Book Course HSL is to run a 1 day course on DSEAR Compliance for Managers and Supervisors. 14 April 2016 HSL is to run a course on the identification and control of risks from dangerous substances required to comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). The regulations
A new wireless load monitoring system is in use at an Oxford construction site to provide real-time measurement of forces on basement props. Temporary works specialist Mabey is using its new LIVEpin load monitoring system for the first time to monitor prop loads at the 85m x 300m basement propping
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (6 October) called for applicants for its RIBA Part 2 Bursaries, with a deadline for receipt of applications as 9 December 2015. The bursary scheme supports students of architecture looking to embark on an RIBA-validated Part 2 course within the UK.
ECA supporting Smart Building Controls Show Source link
Construction firm Montway Ltd has been fined £144,000 after a worker was seriously injured when he fell off a roof during demolition work. Southwark Crown Court heard that on 25 February 2013 two workers were working on the roof of a two storey detached house at 17 Basing Hill, Golders
The world is growing smaller by the day as technology gets more advanced and widely accessible. As such, consumer property demand is also changing in line with their broadening horizons, and real estate agents who want to truly focus on excellent customer service need to change with the times. How
CITB has been commended for its CDM Wizard app. The team behind the app received its recognition at the prestigious Construction Health and Safety Group (CHSG) Annual Awards in London in March. The commendation was for the Beaufort Award – a trophy awarded to an individual or company for implementing
BTL mortgage sales see 3% rise in June The latest data from Equifax Touchstone has found that during June, sales of buy-to-let mortgages increased by 3.0% against the previous month, reaching £2.7bn. However, compared to the same period last year, sales were actually down 28.6% (-£1.1bn). Residential mortgage sales hit
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Mon, Aug 1st 2016 Partitioning systems from fermacell will showcase at this year’s Education Estates show. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Specialist building board manufacturer Fermacell will debut its schools offer for new-build and
A plumber arranged for fraudulent gas safety checks at landlords’ tenanted properties leaving a gas boiler in a dangerous state and putting the lives of the tenants at risk. Gary Lynch, aged 36, arranged for Neil Walker to undertake the landlords’ gas safety checks at tenanted properties on 14 separate
Book Course HSL is to run a 1 day course on DSEAR Compliance for Managers and Supervisors. 14 April 2016 HSL is to run a course on the identification and control of risks from dangerous substances required to comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). The regulations place duties on employers and the self-employed to protect employees, contractors and others from the risks from fires and explosions related to dangerous substances stored and used in the workplace. This course explains the duties that DSEAR places on employers and the actions needed to comply with them. It focuses particularly on the assessment of risks and the application of controls to both minimise and mitigate those risks. The course will cover The legal duties Assessing the risks from dangerous substances Controlling and mitigating the risks The safety management system to deliver DSEAR Explosive atmospheres – determining their extent and type Controlling the risks from specific processes Who should attend? Managers and supervisors of process plant and operations, where dangerous substances are used or stored, who need to understand how to manage the risks from dangerous substances within the framework of the DSEAR duties. Venue The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport. This course can be run at your site or local area by arrangement. Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitbuxton.co.uk Cost The cost of this course is £495 per person (includes course notes, certificate of attendance and lunch/refreshments). Book Course Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers. For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806. Back to Health & Safety Training Courses Back to the top Source link
A new wireless load monitoring system is in use at an Oxford construction site to provide real-time measurement of forces on basement props. Temporary works specialist Mabey is using its new LIVEpin load monitoring system for the first time to monitor prop loads at the 85m x 300m basement propping scheme for the £500m Westgate Centre redevelopment. Laing O’Rouke is the project’s main contractor for Crown Estates and Land Securities. Sitting in the place of the shear pin that anchors a prop, Mabey’s LIVEpin technology comprises a data-enabled shear pin that measures the axial load on the prop, communicating wirelessly with on-site dataloggers that save and retransmit the data. Readings are transmitted every 30 minutes. Although LIVEpin was not specified for this project, Mabey opted to install LIVEpins on two out of the 114 props it has supporting the excavation. The system allows for the setting of load thresholds which, when exceeded, trigger a switch to a 60-second reporting cycle to enable fine-grained analysis and recording. Once loads drop below the preset threshold, the reporting cycle is reset to every 30 minutes. The dataloggers on site store the data and simultaneously upload it to the Mabey LIVEsite web portal for real-time monitoring and analysis. Mabey engineering director Dave Holland explained: “We wanted to be able to ascertain the load in a strut using the most accurate method possible. By locating the gauges in the shear pin at the end of the strut, we have achieved an exceptionally high accuracy of ±2% under concentric and eccentric loads and at varying temperatures and magnitudes. Redundancy is built into the system, so the LIVEpin and the dataloggers store data as well as transmitting it, meaning that no data is lost in the event of a network or wireless outage.” Mabey’s LIVEpin is the latest addition to its range of LIVE instrumentation products, which includes environmental monitoring, geodetic and geotechnic monitoring, and temperature monitoring, all integrated into Mabey’s LIVEsite web portal.