Global building materials supplier CEMEX is proud to present the latest additions to its admixtures range: the ISOFINES 5000 Series, offering safe and easy materials drying solutions. The ISOFINES 5000 Series is capable of absorbing high amounts of the water that could accompany any type of mud, spoil or sludge.
Viessmann has created an air ventilation solution to combat the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The company’s unique new hybrid ventilation unit, the Vitovent 200-P, provides closed rooms with constant air circulation of filtered air. This greatly reduces the risk of occupants breathing in contaminated aerosols which can spread across
Leading property development, investment and lettings company, ALB Group, is marking the festive season by donating thousands of pounds worth of Christmas presents to children in five hospitals across the country. The Nottingham-headquartered privately owned group, which has multiple companies specialising in the conversion, redevelopment and letting of residential and commercial
Lincolnshire-based architectural practice PolkeyCollins is celebrating a strong year in business, despite the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic presented the construction industry earlier this year. Specialising in commercial architectural services, across multiple sectors including retail, office, science and education, PolkeyCollins has reported an increase in turnover in 2020 compared with
MCI Developments, part of national homebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has completed the purchase of the former industrial site on Lancots Lane in St Helens, with leading regeneration group, Torus. The land, which was previously used by a skip hire business, will create 63 brand new homes in the area, comprising of
Social distancing and mask-wearing can only go so far in preventing transmission of COVID-19 indoors. They are not barriers to contaminated aerosols, which can build up in poorly ventilated buildings. Specialist Building Service Engineers, Milieu, bring together the latest research on COVID-19 transmission and share their expertise on how to
Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has been crowned Housebuilder of the Year for the second year running in the national Housebuilder Awards 2020 – the highest endorsement of the firm’s commitment to “Building Brilliance”. Having been awarded the title in 2019, the Cavanna Homes team were thrilled to be shortlisted again
Airthings, a global leader in indoor air quality solutions for consumers, businesses, and professionals announced a new feature for its business solution: CO₂ Alert. The new capability will help schools and offices to keep their indoor air quality in check by warning them when Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) exceeds the recommended
Torbay-based family homebuilder Cavanna Homes, named Housebuilder of the Year for the second year running in the industry’s prestigious national awards ceremony in December, has announced a third new homes scheme to the East of Exeter. Equinox 3 will be built alongside the existing Equinox 1 scheme close to the
Wildlife Trust has launched a bold vision to rewild the heart of Nottingham and green-up the historic city centre, following the decision to demolish the much-derided Broadmarsh shopping centre. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked with landscape architects to reimagine the imposing grey urban jungle and replace the concrete with 100%
Global building materials supplier CEMEX is proud to present the latest additions to its admixtures range: the ISOFINES 5000 Series, offering safe and easy materials drying solutions. The ISOFINES 5000 Series is capable of absorbing high amounts of the water that could accompany any type of mud, spoil or sludge. The ISOFINES 5000 Series can be used on tunnelling spoil plastic concrete waste, moulded and diaphragm walls, jet grouting and concrete excessive finishings, as well as in the sedimentation pool in quarries. Through the removal of water, this admixture technology allows for the treated material to be transported and disposed of safely. Additionally, these solutions can also reduce a project’s carbon footprint; they provide an alternative solution to quicklime, and are more cost-effective when compared to a pure cement solution due to the lower dosages required. A broad range of formulations are available, including a cement-free option. The ISOFINES 5000 Series also has the added feature of quickly recycling liquified and difficult to handle mud – a solid material is obtained facilitating landfilling, and thereby reducing pollution. It can be delivered in bulk recycled plastic bags or silos which means there is no waste material on jobsites and a great volume is transported. Virginia Flek, National Technical Sales Executive for CEMEX Admixtures, commented: “The ISOFINES 5000 Series is an excellent addition to our high-quality admixtures range; presenting safe and easy drying solutions which also offer considerable sustainability benefits. “This series is already available in France and has been used on extensions to the Metro lines in Paris with great success. We are excited to launch it in the UK and make it available to our many customers who work on projects which create spoil with high amounts of water.” The ISOFINES 5000 Series is part of CEMEX’s admixtures portfolio of construction chemicals, which offers quality, efficient and reliable solutions, which includes grinding agents, plasticisers, superplasticisers, accelerators, retarders, air entraining, water-repellent, water retaining agents, stabilisers amongst others.
