The high-pressure water mist fire suppression system designed and manufactured by Yorkshire-based iMist has been awarded LABSS Registered Details certification, making it the only water mist system for domestic and residential projects to hold this prestigious certification. The LABSS Registered Details certification covers all of the components in iMist’s STX12
Whether a power supply is being used in life-saving pieces of medical equipment, in transportation systems or even in a PC, all relevant parties need to be confident it will have a significant life cycle. This means they want a reliable piece of equipment that proves to be good value
Commercial property estate agency Ernest Wilson has sold Bradford timber merchants Baildon Timber to the Myers Group, a Huddersfield-based building supplies business, for £1 million. The Myers Group, which has been owned and run by the same family for four generations and employs 350 people across West Yorkshire, now plans
Airthings, the global leader in indoor air quality solutions for consumers, businesses, and today professionals, has announced a new product addition to its portfolio: View CO₂ for Business. The new battery-operated, wireless sensor will empower schools and offices everywhere to take charge of its air quality by warning when carbon
Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has just announced its results for 2020. The company credits its strong performing team, the continued trust of its clients and the success of its sector diversification strategy as key to the growth with profits doubling in 2020 to £10.9 million from £5.6 million
Clara Edwards has been appointed as Marketing & Communications Manager for leading construction skills and training provider, The Skills Centre. As the marketing lead within the business, Clara will advise on strategic marketing development, as well as managing all its communications and promotions planning, brand development, internal communications and digital
Just a few decades ago, gaming was restricted to a couple of well-known consoles and hundreds of discs or gaming cartridges that you’d usually find in your older siblings’ bedroom. Fast forward to 2021 and gaming is bigger than ever! With more console and gaming options than ever before, as
Plans have been unveiled for the expansion of the landmark Burgh Island Hotel with 11 new guest rooms, improved staff accommodation and renovation of the historic Pilchard Inn pub. Burgh Island Estate said the development will increase the number of guest rooms at the art deco hotel by 50%. The
Brett Martin’s underground drainage systems including StormCrate55, an engineered Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS), have been specified for a new assisted living facility in Derbyshire. Located in the Brampton area of Chesterfield, the Catherine Street facility features six self-contained apartments and six new build specialist bungalows. Built by contractor Horsman Construction
Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading offsite specialists, has achieved BOPAS accreditation for its modular living solutions, following its expansion into the residential sector. “It is fantastic to see Premier’s expansion into the residential sector, building on their vast experience in other areas. BOPAS is an independent, standards-led benchmark
The high-pressure water mist fire suppression system designed and manufactured by Yorkshire-based iMist has been awarded LABSS Registered Details certification, making it the only water mist system for domestic and residential projects to hold this prestigious certification. The LABSS Registered Details certification covers all of the components in iMist’s STX12 proprietary high pressure water mist system which includes its STN12 nozzle type. This means that individual projects in Scotland that use the iMist system will not require a project specific in-depth review by Building Standards as the LABSS certificate attests that it has already been assessed and approved for suitability. The certification followed a near year-long comprehensive review of the iMist system with thorough examination of its system design, installation, operation and maintenance manual, including assessing safety in case of fire; safety in use and durability serviceability and identification. Going forward, an annual review process will be carried out before the LABSS certificate is renewed. “With the tightening of regulations post-Grenfell, every fire suppression system should, rightly, undergo a robust review. As water mist systems are a relatively new alternative to traditional sprinkler systems, the authorities in Scotland wanted to understand exactly how the iMist system works and undertook a detailed assessment covering all aspects of the system,” explains Timothy Andrews, iMist business development director. “We have been able to evidence the efficacy of our system which is designed to suppress a fire by automatically discharging very small droplets into the air at high pressure. This fine mist remains in the air, displaces oxygen from the seat of the fire, has a cooling effect and provides surface wetting to limit the fire spread. “LABSS Registered Detail certification means that anyone choosing an iMist system for domestic or most residential projects should be able to fast-track their scheme as the Scottish Government’s Building Standards Divisions (BSD) now has the confidence that the iMist system has passed a thorough assessment.” Use of the LABSS registration negates the need to consult with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) under Section 11 of The Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended). A verifier may still wish to consult with SFRS under Section 10 of the legislation.
