The manufacturing industry has been benefiting from digitalization, robotics, and automation for several decades now; however, the construction industry seems to be only just picking up on DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) for repetitive mass production and standardized components. Andrew Watts, CEO at Newtecnic, has decided to discuss the
The Electrical Industries Charity has announced its nine runners for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2016. The Virgin Money London Marathon is one of the biggest fundraising events in Great Britain bringing thousands of people together to raise money for different charities. This year the Electrical Industries
The construction company BAM Nuttall has won an £85 million contract to deliver a new concrete deck extension for London City Airport. Part of the £480 million City Airport Development, the work will see the 75,000 m2 extension supported by over 1,000 concrete piles with steel casings. The City Airport
Nic Collins, the area technical manager at Sika Refurbishment, wants to remind us how important the roof and concrete maintenance is for the upkeep of buildings, particularly for those of historical interest. Pitch-less roofs unadorned by modern drainage features are susceptible to ponding, which can lead to blistering to the
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) announced that a number of construction sites across the UK have ground to a close because of heavy snow. “Heavy snow showers have led to many construction sites across the UK grinding to a halt. Some construction bosses have told their staff to take
Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched its ‘Spotlight on… air pollution’ campaign, which will help the construction industry to address the air pollution issues. The campaign was created after a survey revealed that 84% of nearly 600 respondents believe there is an issue with air pollution and not a lot is
Graham Construction has become the first UK and Ireland contractor to be awarded a double BIM certification due to the fact that it has incorporated BIM across its construction business and has trained more than 500 people on its team in the technology. The company achieved the BSI Kitemark certification
When it comes to building design, there will always be certain constructions regarded as being more pleasing on the eye than others. Certainly, this often relates to the layout or design of the building. However, often this is down to the materials used. Some materials are simply more aesthetically pleasing
A Suffolk cargo handling company has been fined £100,000 after an employee suffered serious injury when a sheet of marble weighing one tonne fell on him. Ipswich Crown Court heard how an employee of Extreme Handling Limited was working at GMA Warehousing and Transport Limited’s Felixstowe site. He was assisting
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Mar 15th 2016 Balustrades and fences are an essential part of any building structure and decorative balustrades enhance the beauty and value of your home. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Until recently,
The manufacturing industry has been benefiting from digitalization, robotics, and automation for several decades now; however, the construction industry seems to be only just picking up on DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) for repetitive mass production and standardized components. Andrew Watts, CEO at Newtecnic, has decided to discuss the construction industry’s move towards robotics and mass-customization that brings designers and makers together for positive disruption within and beyond the industry. Newtecnic uses Construction Labs where local skilled craftspeople, using locally sourced materials, deploy very advanced production machinery in temporary factories. The purpose of these small but efficient manufacturing cells is that they produce mass-customized components. For example, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Hub in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was engineered by Newtecnic for maintenance by robots and future on-site component production very much in mind. “We are currently overseeing construction of the building envelope, and in this role, we examine and approve the work of several contractors ensuring the project is completed efficiently and accurately. Our remit also ensures that all building components and fabrications are quality assured before they are brought to site. This detailed and long-term overview allows us to future proof the building by design engineering for different types of current and envisaged developments of robots, drones, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, for decades of maintenance to come,” said Andrew. The KAFD Metro Hub has been designed so that inspection, monitoring and precise measurement of normally concealed areas behind panels and within the completed building’s fabric are executed by small flying Lidar and camera equipped drones and robots. High resolution building and system performance data collected this way can be shared with, and coupled to, on-site Construction Labs equipped with 3D printers that fabricate components that perfectly fit the structure. Another advantage of this way of working is that it provides an economic boost to the country or region where the building stands. It reduces imports, generates local employment and up-skilling, and cuts the environmental and financial costs of transportation. Also, rather than building a single purpose Design for Manufacture and Assembly factory, which requires years of operation to turn a profit, small flexible manufacturing assets are easy to scale through the building lifecycle. This means that the right equipment is always available to match current needs. Applying first principles, appropriate technology, and thinking of buildings not just as a kit of parts but as systems that can change, develop and adapt over time, their useful life can be extended while staying relevant for future generations. This can happen when good ideas and engaged, upskilled people combine with exciting technologies to make the construction industry more agile, environmentally positive and economically sustainable while producing aptly impressive buildings that enhance our cities and society.