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (6 October) called for applicants for its RIBA Part 2 Bursaries, with a deadline for receipt of applications as 9 December 2015. The bursary scheme supports students of architecture looking to embark on an RIBA-validated Part 2 course within the UK. The bursaries will support students experiencing financial hardship who otherwise may not continue with their architectural studies. It is the most generous award made to students in financial need. In 2016, up to five bursaries of £6,000 will be available to support five Part-2 students for the academic years 2016/17 and 2017/18. Successful students will receive £1,000 a term throughout their Part 2 course (for up to a maximum of six terms). Funded by the bequest of Walter J Parker, these scholarships have been made possible by the W J Parker Trust to build a legacy of supporting students experiencing financial hardship to enter the architectural profession. These bursaries build on the portfolio of postgraduate funding already available, namely the RIBA Wren Insurance Association Scholarships and the RIBA AHR Stephen Williams Scholarship. RIBA President Jane Duncan said: “Alongside the RIBA Student Hardship Funds, these bursaries are incredibly important to help support future generations of architects. I am delighted that funds are being directed to tackle the dropout rate from Part 1 to Part 2 in order to address workforce diversity and inclusivity.” Chair of the RIBA Education Trust Funds Committee Andy Beard said: “The RIBA is concerned that architecture as a career is becoming increasingly inaccessible to students from less well-off backgrounds. Following on from the success of the scheme last year, from which the five deserving winners are now just starting their Part 2 course, I am delighted that we are yet again able to offer students the chance to apply to the RIBA Part 2 Bursary scheme. “This scheme allows architecture students from low income backgrounds, who otherwise might not be able to continue with their studies due to the high costs of their course, a chance to continue their education and embark on a Part 2 course. I would encourage any student currently considering applying for a Part 2 course in 2016/17, but worried about having sufficient funds, to submit an application.” For more information and details of how to apply, please visit www.architecture.com/Part2bursaries. – Ends – Notes to editors 1. For further press information please contact Gagandeep Bedi in the RIBA Press Office on 020 7307 3814 or email gagandeep.bedi@riba.org2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Visit www.architecture.com and follow us on Twitter. Posted on Monday 5th October 2015 Source link
ECA supporting Smart Building Controls Show Source link
Construction firm Montway Ltd has been fined £144,000 after a worker was seriously injured when he fell off a roof during demolition work. Southwark Crown Court heard that on 25 February 2013 two workers were working on the roof of a two storey detached house at 17 Basing Hill, Golders Green in London. Romanian labourer Mr. Ioan Vancea fell from the partly demolished roof and suffered serious injuries. No scaffolding had been provided and the work was not being supervised. Mr. Vancea fell some five metres from the roof to the ground and sustained a series of injuries including a fractured spine. He was in an induced coma for two weeks and remained in hospital for three months. The site was inspected by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) two weeks after the incident and unsupervised demolition work was still being carried out. A number of serious matters were identified including asbestos which had been removed from the house and was found in a pile by a neighbouring property’s hedge and in broken pieces mixed in with other debris. Enforcement Notices were immediately served to ensure workers and members of the public were protected. Montway Limited of Batchworth House, Batchworth Place, Church Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 1JE pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £144,000 and ordered to pay £43,606.15 in costs. Montway Ltd originally pleaded not guilty, but changed their plea and sought a Newton Hearing to determine numerous issues it disputed. The Newton Hearing took place before District Judge Roscoe between 23-24 May 2016. HSE inspector Andrew Verrall-Withers commented after the hearing: “Mr. Vancea’s injuries were life changing and he could easily have been killed.” “This serious incident would have been avoided if scaffolding had been provided. Montway Ltd’s site documents even identified it was needed.” “Montway Ltd sought a Newton hearing so they could dispute numerous issues in front of a District Judge. They were unsuccessful and the Judge’s ruling confirmed she was satisfied that their approach towards the welfare of their employees was lax and casual, and it was their overall poor management of health and safety that directly led to this incident.” Notes to editors: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. hse.gov.uk More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/ HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases. Source link