Whether a power supply is being used in life-saving pieces of medical equipment, in transportation systems or even in a PC, all relevant parties need to be confident it will have a significant life cycle. This means they want a reliable piece of equipment that proves to be good value for money. As such, when creating a power supply, designers must make numerous decisions that will impact how long it is likely to last. Here are just three examples of things to be considered. 1. The electrolytic capacitor The electrolytic capacitor is ultimately what determines how long a power supply lasts as it has a finite lifespan — in other words, it is the only part that wears out. As XP Power’s technical director Gary Bocock explains: “Electrolytic capacitors are an essential component of AC-DC power supplies. They provide high Capacitance x Voltage (CV) and low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) in low-volume packages. There’s no alternative part that can do the job cost-effectively.” Choosing the correct one is crucial when designing a long-lasting power supply. Electrolytic capacitors manufacturers will specify the design lifetime at the maximum rated ambient temperature (typically 105°C), which can be anything from 1,000 hours to 10,000+ hours. Applied ripple currents also cause power dissipation within the electrolytic capacitor, and according to Bocock: “The maximum ripple current that may be applied to the capacitor is usually specified at maximum ambient temperature and 100/120 Hz.” Manufacturers must assess probable durability in order to help designers select the most appropriate electrolytic capacitor for the power supply they are creating. 2. Thermal management All power supplies generate heat as a by-product to some degree, but it is critical to manage the temperature in order to prevent damage that could decrease the life cycle of certain components within the power supply. As noted by O’Reilly Media, overloading, fan failure, inadequate air flow inside and outside of the system, and dirt and dust are just a few potential causes of overheating that can contribute to a reduced lifespan. Designers should consider incorporating cooling systems in order to dissipate heat and reduce potential damages. For example, installing a fan will be far more effective than natural air convection. However, as important as cooling is, designers also need to consider how a particular cooling system could impact other aspects of the power supply. In this case, a fan will consume power and therefore reduce the efficiency of the power supply, and may also be noisy. This won’t necessarily be an issue for all power supplies, but depending on the context, other cooling systems could be more appropriate, such as a heat transfer plate or maybe even a liquid cooling mechanism. 3. Insulation materials Choosing the correct insulation materials is vital in terms of both safety and efficiency. According to Bright Hub Engineering, examples of suitable options include “PVC, glass, asbestos, rigid laminate, varnish, resin, paper, Teflon, and rubber”. While designers may decide to use a variety depending on the particular power supply they are creating, they should avoid mismatched or incompatible insulation materials. Although combining different types may seem like a thoughtful way to ensure adequate voltage withstand capability, mixing insulators with varying degrees of permittivity means there will be uneven electric field intensity across the insulator, as per Kirchhoff’s Law. This could cause it to break down, which is why designers must keep this in mind when selecting insulation materials.
Commercial property estate agency Ernest Wilson has sold Bradford timber merchants Baildon Timber to the Myers Group, a Huddersfield-based building supplies business, for £1 million. The Myers Group, which has been owned and run by the same family for four generations and employs 350 people across West Yorkshire, now plans a £500,000 investment in the business in order expand the stock range and carry out a full refurbishment of the site and buildings. “Baildon Timber is the perfect fit for us and there are clear synergies between our two family businesses, particularly as we both serve a customer base that is largely made up of small construction companies. The acquisition meets our aspirations for growth in the timber sector, as well as expanding our geographic footprint into the Baildon and east Bradford area of Yorkshire,” said James Berry, managing director of the Myers group. The Myers Group, whose range of building supplies services to housebuilders and renovators spans skip hire, ready mix concrete and aggregates, as well as kitchens and bathrooms, plans to create three new jobs immediately at Baildon Timber, with further hires scheduled for the coming months. “We pride ourselves on being a growing, progressive business and we’re really pleased to be able to invest in Baildon Timber to make it a bigger and better business. As well as a total refurbishment, we are creating a new, larger shop and trade counter and diversifying the product range to include other building supplies as well as timber,” said James. “Myers Group’s acquisition of Baildon Timber is a really good example of how the sale of a small business has triggered new investment and growth. Demand for small businesses like Baildon Timber is currently outstripping demand so the current market really is an ideal one for any business owner looking to exit the business,” added Michael Peel, Ernest Wilson sales manager. Acquired by property consultant Eddisons in 2019, Leeds-based Ernest Wilson was founded in 1956 and specialises in buying and selling hundreds of small businesses every year, from fish and chip shops to convenience stores and hotels. It has sold businesses worth more than £36 million of since the start of the pandemic.
