2023 Structural Timber Awards are open. Now in its ninth year, these highly recognised awards showcase the best in timber structures and architectural achievements. Free to enter – the window for entries closes on June 23. Meaning now is the time to start putting together your showstopping submission. This year’s expert judging panel will want to see builds demonstrating the exceptional benefits of timber construction while displaying world-class architecture and technical precision. Amongst the experts deciding this year’s finalists are representatives from the Timber Trade Association, Structural Timber Association and the British Woodworking Federation. With seventeen categories available to enter, businesses can submit projects focusing on commercial, education, low-energy, self-build projects and more. There will also be awards celebrating project management, innovation, and pioneering systems and ideas. Entering the Structural Timber Awards positions companies as those championing and setting the standard for structural timber construction. Widely recognised as a mark of excellence, these awards are a seal of approval to your activities and a sign of outstanding quality. Entry is also an opportunity to demonstrate to the sector and the wider business network how your projects are contributing to the global carbon agenda, local community, and social values and driving the common objectives of the timber industry further than ever before. The judges will be looking for entries that offer engaging data and evidence that showcase the positive outcomes of a project, supported by eye-catching images that detail the designs and structural timber systems and show how the work progressed. Companies are welcome to make multiple submissions and it is recommended that entrants read the submission criteria carefully before putting together their entries. A complete list of the 2022 and all other previous winners is available to view on the Structural Timber Awards website. The 2023 winners will be announced at a prestigious ceremony on 04 October, to be held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham. The event will bring together construction professionals to enjoy an evening of celebration, networking and recognition. The event venue provides the ideal backdrop for businesses to celebrate the dynamic people and teams who bring these visionary timber projects to life. Previous winners have enjoyed extensive media coverage for their projects following success at the awards. Structural Timber Award winners have been featured in publications like Construction News, The Times and the architectural and design magazine, Dezeen. Winners from the 2022 awards include Hayhurst & Co, Ramboll, Adam Knibb Architects, and Innovaré Offsite. Businesses such as EURBAN, Constructional Timber, dRMM studio, Maich Swift Architects and Stora Enso were also highly commended by the 2022 judges. The Structural Timber Awards are presented in partnership with the Structural Timber Association, the leading organisation for the UK structural timber industry. To register your interest and take your first step on the road to success, visit: www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