The Electrical Industries Charity has announced its nine runners for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2016. The Virgin Money London Marathon is one of the biggest fundraising events in Great Britain bringing thousands of people together to raise money for different charities. This year the Electrical Industries Charity is proud to announce their nine runners who are all set to take on the 26 mile long challenge and raise money to help those in our industry who need help most. The Charity’s runners who are taking part in this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon are; Alun Evans from Phase Electrical Distribution Ltd, Andrew York from GCL Ltd, Joe Ellis from Edmundson Electrical, Watford, Juan Subira from Schneider Electric, David Grimes and Steve Franklin from Edmundson Electrical Ltd. Kings Lynn, Tom Panton from Spring Electrical, Philip Thomas Woolley from Electrical Review and John Richard Rothwell from Certsure LLP. Show your support for the charity’s runners now and help them to make a difference in people’s lives by making a donation today. Managing director, Tessa Ogle says: “We would like to wish all of our runners the best of luck. The Virgin Money London Marathon is a fantastic way to raise money for those in our industry when they need it most, and we are thrilled to have so many people running for our charity this year. Last year our runners raised a massive £33,000, and we are looking forward to raising even more this year. www.electricalcharity.org Source link
The construction company BAM Nuttall has won an £85 million contract to deliver a new concrete deck extension for London City Airport. Part of the £480 million City Airport Development, the work will see the 75,000 m2 extension supported by over 1,000 concrete piles with steel casings. The City Airport Development is supporting a new infrastructure that includes aircraft stands, a parallel taxiway, and an enhanced passenger terminal extension. In addition, it will deliver improved facilities for customers, an expanded offer of flights, and greater space to accommodate increasing passengers, enabling annual passengers to grow from the current 4.5 million to 6.5 million. The airport will remain operational while the work will be carried out. Once the unexplored ordnance (UXO) survey is completed, the construction work can begin. The extension is expected to be delivered by early 2020. “The contract is the first big step forward in the airport’s development programme, essentially creating new land that will provide the base upon which we will build the majority of the transformational infrastructure, including the extended terminal building and additional aircraft stands,” said Peter Adams, Chief Development Officer at London City Airport. The new deck will consist of precast reinforced concrete planks with a reinforced concrete topping spanning onto precast concrete beams, which will be supported on more than 1,000 large diameter bored concrete piles with steel casings in the dock bed. Additional work will include the partial demolition of the King George V Dock wall, the construction of a partly submerged service trough and drainage channels and around 50 land based piles adjacent to the airport entrance. “This scheme will play a significant part in the overall Airport Development Programme and will support the planned infrastructure such as the aircraft stands and new world class passenger terminal extension. We are looking forward to successfully delivering this prestigious project, working alongside London City Airport and Bechtel,” commented Martin Bellamy, BAM Nuttall Executive Director.
Nic Collins, the area technical manager at Sika Refurbishment, wants to remind us how important the roof and concrete maintenance is for the upkeep of buildings, particularly for those of historical interest. Pitch-less roofs unadorned by modern drainage features are susceptible to ponding, which can lead to blistering to the roof’s surface and valuable assets within the building becoming damaged. Exterior concrete elements such as soffits and parapets are also at risk of deterioration due to long-term ingress. To make sure this doesn’t happen to your building, Nic gives us a few advices. The first step towards avoiding the costly repairs of a water damaged roof is preventing it from becoming a major issue. A good corrosion survey, such as the one provided by Sika, measures the rate of delamination, its source and the effect on the concrete. Additionally, it also identifies the right products and systems to use as part of a refurbishment programme. The Sika survey investigates dust samples for chloride content and covers a meter reading and a test for levels of carbonation. A factual report based on the findings is then drawn-up and implemented as necessary. If a leak emanates from the roof’s area and threatens to cause long-term damage to surrounding concrete features, a roof survey is also advised. The Sika Liquid Plastics Area Technical Managers can conduct this survey and produce a full specification of the repair solution, with the project being monitored until its full completion by highly-experienced Field Technicians. Sika provided the products and expertise for two Grade II-listed buildings – the Hoover Building in Perivale, west London during its transformation into a luxury residential complex, and the Cunard, a former Second World War air raid shelter, now a high-end office block situated in a desirable dockyard location. By providing both the expertise and the quality products, Sika’s solution simplifies the refurbishment process for the client.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) announced that a number of construction sites across the UK have ground to a close because of heavy snow. “Heavy snow showers have led to many construction sites across the UK grinding to a halt. Some construction bosses have told their staff to take the rest of the week off and not return to work until Monday. But it’s not just the snow that’s playing havoc with construction projects – some firms are reporting that the freezing temperatures mean it’s too cold to lay bricks. The overall impact of bad weather on construction growth remains to be seen but this situation is concerning given that the FMB’s latest research shows that growth among construction SMEs slowed in the final three months of 2017. We hope that the cold weather we have seen this week is just a blip and that all workers will be able to get back on site in coming days,” said Sarah McMonagle, Director of External Affairs at the FMB. The Federation of Master Builders is the largest trade association in the UK dedicated to the construction industry and which represents thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It was established back in 1941 aiming to protect the interests of small and medium sized (SME) construction firms. The association is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level. The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. Moreover, it is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free service to consumers called ‘Find a Builder’. To find out more information about the association, please visit their website at: www.fmb.org.uk.
Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched its ‘Spotlight on… air pollution’ campaign, which will help the construction industry to address the air pollution issues. The campaign was created after a survey revealed that 84% of nearly 600 respondents believe there is an issue with air pollution and not a lot is done about it. Other findings comprised in the survey say that 91% of respondents agreed that air pollution is a nationwide issue; 88% revealed that the importance of minimising air pollution is being communicated to the workforce on their site; 62% said their site has appropriate measure sin place to address air pollution; 56% of them have a good understanding of the issue, while 39% have an average understanding of the regulations surrounding air pollution. The campaign aims to raise awareness and understanding of how the construction industry could tackle this problem and erase it from its activities in and around construction sites. Additionally, it provides a variety of practical steps, case studies, resources, and regulatory information. This is well needed because apart from affecting the health of the workforce, it is also costing the UK at an economic level. “A staggering 40,000 deaths a year are linked to air pollution in the UK, and many people are suffering long-term health problems caused by poor air quality. As construction is a significant contributor to air pollution, it is essential for the industry to put measures in place to clean up our air by working together to reduce our impact on air quality,” said Considerate Constructors Scheme chief executive Edward Hardy. “The Scheme’s campaign provides everyone within the industry access to a practical suite of resources including best practice, guidance and case studies from Scheme-registered construction sites, companies and suppliers on how to tackle this issue,” added Edward. “We are proud to be at the forefront of collaborative efforts to tackle air pollution.”
Graham Construction has become the first UK and Ireland contractor to be awarded a double BIM certification due to the fact that it has incorporated BIM across its construction business and has trained more than 500 people on its team in the technology. The company achieved the BSI Kitemark certification for both BIM Design and Construction (PAS 1192-2) and BIM Asset Management (PAS 1192-3). Some of the projects that use BIM are the Baird & Anchor Hospitals on behalf of NHS Grampian, the framework for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in Richmond, London, and the University of Reading’s Thames Valley Science Park development in Shinfield, Reading. “Embedding BIM into our everyday business practices has been a priority at Graham. We are using the growing volume of information on construction projects to make smarter decisions, control costs and deliver consistently excellent projects,” explained Melanie Dawson, head of BIM at Graham Construction. Additionally, she argues that BIM is improving efficiency in the supply chain, which not only benefits the company but the clients as well. “More importantly it gives our clients and stakeholders the confidence and assurance that we will deliver consistent excellence from project inception through construction and into asset management.” Gavin Summerson, senior certification manager at BSI explains that the BSI BIM Kitemark is the most difficult test on the implementation of BIM that an organisation can take and for this reason, Graham should be very proud for achieving it. “Not only have they demonstrated the delivery of BIM projects during the design and construction phase in accordance with PAS 1192-2, they have also demonstrated that they are continuing to work to BIM level 2 at the asset management phase, in accordance with PAS 1192-3,” said Gavin Summerson.