Airthings, the global leader in indoor air quality solutions for consumers, businesses, and today professionals, has announced a new product addition to its portfolio: View CO₂ for Business. The new battery-operated, wireless sensor will empower schools and offices everywhere to take charge of its air quality by warning when carbon dioxide (CO₂) exceeds recommended levels and indoor air quality deteriorates. View CO₂ for Business combines easily with the rest of the products in the Airthings for Business solution, which lets schools and workplaces monitor, visualise and control its indoor air quality remotely to ensure a safe and healthy environment. The launch of View CO₂ is particularly timely following a recent announcement from Gavin Williamson who has pledged all education settings will be provided with carbon dioxide monitors from September, backed by £25 million in government funding, allowing staff to quickly identify where ventilation needs to be improved. Letting fresh air into indoor spaces can help remove air that contains virus particles and is important in preventing the spread of Covid-19. The new monitors will enable staff to act quickly where ventilation is poor and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working. The government has also launched a trial of air purifiers in 30 schools in Bradford, which is designed to assess the technology in education settings and whether it could reduce the risk of transmission. High CO₂ levels can increase the risk of airborne virus transmission and cause lower productivity, drowsiness, headaches, and loss of concentration. Since our bodies expel CO₂ when we breathe out, the levels can rise quickly in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. For that reason, measuring CO₂ levels serves as a good indicator of indoor air quality and how well a ventilation system is working. Monitoring humidity and temperature indoors is also important as both conditions correlate with virus transmission. In addition to carbon dioxide, the new View CO₂ for Business also measures temperature, humidity, virus risk, noise, and light. The Virus Risk Indicator fuses data from Airthings core sensors into an algorithm to calculate the risk of airborne virus spread in an indoor space. The capability helps schools and offices understand their indoor air quality and how it contributes to spreading airborne viruses, providing personalised insights to minimise the risk. The optional CO2 Alert feature lets anyone know when a room needs a breather by visually alerting them through a red LED light on the product when CO2 levels get too high. View CO2 for Business makes monitoring CO2 accessible for any school, office, or commercial building. Quick and easy installation, totally wireless sensors, user-friendly dashboard, and easy reporting ensure that anyone can take control of the indoor air quality.