Viessmann has created an air ventilation solution to combat the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The company’s unique new hybrid ventilation unit, the Vitovent 200-P, provides closed rooms with constant air circulation of filtered air. This greatly reduces the risk of occupants breathing in contaminated aerosols which can spread across indoor spaces and hang in the air for hours, especially in winter when windows are more likely to be closed and heating operating. The Vitovent 200-P counteracts the danger of contaminated aerosols by applying the principle of displacement ventilation. This works by providing a constant supply of filtered fresh air into the room at low velocity through diffusers close to the floor, then extracting the air near ceiling height after it has risen due to heat exchange with occupants’ bodies. Good air quality and a comfortable learning atmosphere are ensured by the constant supply of fresh air with heat and moisture recovery, the continuous air circulation, and the extraction of air containing CO2 and VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) pollution. Viessmann’s Co-CEO, Maximilian Viessmann, commented: “As a 103-year-old family business, we are committed to designing living spaces for generations to come. Right now, it is crucial that we quickly and pragmatically safeguard our children to maintain a part of their social life and access to education in these challenging times.” The effectiveness of the Vitovent 200-P was proven in a pilot project at the Hans-Viessmann-School, a vocational training institution with about 1,000 students in the town of Frankenberg, Germany. Occupants of the school commented on the system’s quiet operation and a noticeable improvement in air quality. Work has since begun on supplying the system – which can be easily and inexpensively retrofitted by replacing a window panel with an isopanel – to a further 50 schools and social institutions in Germany. A separate announcement will be made when the Vitovent 200-P becomes available in the UK. In addition to making schools safer, the system can be equally beneficial in universities and other indoor spaces which remain open and busy with people despite the risk of coronavirus infection. The Viessmann Group also took measures earlier this year to help society fight the coronavirus pandemic by converting part of its manufacturing facilities in Allendorf, Germany, to produce its own ventilators, mobile intensive care units, respiratory protective face masks, and hand sanitizer. The design of Viessmann’s gas boilers, with their electronic gas and air connections, lent itself well to the design and development of a simplified ventilator in a short timeframe.
Leading property development, investment and lettings company, ALB Group, is marking the festive season by donating thousands of pounds worth of Christmas presents to children in five hospitals across the country. The Nottingham-headquartered privately owned group, which has multiple companies specialising in the conversion, redevelopment and letting of residential and commercial properties throughout the UK, is gifting £15,000 worth of presents to children who will be receiving hospital treatment over the Christmas period. This is the fourth year running that ALB has donated gifts to children in hospital – and donations this year will reach communities in which the developer has been particularly active; including Kings Mill in Mansfield, Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, Derbyshire Children’s Hospital and Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead, Merseyside. This is the second consecutive year that the company has donated gifts to Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead, following its work on the transformation of a local retail unit into 59 residential apartments in the town. As well as gifts, ALB is also donating a new television and Xbox to a local homeless shelter in Nottinghamshire. Arran Bailey, managing director at ALB Group, said: “As a company, we work to improve local areas through the regeneration, redevelopment and conversion of underutilised sites and properties, and we feel a responsibility to give something extra special back to these communities for Christmas. “The festive season is usually such a joyful time, but given the uncertain year we’ve all experienced, it’s going to feel very different for many this year – especially for those who have been and are separated from their loved ones. “We are so pleased and proud to be able to give some joy to children who are in hospital over the Christmas season, and we look forward to seeing the smiles on their faces once the gifts are delivered to the wards. “Our work takes us all over the country, but we are honoured to be so involved in the property industry throughout the East Midlands, where the company first began, providing quality residential and commercial spaces for people to enjoy.”
Lincolnshire-based architectural practice PolkeyCollins is celebrating a strong year in business, despite the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic presented the construction industry earlier this year. Specialising in commercial architectural services, across multiple sectors including retail, office, science and education, PolkeyCollins has reported an increase in turnover in 2020 compared with 2019, following a successful first year of the firm’s ambitious five-year business plan. The company, which was founded by Clive Polkey and Daniel Collins, made multiple hires throughout the year including architectural and administrative staff, who have helped to propel the company’s growth strategy forward, and has now prompted a decision to move to new, larger offices in 2021. As well as strengthening the team, PolkeyCollins has also made significant investments in its BIM (Building Information Modelling) capabilities, which includes the introduction of upgraded software and training for the team. Director Clive Polkey, said: “This year has been a challenging time for everyone and we are grateful for the support we have had from our clients, partners and team members, who have pulled together throughout the year. “By specialising in understanding the client and applying design rigour across multiple sectors, we have seen positive responses and attitudes to the way we work. Our ethos has always been about creating a progressive architectural practice that delivers cost effective, detailed designs that are viable from concept to completion. This is something we strongly believe in and has proven to be even more important this year. “We are lucky to count some the UK best known brands and leading educational organisations as clients and along with new business, we have seen the number of enquiries for our services and live projects grow. This is reflected in our turnover increase and is testament to our team’s skill and hard work.” Fellow director Daniel Collins, added: “The challenges of this year have helped us to focus on supporting our team and meeting and surpassing the needs and expectations of our valued clients. “We are proud of our achievements as a business over the last twelve months – despite the uncertainty – and we have remained focused on our business plan. We are now seeing the positive results of that strategy, with a clear direction for the company over the next few years. “Our team are everything; they have worked together through difficult times with their positive, energetic and productive approach and it has made a huge difference in the work we have been able to achieve this year.”