When it comes to building design, there will always be certain constructions regarded as being more pleasing on the eye than others. Certainly, this often relates to the layout or design of the building. However, often this is down to the materials used. Some materials are simply more aesthetically pleasing than others. With this in mind, we’re going to look at three of the building materials currently favoured in the UK and how they are applied. These are classics that are also kind to the environment, representing where we believe the future of the industry lies. Glass To enhance all available light and space, both on the inside and outside of a building, almost nothing beats glass – which is why this material is such a timeless choice for construction professionals. What’s more, like clear perspex, it can be recycled, making it a perfect fit into the greener, more considered construction landscape for 2018. Just some of the applications are: Glass facades, giving an entire building a stunning appearance, Structural glass walls, creating a beautiful and functional feature that lets natural light flood in, Glass lift shafts and cars, making a feature of what would otherwise be a practical part of a building; Glass balconies, utilising any outdoor space to the fullest. When choosing glass for walls, windows or balconies it can also be a good idea to also install protective elements such as those from Barrier Components. This way, you can be sure that visitors to a building are protected from any accidents which might occur. Stainless Steel The group of alloys known collectively as stainless steel are highly regarded for their corrosion resistance, strength and beautiful appearance. One just has to look at the Chrysler Building in New York for a classic example of this material in use. And it is still in favour today. High-grade stainless steel is resistant to staining and relatively easy to maintain. Additionally, it is 100% recyclable, making it not only beautiful but kind to the planet. Reclaimed Wood Timber is going through something of a renaissance at the moment, with gorgeous constructions from this material popping up all over the planet. Perhaps the best way to use wood is by choosing it from a sustainable or reclaimed source. This is a highly versatile material that is also incredibly pleasing aesthetically. There’s just something about a warm, wooden surface that agrees with our senses. What’s more it is almost endlessly recyclable. This list focuses just three aesthetically pleasing materials that could be considered relevant today. But, really, there are many more. It is up to construction professionals to find materials which fit best with their current projects and to use them in a way that works well.
A Suffolk cargo handling company has been fined £100,000 after an employee suffered serious injury when a sheet of marble weighing one tonne fell on him. Ipswich Crown Court heard how an employee of Extreme Handling Limited was working at GMA Warehousing and Transport Limited’s Felixstowe site. He was assisting a fork lift truck operator to move a one tonne sheet of marble from a container when it fell on him. He sustained serious and extensive crush injuries to his legs as well as a fractured sternum and severe lacerations to the back of his head. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident which occurred on 15 August 2014 found that there was an unsafe system of work being used to move the load. GMA Warehousing and Transport Limited, of Central Avenue, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9938.38. HSE inspector Jessica Churchyard said after the hearing: “Employers have an absolute duty to ensure that they do everything reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of their employees.” For further information on safety with Fork lift trucks visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/lift-trucks/ 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/ and guidance at 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
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Mar 15th 2016 Balustrades and fences are an essential part of any building structure and decorative balustrades enhance the beauty and value of your home. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Until recently, wood or iron was the preferred material for constructing internal balustrades to define entryways, porches and stairways. A masonry fence did the job of demarcating the property, provided security and also afforded privacy. But today, the technology has made it possible to use aluminium to build balustrades and fences which is an extremely economical option. An intricately designed wooden balustrade adds to the beauty of the building and also enhances the value of your property. But wood is basically expensive and works out even more expensive to maintain. Although iron may not be as expensive as wood, maintaining it is even more difficult as it is prone to corrosion. Any intricate lace-work making up the balustrade got rusted quickly and maintaining it was a painstaking job. With aluminium balustrades and fencing, all these problems disappear. Aluminium is a lightweight material, easy to work with. Although it is lightweight, it is extremely sturdy and durable. Aluminium balustrades and fencing is long lasting as it is not easily corroded. Additionally it can be coated with rust preventive paints that further enhances its life. Aluminium can be easily moulded and thus lends itself very well to any decorative design that you’d like to create your balustrade. It is such a versatile material that it can be colour coated and textured to match the overall décor of your home. Installation of aluminium balustrades and fences is quick and easy, especially if you have professional service providers like Trimlite to get the job done. Maintenance of Aluminium Louvres and Garden Fencing is a breeze – simply wipe clean with a damp cloth and your decorative balustrade and fencing is as good as new. Once you install your aluminium balustrade or fence you don’t need to spend on expensive painting job or any other maintenance for several years, so you’re saving a lot of money. And, aluminium is much cheaper than steel or wood, so it’s a cost effective option that certainly enhances the value of your home. Trimlite is a specialist in creating decorative aluminium balustrades and fencing for your home. If you are a homeowner from Sydney or the surrounding areas, you might want to visit http://www.trimlite.com.au/ to check out the various options available. Trimlite can design aluminium and glass pool fencing, decorative aluminium balustrades and fencing in a variety of colours and textures according to your choice. Quality service at a reasonable price is what Trimlite is known for. Getting aluminium balustrades and fencing will surely enhance the value of your home and property because it is an economic option that will also add to the aesthetic beauty of your home. Source link