Leading construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has just announced its results for 2020. The company credits its strong performing team, the continued trust of its clients and the success of its sector diversification strategy as key to the growth with profits doubling in 2020 to £10.9 million from £5.6 million in 2019. This was along with an increase in turnover to £176.2 million, up by 8% from £163 million the previous year. The results reflect strong sector growth for Gilbert-Ash over the twelve months as well as the completion of a broad portfolio of successful construction projects across a growing range of sectors including arts and culture, workplace, hotels and leisure and education. Commenting on what was a record year for Gilbert-Ash with the highest profit in the company’s history and second highest turnover, Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said: “These strong financial results are testament to the outstanding work of our people and the trust and continued support of our clients and supply chain partners. “In what was an incredibly challenging year for all, we are proud to have continued to maintain both healthy turnover and profit-levels and to be in a position to support the people who work for us. Coupled with a healthy pipeline, this puts us on a strong track for the future.” The company paid an exceptional dividend of £9 million this year, reflecting its achievements in becoming a more profitable company over the last five years, strengthening its balance sheet while realising its diversification strategy. Gilbert-Ash also officially opened its new £5 million headquarters at Boucher Place in Belfast in June 2020. “We have made great progress in implementing our five-year strategy, the effects of which are now becoming visible. Gilbert-Ash’s ‘As One’ ethos ensures a culture of respect and togetherness, which underpins our relationships with our colleagues and clients through to our supply chain network and wider public,” added Ray Hutchinson. Projects completed in 2020 included the prestigious £24m Royal College of Music project in London, the £26m Premier Inn in Shoreditch, London, the £18m St Edward’s School Quad Development in Oxford, the £42m Canterbury Christ Church University Building in Kent and the £12m Central Foundation Boys School project in London. “The highly demanding situation with the coronavirus did not deter us from pushing forward with our client projects while prioritising the health and safety of our team and supply chain partners. I am very proud of our entire team – we really showed our mettle and resilience this last year as well as strength of our relationships with clients,” Ray continued. All staff received a bonus to reflect their performance and commitment in 2020. Last June, Gilbert-Ash joined a small number of UK businesses to reach Investors in People Gold Accreditation with assessors highlighting the commitment from the top of the company to develop and embed its ‘As One’ culture. The Gilbert-Ash Board also reaffirmed a healthy forecast for 2021, envisaging sales growth across all sectors.
Clara Edwards has been appointed as Marketing & Communications Manager for leading construction skills and training provider, The Skills Centre. As the marketing lead within the business, Clara will advise on strategic marketing development, as well as managing all its communications and promotions planning, brand development, internal communications and digital activity. “This is an ambitious business with a genuine purpose at its core. I am already in awe of the positive impact it has on each local community it operates within, and the tangible difference The Skills Centre continues to make on the lives of the people within those communities,” said Clara of her appointment. “I hope to be able to properly tell these amazing success stories in these areas and beyond, encouraging key construction stakeholders to continue to engage with us and to attract more and more people on to our programmes. The work of The Skills Centre is truly transformational for many, and it is an inspiring place to be.” The Skills Centre is headquartered in Cardiff and provides construction training opportunities at its six centres located around London, including at Earls Court and Olympic Park, as well as a recently opened skills centre in the West Midlands. It partners with major developers and contractors such as British Land, Transport for London, JCB, Lendlease, Mace and others to offer training with direct pathways to jobs, for those looking to start a career in the construction sector. New developments include centres also being planned in the North East of England, Liverpool, the South West and in Wales; which also involve partnerships with major contractors and leading developers to help attract and up-skill the next generation of workers in the construction sector. “This is a new role for The Skills Centre at a time when it is experiencing exceptional growth. We have the opportunity to really maximise what has already been achieved and to leverage its hard-earned reputation to energise people and the sector as a whole – I couldn’t be more pleased to be here,” added Clara. The Birmingham City University marketing graduate joins The Skills Centre after working as Publicity & Events Co-ordinator for the Centre of Excellence in Emerging Tech at the University of South Wales; and has also had previous marketing roles at DevOps Group, Cerebral Palsy Cymru and Conscious Solutions. “Clara brings a wealth of experience to The Skills Centre, and we are delighted she has joined the team. She will help deliver our marketing plans with a clear vision aligned with the overall strategic vision of the business, and I’ve no doubt she will be a huge asset to our teams around the UK,” said CEO of The Skills Centre, Jon Howlin.