MCI Developments, part of national homebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has completed the purchase of the former industrial site on Lancots Lane in St Helens, with leading regeneration group, Torus. The land, which was previously used by a skip hire business, will create 63 brand new homes in the area, comprising of a mix of modern one- and two-bedroom apartments along with two-, three-, and four- bedroom homes. All the properties will be available for affordable rent and residents will also benefit from designated parking bays and landscaped communal open spaces on site. Alex Wood, Regional Managing Director at MCI Developments, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Torus to bring forward this residential scheme at Lancots Lane which is conveniently located within easy reach of St Helens town centre. “Our aim is to transform the vacant site into a thriving inclusive community, providing affordable housing to local families and breathe new life into this part of the town. We’re starting to put preparations in place to commence construction at the development which will take place this week.” Chris Bowen, Managing Director at Torus Developments, said: “This £8 million investment will open the door to new, modern and genuinely affordable homes in the area. But it also opens the door to so much more. In fact, our charitable arm, Torus Foundation, will ensure that every single tenant has access to tailored support, should they need it, to manage their home and improve their careeer prospects. In this way our investment is much longer term with a focus on health, happiness and wellbeing.” The first residents are expected to be able to move in from February 2022 and the development will take around 2 years to complete.
Social distancing and mask-wearing can only go so far in preventing transmission of COVID-19 indoors. They are not barriers to contaminated aerosols, which can build up in poorly ventilated buildings. Specialist Building Service Engineers, Milieu, bring together the latest research on COVID-19 transmission and share their expertise on how to use ventilation to reduce the risk of COVID transmission indoors. It is generally agreed by the scientific and medical community that the main route of coronavirus transmission is by respiratory droplets (larger droplets and particles which are exhaled when people cough, sneeze, sing, talk or breathe), which are passed on through close contact with an infected individual. Transmission by these larger respiratory droplets is usually within 6 feet, hence the 2m social distancing rule. More recently, it was discovered that COVID-19 can also be spread through exposure to virus-containing respiratory droplets that remain suspended in the air over longer distances. These smaller droplets are known as aerosols. Outdoors, fresh air will dilute and disperse any virally charged particles; it is indoors where this mode of transmission puts us all at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Therefore, unless clever ventilation systems are incorporated into buildings, transmission risk is even higher. Aerosols tend to follow airflow. Opening windows and doors allows fresh air to enter indoor spaces, increases airflow and reduces the concentration of virally charged particles. In rooms where this is not possible, alternate methods of ventilation need to be used, such as air conditioning (AC). However, AC systems that recycle air, without an adequate supply of fresh air, could be responsible for recirculating and spreading airborne viral particles. In traditional AC systems, where units are placed on the wall, airflow is horizontal, potentially delivering infectious respiratory droplets into the pathways of others. In an underfloor ventilation system Milieu have recently installed at Pennybank, Clerkenwell, the airflow is vertical, streaming the air up past occupants to be expelled through cleverly concealed vents. This not only reduces the concentration of any virally charged particles, but it reduces mixing of air between people sharing a working space. Milieu have recently developed an innovative Ventilation Effectiveness Toolkit which assesses ventilation using computational modelling to analyse volume, occupancy, vocal activity and existing ventilation rates (natural and mechanical) of a building. Carl Carrington, CEO Milieu, says: “At Milieu, we’re passionate about creating healthy buildings and keeping people safe: our new toolkit enables us to assess ventilation of an indoor space, in relation to occupancy, and work out a Relative Risk Increase (RRI) that can be used to inform people how safe their spaces are and whether their current ventilation is sufficient or not.” As we await the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine, we can take steps to reduce its transmission and reduce the infection rate of any future strains of SARs or other viruses, such as flu and the common cold, all of which impact our health and productivity. An effective way of doing this is by improving the ventilation of our buildings.
Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has been crowned Housebuilder of the Year for the second year running in the national Housebuilder Awards 2020 – the highest endorsement of the firm’s commitment to “Building Brilliance”. Having been awarded the title in 2019, the Cavanna Homes team were thrilled to be shortlisted again this year, and to be the only South West company in the finals of the 0-300 units per year category. In addition to the national title, Cavanna Homes’ Kings Orchard development in the creek-side Devon village of Stoke Gabriel, near Totnes, was highly commended for ‘Best Design for Three Storeys or Fewer’, with its Alfred’s Gate development in East Devon village of Newton Poppleford, near Sidmouth also shortlisted in this category. Michael Newman, Head of Land and Design at Torquay-based Cavanna Homes, said: “This unprecedented year has been challenging for not only us as a firm, but the construction industry as a whole, so we’re absolutely thrilled to be named Housebuilder of the Year for the second year running in these highly prestigious industry awards! It’s a fantastic achievement to have our hard work and dedication recognised on a national level by the expert judges and is testament to our team’s commitment and passion for building well-designed, high-quality homes.” The Housebuilder Awards recognise innovation and excellence in the housebuilding industry and are run in partnership with the National House Building Council (NHBC) and the Home Builders Federations (HBF), which also awarded Cavanna Homes the maximum five-star accreditation after the firm received a 100 percent recommendation from homeowners earlier this year. This year’s awards ceremony was an online event hosted by Housebuilder Media’s Publishing Director, Ben Roskrow and HBF’s Executive Chairman, Stewart Baseley.
Airthings, a global leader in indoor air quality solutions for consumers, businesses, and professionals announced a new feature for its business solution: CO₂ Alert. The new capability will help schools and offices to keep their indoor air quality in check by warning them when Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) exceeds the recommended levels. High CO₂ levels can increase the risk of airborne viruses spreading between people and impact cognitive abilities. By letting users know when a room needs a breather, they can make quick changes, such as opening a window or door, to improve the air quality. CO₂ Alert will start rolling out from today to new and existing Airthings for Business customers at no additional cost. In the midst of the current pandemic, effective ventilation has become an important strategy for reducing the spread of COVID-19 inside offices and schools. When we breathe out, our bodies expel CO₂, and the levels can rise quickly in enclosed spaces. This can significantly increase the risk of airborne virus transmission. Measuring CO₂ levels serves as a good indicator of indoor air quality and ventilation, and as a result, carbon dioxide regulations are becoming more common in offices and schools across Europe. “Schools and offices are under immense pressure to ensure their buildings protect the health and wellness of their occupants,” says Oyvind Birkenes, CEO at Airthings. “The Airthings for Business solution not only measures CO₂, but also other indoor pollutants and conditions that impact our health, productivity, and wellbeing. With the new CO₂ Alert, we go one step further in empowering our customers to take control of the air they breathe, making it easier to take action when it’s needed.” How it works The new CO₂ Alert feature will be available via the Wave Plus for Business, Airthings’ flagship product, named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Best Inventions.” Users will be able to set up CO₂ thresholds according to their local regulations. When CO₂ exceeds the recommended levels, the light ring will start to blink red, indicating that it is time to bring more fresh air into the room. By waving the hand in front of the device at any time, users will get a colour-coded indication of the CO₂ levels (green means the levels are low, yellow means the levels are rising, and red means an action is required). The impact of poor indoor air quality We spend 90% of our time indoors, where the air is typically 2 to 5 times worse than outdoors. When CO₂ builds up in poorly ventilated spaces, it can cause lower productivity, drowsiness, headaches, loss of concentration, and even poor decision-making. Scientists found that decision-making capabilities decline when levels rise to 1,000 ppm, while 1,400 ppm sees a 50 percent drop in cognitive ability. In addition to CO₂, there are other indoor air pollutants that impact our health and wellbeing, from airborne chemicals to radon, the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Conditions such as humidity and temperature are also important factors to monitor as both are correlated with virus transmission. Today, many schools and offices are located in buildings that have not been optimized for occupant health. While some ventilation systems recycle the air to conserve energy, bringing in fresh air is essential to ensure a healthy indoor environment. Continuous monitoring and familiarization with what’s in the air through technology solutions like Airthings for Business can help schools and offices improve their indoor air quality while optimizing energy consumption. Set up in a matter of minutes, the Airthings for Business solutions is made of wireless monitors and run on long-lasting batteries, making the solution easily scalable and customizable to any new or existing space. Indoor air quality data is easily available via the Airthings Dashboard and users can create reports to ensure they are in compliance to local laws and regulations.