The world is growing smaller by the day as technology gets more advanced and widely accessible. As such, consumer property demand is also changing in line with their broadening horizons, and real estate agents who want to truly focus on excellent customer service need to change with the times. How the demands changing and what is the new role for a real estate agent? Keep on reading to find out! There is still a demand for the traditional estate agent who can offer local properties, but, estate agents now also need to cater to an altogether more internationally focussed customer who is looking to buy abroad for any of a number of different reasons. Whether the client is searching for a second home abroad or a holiday home they can rent out, real estate agents should be prepared for customers looking abroad. This is not only the case for big real estate agencies in for example London, but also for the smaller offices who operate local. Say for example a customer has been looking online for a villa for sale in Denia, the beautiful coastal town in Alicante, Spain. They are going to be looking to their estate agent to provide a number of different services, on top of simple offering a variety of properties to consider. This means that estate agents who want to win the trust, and repeated business, of their customers must be prepared to go the extra mile. Offering Comprehensive Service and Customer Understanding Background information is a key point of the service now expected of estate agents – you are offering property for sale in a specific area abroad, it’s up to you to understand the selling points of the region. Its climate, amenities, popularity with tourists and opportunities for investment are all parts of the essential knowledge required. The relevant information depends on understanding the goals of the customer. A customer who wants to buy a villa to retire to, or holiday in, is going to want different information to a customer who is looking to start or grow an investment. The modern, customer focussed estate agent also needs to be well versed in every aspect of the buying process, and both willing and able to offer the customer approachable help and advice through every step of the process. This could take the form of advising on essential documentation necessary to buy abroad, advice on local building code and regulations, as well as an overview of the financial state of the region if the property is for investment. Versatility Is Always the Goal Simply put, the modern real estate agent cannot be content to be tied to their local area if they’re going to appeal to an ever growing part of the population who are seeking to purchase a second property abroad. A good estate agent will be a “one stop shop” for all a potential customer’s needs and advice requirements, offering sound and accessible understanding for what can be a daunting prospect to many. Know the customer, know their needs, know their situation, and know their goals – with this information an attentive estate agent can make the process of buying a second property abroad easy and streamlined, which will guarantee that all important customer satisfaction.
CITB has been commended for its CDM Wizard app. The team behind the app received its recognition at the prestigious Construction Health and Safety Group (CHSG) Annual Awards in London in March. The commendation was for the Beaufort Award – a trophy awarded to an individual or company for implementing a new device or method of working that prevents accidents in construction. The CDM Wizard app, which has been downloaded over 50,000 times since its launch last year, has had rave reviews by people from across the industry. Professor Iain Cameron said, “It makes a tough-looking task straightforward and achievable,” while others have described it as “very easy to use” and a “very useful and productive app.” Kevin Fear, Health and Safety Strategy Lead at CITB, said:“Winning this award is great promotion for the app. The app is getting seen by the people who will benefit from it and therefore ensuring individuals in the industry are safe and healthy on site – that’s the important thing.” The CDM Wizard app has been successful in reaching small businesses working on domestic projects as well as larger employers. The app has also attracted use from colleges, universities and major contractors. Source link
BTL mortgage sales see 3% rise in June The latest data from Equifax Touchstone has found that during June, sales of buy-to-let mortgages increased by 3.0% against the previous month, reaching £2.7bn. However, compared to the same period last year, sales were actually down 28.6% (-£1.1bn). Residential mortgage sales hit another post-2008 high, growing by 2.6% on the previous month to £13.2bn. Year-on-year, residential sales were up 4.4% with a value increase of £560m. However, the rate of growth is slowing both in the short and long term; May’s growth rate was 1.5% lower than in June, while year-on-year growth was 16.5%, down 0.4% from the May year-on-year comparison. For residential and buy-to-let mortgage sales combined, Northern Ireland was the strongest region for sales growth for the third month in a row, with sales up 11.3% on May. Meanwhile London saw the biggest decline in sales during the month, dropping 3.8% on the previous month. The data from Equifax Touchstone, which covers 92% of the intermediated lending market, shows that the average value of a residential mortgage in June was £191,577 (2015: £185,553), and £161,102 for buy-to-let (2015: £156,584). Iain Hill, Relationship Manager, at Equifax Touchstone, said: “June was another strong month for mortgage sales, despite an anticipated drop ahead of the EU referendum. Now an exit has become a reality, the really interesting stats to watch will be the July sales. There are a myriad of factors affecting house buying decisions and people will be weighing these up very carefully before deciding to take the plunge. The market is expecting sales to fall, but the extent of the impact is much harder to predict. We anticipate that lenders will react quickly and decisively to support sales, encouraging buyers with competitive new deals at lower rates.” Source link