Just a few decades ago, gaming was restricted to a couple of well-known consoles and hundreds of discs or gaming cartridges that you’d usually find in your older siblings’ bedroom. Fast forward to 2021 and gaming is bigger than ever! With more console and gaming options than ever before, as well as live streaming, online gaming platforms, influencers and professional gamers making the industry popular and appealing to boys and girls of all ages and abilities – gaming is no longer a pastime that was once reserved only for teens, it’s part of everyday life and even influences the career choices of our children who want to work within the industry full time as gamers, designers, storyboard creators or even testers. So, if your child is serious about gaming, whether as a career choice or just for fun, turning their bedroom into a gamer’s paradise can help them make the most of this fascinating and fast-paced industry. Read on for some amazing gamer-bedroom ideas. A New Bed Did you know that a gaming bed for kids is something that really exists? It’s true! These incredible sleeping options house the gaming area underneath the high sleeper unit, with cable tidies for wires, LED lighting, and a chair bed that converts from a sitting area to a sleeping space for visitors, gaming beds are the perfect addition to any little gamers room. Not only will they keep their gaming paraphernalia tidy, but it also prevents their rooms from becoming cluttered with big desks and heavy furniture. The gaming area is also tucked away underneath the bed, which means they’ll be able to settle peacefully without being distracted by flashing consoles or charging lights keeping them awake. A Gaming Chair If you’re sticking with the traditional desk and chair option, then it’s worth upgrading their seating options to support their back and neck, and ensure that they’re comfortable when playing. Adding a gaming chair gives you plenty of options to work with, including chairs with surround sound built-in, chairs with charging ports and storage or something simplistic with their favourite character on will also look great. Install Some Good Lighting LED strip lights are always a good choice for gaming areas and can really enhance the experience by backlighting their equipment. You can purchase LED lighting that sticks to any surface and if you choose one with smart technology, you can find lights that sync with monitors and screens for a reactive experience. Add Some Fun Accessories Whether you have a young boy gamer just getting started, or your tween girl is a fully-fledged gaming enthusiast, decorating their room with some fun gaming accessories will look great. Try some themed pillows and bed linen, wall stickers of their favourite characters and logos, figurines and fun shelving, even wall art and themed storage options. Final Thoughts… Gaming is a great hobby that could be the start of an interesting and rewarding career! Even if they don’t have big plans for the future just yet, upgrading their bedroom into a gamers paradise will certainly get a thumbs up!
Plans have been unveiled for the expansion of the landmark Burgh Island Hotel with 11 new guest rooms, improved staff accommodation and renovation of the historic Pilchard Inn pub. Burgh Island Estate said the development will increase the number of guest rooms at the art deco hotel by 50%. The expansion plans have been inspired by the demand which the hotel has experienced in 2021, despite the lingering effects of the pandemic. Occupancy did not dip below 97% throughout June-August of this year and, with the hotel all but booked up until 2022. “Everyone at Burgh Island is extremely excited about this development, which will only serve to further enhance the estate’s unique heritage and expand its offer for guests. We very much look forward to welcoming members of our community to the consultation, and eventually to bringing the first visitors to the newly developed site,” said Giles Fuchs, owner of Burgh Island Hotel. The expansion will be undertaken in partnership with Jonathan Rhind Architects and Avalon Planning & Heritage, both based in Devon. Burgh Island Estate said the firms were chosen on the basis of their understanding of the local area and their commitment to preserving the heritage of Burgh Island, as well as their expertise. “This development is the latest and most exciting chapter in the history of Burgh Island’s evolution,” said Penny Brown, managing director of Inntelligence. “The increase in capacity has been carefully devised so that it blends gently into the existing construction, maintaining the intimacy and magic of the guest experience. We will continue to remain faithful to the art deco origins and I am sure that the planned changes will further cement the hotel’s position as one of the most unique and iconic in the UK.” The hotel was first built in 1929 and includes famous figures from Agatha Christie to the Beatles among its guests. With sustainability to the fore, all new construction work will adopt a “fabric-first approach”, which uses building materials with energy efficiency credentials above regulatory standards. The new staff accommodation, for instance, will consist of timber-frame low-energy housing set behind dry stone earth shelter walls. The existing building on the island will also undergo sustainability-focused improvements as part of the development. As well as reducing its environmental impact, the development will also enable the hotel to enhance the experience it provides to both staff and guests. Staff will benefit from newly built accommodation, while visitors will be able to enjoy an extended Bay View Restaurant, a restored tea shop, and improved walking routes around the island.