Torbay-based family homebuilder Cavanna Homes, named Housebuilder of the Year for the second year running in the industry’s prestigious national awards ceremony in December, has announced a third new homes scheme to the East of Exeter. Equinox 3 will be built alongside the existing Equinox 1 scheme close to the Exeter Science Park campus, within walking distance of a country park and with public transport links to Exeter city centre. The latest development, located behind the current 79 homes scheme at Equinox 1, will offer a mix of 150 open market homes, with 25% allocated as affordable homes for local people. Cavanna’s Head of Land and Design, Michael Newman said: “We’re thrilled to have acquired 9.3 acres with planning consent to complete a third phase of new homes at Equinox, which is already proving extremely popular with homebuyers. “Equinox 3 will actually be built before Equinox 2 due to the ease of being able to move our development team from the existing site at Equinox 1. We are very much looking forward to delivering more award-winning homes in this excellent location and anticipate a start-on-site in December 2021, with the Marketing Suite opening in June 2022.” Equinox provides easy access by car, bike and bus to supermarkets, a selection of primary, secondary schools and colleges, a doctor’s surgery, sports grounds, and a 15-acre country park for residents. As well as providing outdoor space for residents to walk, run, cycle or play, the Equinox developments will contribute over £1.5 million in community contributions towards supporting and enhancing biodiversity, as well as creating wider cycle paths connecting to Exeter’s cycle network. Equinox 3 will feature a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached homes in a variety of styles to suit a range of buyer’s needs and requirements. In early 2021, Cavanna Homes will also be launching its new development of energy-efficient homes at Cavanna @ Elm Park, situated on the southern outskirts of the city between Alphington and Exminster. Not only has the firm been celebrating acquiring land for Equinox 3, Cavanna Homes has also been crowned Housebuilder of the Year in the national Housebuilder Awards 2020 in the 0-300 units category for the second consecutive year. Earlier this year, the firm was awarded the maximum five-star accreditation by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) after receiving a 100 percent recommendation from homeowners earlier this year.
Wildlife Trust has launched a bold vision to rewild the heart of Nottingham and green-up the historic city centre, following the decision to demolish the much-derided Broadmarsh shopping centre. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has worked with landscape architects to reimagine the imposing grey urban jungle and replace the concrete with 100% natural greenspace – the start of a big idea to reconnect the city to Sherwood Forest and invoke the spirit of Robin Hood – bringing wildlife to nature-poor city dwellers and the millions of visitors it attracts every year. “Transforming the Broadmarsh into a natural greenspace would bring people together and start putting the city’s nature into recovery at a time when natural greenspace has never been more valued or needed. It could also act as a springboard to securing investment in green growth and green infrastructure and deliver the long term aspiration of reconnect our city to the ancient Sherwood Forest landscape and we’re calling on people to back our vision,” said Paul Wilkinson, CEO of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Since the site was handed back to the Council in the summer, there has been much talk locally over the site’s future. A change.org petition calling for the area to be transformed into public greenspace secured almost 11,000 signatures and other polls have also supported calls for a new greenspace. As Nottingham seeks to recover from the human and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes that everyone should have the opportunity to live in a healthy, wildlife rich natural world, and that we all depend on contact with nature for our wellbeing. The charity has worked with Influence Landscape Architects to reimagine the space transformed with wildlife habitats reflecting the site’s history as a wetland alongside the ancient course of the River Leen and long lost gardens. The inspiring vision for the site includes accessible walkways based on a centuries-old city street plan to reconnect key parts of the city. Despite the City’s stated ambition to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city it was recently ranked at number 18 in a list of the UK’s green cities following an assessment taking into account measures including emission, transport, waste and nature. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes that a statement natural greenspace in the heart of the city would build climate change resilience, improve connectivity for people and provide an attractive backdrop for existing businesses as well as drawing in new investors – and is calling on people living and working in the City to back its vision As new development has replaced old, fragments of remaining greenspace and areas of ephemeral habitat, close to the former Broadmarsh Centre have disappeared and opportunities to recreate vital new green areas have been lost. The Trust believes the location of Broadmarsh is the ideal site for the City to demonstrate its commitment to its flagship Wellbeing Design Guide published by the Council in January – taking a truly ‘nature first’ approach which would be viewed as a statement of intent that it wishes to take a lead on the environment and build a greener future.