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Mon, Aug 1st 2016 Partitioning systems from fermacell will showcase at this year’s Education Estates show. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Specialist building board manufacturer Fermacell will debut its schools offer for new-build and refurbishment projects at this year’s Education Estates event (October 18-19, Manchester Central). Its stand (E17) will demonstrate the many ways in which German-engineered fermacell partitions are especially ideal for the education environment, being particularly robust and damage resistant. Even if they are damaged, they are exceptionally easy to repair. With this in mind, Fermacell is using the Education Estates exhibition, conference and award dinner event to launch its new lifetime “Impact Warranty” which guarantees Fermacell will supply repair materials or replacement boards in the extremely unlikely event of damage. In addition, the multiple acoustic and fire requirements as specified in BB100 and BB93 can be met with just six fermacell partition types, simplifying the specification and installation of the product. This compares to many more combinations with conventional drywall systems Due to their density, partitions made from Fermacell generally do not require pattressing when attaching fixtures and fittings such as wipe boards and TV screens which means that they are much more cost effective and flexible than conventional drywall. It was the boards’ excellent load-bearing properties which got them specified by specialist timber frame manufacturer Scotts of Thrapston for a start in a new sector. Scotts in Northamptonshire have 95 years’ expertise in the equestrian and garden buildings sector but recently decided to try and break into the education sector by supplying modular classroom buildings. They specified 153 of fermacell’s 1200mm x 2400mm x 12.5mm boards for their first such project, Weldon Church of England Primary School, in their home county, and have not looked back since, also using fermacell for another school and an office building. The fermacell panels were used to line the walls and ceilings of a £175,000 replacement for a 20-year-old modular building including a classroom, group room, lobby, toilets and storeroom. Fermacell boards have also been or are being used at Redbridge and Bank View Schools in Liverpool, Ellon Academy in Aberdeen, Civitas Academy in Reading, Lane End School in Highgate, London, Harrogate High School and the University of Nottingham’s sustainable chemistry building. Fermacell systems are now also available through bimstore. Downloadable in the Revit format, more than 30 Fermacell systems for walls, floors and ceilings can be accessed via the UK’s largest BIM portal, www.bimstore.co.uk, as well as through www.fermacell.co.uk. The Fermacell BIM components include steel and timber stud partitions, steel and timber wall linings and SFS wall systems as well as dry floor screed and steel frame and timber ceilings. This BIM capability is complemented by a “Modern construction needs modern materials” CPD which explains how fermacell is made, how it conforms to relevant standards, where it can typically be used, what product options are available, and its performance characteristics and installation process. ENDS Source link
A plumber arranged for fraudulent gas safety checks at landlords’ tenanted properties leaving a gas boiler in a dangerous state and putting the lives of the tenants at risk. Gary Lynch, aged 36, arranged for Neil Walker to undertake the landlords’ gas safety checks at tenanted properties on 14 separate occasions between February 2013 and May 2015 despite Neil Walker not being a registered gas engineer. Gas safety records produced used a false Gas Safe Register registration number and a fictitious address for Neil Walker. Gary Lynch claimed to have met Neil Walker in a pub and instructed him to undertake the landlords’ gas safety checks for him, as the agent for the landlords, but Gary Lynch did not undertake any checks on whether Neil Walker was registered to legally undertake such work. One gas boiler that Neil Walker passed as safe was subsequently found to be ‘Immediately Dangerous’ and was potentially leaking poisonous carbon monoxide into the tenants’ property. The tenants had been suffering from headaches and dizziness and contacted Wales and West Utilities who isolated the gas supply to the boiler and contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who investigated Gary Lynch’s activities. During that investigation Gary Lynch was not able to provide any information or contact details for Neil Walker. Gary Lynch was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court. He had previously been warned by HSE in 2014 about undertaking gaswork whilst not registered following previous concerns. Gary Lynch of Fletemoor Road, Plymouth, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for each offence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to pay £2,000 in costs. HSE Inspector Simon Jones, speaking after the hearing, said: “Gary Lynch’s negligence could have cost lives. All landlord’s gas safety checks must be done by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life. Mr Lynch knew this but carried on instructing an unregistered man and put the lives of tenants at serious risk from deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Further information about gas safety can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/ Notes to Editors The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases. Source link