Brett Martin’s underground drainage systems including StormCrate55, an engineered Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS), have been specified for a new assisted living facility in Derbyshire. Located in the Brampton area of Chesterfield, the Catherine Street facility features six self-contained apartments and six new build specialist bungalows. Built by contractor Horsman Construction for developer SSL Partnership, the housing’s underground drainage requirements were met by a range of high performance, robust and easy-to-install solutions from Brett Martin. As part of the drainage requirements for this small residential development, a storm water management system was required to cope with any potential storm water during inclement weather conditions and working in partnership with Brett Martin’s technical team, Horsman Construction specified the StormCrate55 attenuation system which proved to be the ideal solution to control excessive surface water run-off. Manufactured from 100% recycled plastic, 84m ² of StormCrate55 modular units were clipped together in a brick bond pattern to create two underground attenuation tanks installed beneath the car park. The lightweight, high strength crates weigh only 15.5kg each and come fully assembled which was good news for the installation team, meaning minimal time was spent installing them on site. For this project, Brett Martin provided the Horsman team with a pre-fabricated geotextile liner which was pre-cut to fit the size of each tank. The one-piece liners done away with the need to cut and join the liner during the install and speeded up the process of sealing both tanks. The outlet from this tank is then controlled through a Hydro-Brake chamber to facilitate a slow release of the stored water back into the drainage system over a longer period. “This was the first time we have used StormCrate but with the excellent technical support from Brett Martin, it was the perfect underground drainage solution for our requirements. Easy to lift and install by hand, and exceptionally strong, the crates were quickly joined using the supplied connectors and met our drainage requirements for this small site in Chesterfield,” said Steve Robinson, Site Manager at Horsman Construction. For infiltration applications, StormCrate55 can also be wrapped in a permeable geotextile, material which allows stored water to slowly seep into the surrounding ground and back into the water table over a period of time. Suitable for installation in landscaped areas, pedestrianised spaces, playgrounds, parking areas, driveways and access zones, StormCrate55 is seen as one way of addressing the problem of flooding and avoiding using an overloaded sewer system.
Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading offsite specialists, has achieved BOPAS accreditation for its modular living solutions, following its expansion into the residential sector. “It is fantastic to see Premier’s expansion into the residential sector, building on their vast experience in other areas. BOPAS is an independent, standards-led benchmark for modular housing, providing long-term assurance to lenders and valuers that homes built using non-traditional methods of construction offer longevity and reliability,” said Jeff Maxted of BOPAS and a Director of BLP Technical Services (UK). Established in 1956 and with a long track record in offsite construction, Premier has five factories at its production centre in East Yorkshire. It has capacity to produce 100,000sqm of living space per year, with the opportunity to increase output to meet demand. Premier specialises in the offsite construction of affordable, sustainable and fast-track apartments, studios and multi-occupancy buildings for social housing, build-to-rent, schemes to address homelessness, hotels, and student accommodation. It works as a partner to local authorities, housing providers, developers, and contractors. “We are immensely proud to receive this industry accreditation which reinforces our expansion into the residential sector. BOPAS provides our local authority and developer clients as well as funders and mortgage lenders with complete reassurance of best practice and that our modular apartment solutions meet or exceed the required standards,” commented Dan Allison, Director of Premier Modular. “We have ambitious plans to bring innovation and sustainability to the UK housing market. We already have a number of residential projects on site and nearing completion and are receiving a high level of enquiries for new schemes. We anticipate the demand for offsite construction will continue to increase to help address the housing crisis and the drive for net zero.” BOPAS – the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme – is the industry benchmark to give funders, principal mortgage lenders, valuers, and purchasers the confidence that homes built using offsite construction will have a life of at least 60 years. It also demonstrates the integrity of the offsite system, consistent delivery, and long-term performance to specification. “The residential sector is facing considerable challenges – from the shortage of skilled labour to the need for increased productivity and improved quality in housebuilding to meet the rising demand for new homes. By moving the construction of new apartment schemes offsite and into a more controllable factory environment, we can produce energy-efficient homes with less impact on the environment, to reduced programmes, and significantly enhanced quality,” added Dan. Premier has been awarded full BOPAS accreditation for design, manufacturing and construction. A rigorous assessment was carried out by BOPAS, which audited all aspects of Premier’s operations, including quality control systems, health and safety, project management, and interfaces, from design through to offsite manufacture, construction, and handover.
