Unfinished concrete, exposed pipe work and industrial chic; all design tastes symptomatic of a yearning to go back to basics in a world full of complexity. Here, Matt Collins, business development manager at bespoke power distribution equipment manufacturer ide Systems, explains how the company overcame a unique design challenge to deliver a temporary overlay on a building in the heart of London. An architect’s job is often a difficult balancing act between three core concepts: firmness, commodity and delight. A building should primarily be durable, it should then be easy and convenient to use and, finally, it should excite and delight its audience. ide Systems was called into one such building in the London, which faced a growing problem after three decades of use. The firm occupying the building has seen its home become a design icon, because its services, including ducts, lifts and electrical power infrastructure are located on the outside of the building to maximise internal space. While the building has generally stood the test of time, over the course of the last year the building’s electrical services had suffered from water ingress and corrosion. Because the firm generates billions of pounds in revenue a year, it was critical that a continuous supply of power was maintained while repair work was carried out. The facility’s management also faced a secondary problem with free-runners trespassing on the roof of the building, where some of the electrical infrastructure is located, creating a security and safety concern. Finally, because the building has listed status, any solution that was delivered could not be invasive and had to fit onto external gantries running on the outside of the building. This was a challenge because the gantries are only 500mm wide and situated at a height of up to 100m from the ground. Solution ide Systems designed, manufactured and delivered a temporary overlay for the outside of the building. This consisted of a 630A four-pole moulded case circuit breaker (MCCB) and a range of 125A 400V switched interlocked socket outlets, which are designed to be tamper proof, preventing disconnection under load. The accompanying switchgear was placed behind locked windows and ide Systems built the enclosures with an IP65 ingress protection rating, preventing damage from water and dust. So that the units could fit on the narrow 500mm gantries, without damaging the listed building, ide’s engineers redesigned the boards to be tall and narrow allowing them to be manoeuvred into position and bolted down. Future The project has been a success and ide Systems has already secured future work to upgrade other parts of the building, as well as a service level agreement to provide ongoing maintenance and emergency callout services. Facilities managers working in any application where upgrades or repair work needs to be carried out must ensure that the temporary power overlay delivers power continuously and reliably. While industrial chic might not be to everyone’s tastes, a firm and robust design is a necessity for all. Electrical engineers can find out more about the project and the products supplied by downloading the company’s new engineered solutions catalogue from the ide Systems website.

Cars of the future could be programmed to spot potholes on motorways and automatically transmit the information to Highways England to schedule repairs. In a vision of the future outlined today the government company said an intelligent network coupled with connected vehicles would improve the efficiency of road maintenance and at the same time improve safety. In another development drones could also be used to report on incidents, improving response times. In its Strategic Road Network Initial Report, published yesterday (13 December 2017), the company says technology will play an increasingly important role in keeping people moving, and the country connected. It also stresses the importance of keeping existing roads properly maintained, and in a way that minimises disruption to road users and local communities. The report will be used to inform the government’s next road investment strategy which begins in 2020. Highways England chief executive, Jim O’Sullivan, said: “We are delivering a record £15bn of government investment to give people safe, efficient and reliable journeys, and provide businesses with the links they need to prosper and grow. “Because people’s journeys are important to us we are setting out our high level aspirations which will help ensure the network continues to drive economic growth, jobs and prosperity, and keeps traffic moving today, and into the future. “We encourage people to read our report and give feedback through the Department for Transport’s consultation, which is also launched today.” Since it was created in 2015, Highways England has completed 18 major road improvements and has a further 15 under construction. Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “This government is making people’s journeys better, faster and safer to give people better access to jobs, schools and their community. “We are planning to spend more than ever before to upgrade England’s motorways and major A roads from 2020 through to 2025.” The Initial Report outlines eight aspirations for the next road period: focus on operations, maintenance and renewals; build the smart motorway spine of the network; roll out expressways; undertake transformational investments; deliver a balanced programme; renew focus on small schemes; deliver through refined designated funds; prepare for the future. The Department for Transport has also launched its consultation into Highways England’s Initial Report. The consultation will run until Wednesday, 7 February 2018. The results will be used by the department to help develop the next Road Investment Strategy, which the government is expected to publish in 2019, when details of specific road projects will be outlined.

With heavy materials, heavy equipment, and work done from great heights or tricky angles, construction site accidents are going to occur. Every laborer on-site should first follow proper safety procedures, but from there, it’s vital to hold a few key points in mind concerning worksite injuries and accidents. Here are three things to think about before you head out for another day on the job. At fault – It’s not always what/who you think.  So, someone dropped a tool on you from the floor above. You may initially believe the other laborer alone is to blame for your injury, but that’s not always the case. It could have actually been that the tool malfunctioned, and couldn’t be operated as usual. It could be that the scaffolding the laborer was on wasn’t assembled correctly, and they lost their center of balance. It could also be that the laborer wasn’t properly trained by management. Such is the case with many falls and on-the-job accidents; determining fault involves more than just observation. For this reason alone, many cases of worksite accidents don’t play out exactly the way the injured party think it will. In addition, any action taken or benefits the injured party receives will be subject to state laws and regulations, so getting in touch with a construction accident attorney can help clarify what applies to you. How you react counts.  Just as with any accident which spurs legal action or compensation, what you do immediately following the accident matters a great deal. First, stop work immediately. This can ensure that you don’t somehow become responsible for your injury by neglecting it, and in fact further aggravate it by continuing to exert yourself. Next, tell your boss. Report precisely what happened, as you understand it. Then, go straight to the hospital. Before you’re released, get a summary (record) of what occurred on paper. Make sure it shows that you were in the hospital on that time and date, and identifies that you were treated for this injury. Once you’ve reported and recorded the injury, then you can contact an attorney. Everyone is not on your side.  This can be a devastating lesson for those who have been working for the same company for years. Despite the fact that you’re a loyal employee with a history of good performance, things change when someone is expected to take the blame and eventually pay up. In the same vein, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) isn’t always looking out for your best interest as well, as they are not a worker’s rights organization. They will not be investigating your injury in order to support your claim; they are looking for a workplace violation. In fact, it’s more likely that they’ll find you were to blame before a third party. In the end, the most important thing is to do what you can to heal from your injury. Afterward, consult with a few different attorneys and learn what options you have for recourse. This way, you can find a professional who is actually interested in collecting evidence and investigating the situation for your benefit.