The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today (18 May) announced a welcoming call for entries for the 2015 RIBA President’s Awards for Research. This year will also see the award of the inaugural RIBA President’s Research Medal, presented for the best judged research from across all four categories. The deadline for submissions is Monday 8 June 2015 at 5pm. The four categories for the Awards are: • University and Professional Research Organisation• Practice (including practices with professional research divisions)• PhD• Master’s – each academic school can submit up to 2 Master’s dissertations per year. The Master’s course should be a research degree (e.g. an MA or MSc) and not a professional qualification (i.e. it cannot be a course that is validated, or is eligible to be validated, for RIBA Part 2). RIBA President Stephen Hodder said: “I’m delighted to announce the opening of the 2015 RIBA President’s Awards for Research. I am particularly pleased with the inauguration of the President’s Medal for Research; this award will help to give recognition to the ever increasing importance of research to architecture and our industry.” Anne Dye, RIBA Head of Technical Research, said: “These Awards promote research and researchers that contribute new knowledge and understanding to architecture. They highlight the need for knowledge and insight that nurtures innovation, quality, value and strategic thinking. “This year we have widened the eligibility to include research from across the built environment and beyond, better reflecting the diverse interdisciplinary nature of architectural research.” To enter: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Professionalsupport/Researchandinnovation/RIBAPresidentsAwardsForResearch/RIBAPresidentsAwardsforResearch.aspx – Ends – Notes 1. For further press information contact Gagandeep Bedi, RIBA Press Office 020 7307 3814 gagandeep.bedi@riba.org 2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members www.architecture.com 3. For the 2015 awards, the eligibility period for entries has been extended in all categories to research completed between May 2013 and May 2015. Due to the extended eligibility period, work submitted to the 2014 Awards may be submitted again in 2015. 4. All those conducting architectural and built environment research related to architecture and the practice of architecture are eligible to enter the RIBA President’s Awards for Research. These include, but are not limited to: RIBA Members, RIBA Chartered Practices, architects at non-RIBA practices, professionals from other built environment disciplines, students and academics at RIBA validated or non-validated schools of architecture, students and academics from non-architectural academic schools, professional research organisations. 5. Follow us on Twitter for regular RIBA updates www.twitter.com/RIBA Posted on Monday 18th May 2015 Source link

Construction and utility sector specialist Develop Training Limited (DTL) is running a seminar highlighting the risks of working in confined spaces, and giving managers and operatives the skills to do so safely. Health and safety experts estimate between 15 and 30 people die each year in the UK as a result of workplace incidents in confined spaces. The event, at DTL’s York training centre on Wednesday September 13, features the company’s state-of-the-art mobile confined spaces training unit. It follows successful outings at some of the company’s other locations around the UK. Steve Braund, DTL marketing manager, said: “It’s vital that training managers and everyone responsible for staff learning and development know about the danger of work in confined spaces, the legislation and how to ensure compliant, safe practice. No-one should be expected to enter such an environment without the proper safeguards in place and having received the appropriate training. This seminar will address all of those issues.” Confined spaces in work environments are more common than most people would assume. They can be found in a variety of industries, from manufacturing to agriculture. Last month, an autopsy in the US ruled on the case of a man who suffocated while working in an Indiana sewer pit. Closer to home, an incident in Pembrokeshire in 2016 saw a worker seriously injured while unblocking a silo at a wheat and barley blending plant. For managers and businesses, the risks of failing to address the issue include reputational damage and prosecution. In 2009, Scottish Sea Farms was fined £600,000 after two of its workers suffocated trying to rescue a colleague. The seminar will cover Confined spaces legislation Identification with confined spaces Interactive workshop Mobile confined spaces training unit demonstration The event is approved under the City & Guilds Frontline Skills Framework 5831 scheme and can include City & Guilds certification. Managers and delegates can book places on the seminar online at http://resources.developtraining.co.uk/confined-spaces-awareness-seminar-in-york DTL has produced a white paper on the subject of compliance and training for working in confined spaces, which is free to download at http://resources.developtraining.co.uk/confined-spaces-whitepaper) www.developtraining.co.uk

When the Natural History Museum decided to replace its famous ‘Dippy’ the diplodocus exhibit with a new star exhibit- a real-life skeleton of a blue whale- design & engineering expertise from Lancashire provided a solution to balance all the elements. Consulting engineers for the refurbishment of the 150 years-old Grade 1 listed Hintze Hall, SVM, aimed to revive, as far as possible, the original ventilation for the iconic, lofty hall, whilst taking advantage of technological developments to deliver the optimum internal environment for exhibits, the building fabric, and visitors. Thus, SVM utilised the expertise of Britain’s leading air movement specialist, Gilberts. Based on CFD (computational fluid dynamic) modelling, Gilberts manufactured and supplied 24no of a bespoke version of its Mistrale Model A natural ventilation units, with a further 42no standard WHF50 high performance louvres to provide the required levels of fresh air intake and exhaust. Each of the bespoke units was purpose-designed, using a combination of Gilberts’ WHF50 cassette with its VN75 ultra low leakage air volume control damper, to fit within existing window apertures and frames, and bolt together into specially-designed subframes, to avoid any need to fix into the existing terracotta surrounds. The units also had to provide the appropriate flow of fresh air into Hintze Hall, without allowing any natural light to permeate through, and still look aesthetically pleasing; Gilberts thus devised a bespoke combination of internal K40 fixed bar grilles and non vision cores mounted on the rear of the units. In a separate high level atrium, the original glass in the window frames could be removed; there, the glazing was replaced with Gilberts’ WHF50 louvres to provide high level exhaust of the ’used’ internal air. SVM Director Paul Rushmer elaborated, “The project involved refurbishing the existing hall, and redesigning the space to incorporate additional galleries at ground, first and second floor levels. From the original design, natural ventilation openings were in place, to an extent, but needed restoring, and new building services had to be integrated alongside to deliver a balanced internal temperature all year round, regardless of summer peaks and winter lows. “Conditions in Hintze Hall are crucial to the exhibits, and of course important to the visitors. We had to find a non-invasive solution for the historic space, which stabilised the temperature and humidity. The original building drawings used passive solutions. We have past experience of working with Gilberts, and felt its dampers were particularly appropriate to helping develop a bespoke, sympathetic solution.” Gilberts’ core Mistrale 50 Model A cassette is deliberately lightweight and slimline, to be beaded discreetly into window or wall. The insulated motorised volume control damper is a unique design that offers automatic, accurate and stable airflow, with one of the lowest air leakage rates (<5m3/hr/m2) and U values (<1W/m2/K) on the market. The WHF50 louvres are part of Gilberts’ high performance louvre range, whose patented design offers a simple single bank louvre assembly with 99% weather protection. The blade is a unique profile, proven to deliver a good free area ratio with minimal pressure resistance. Gilberts is the UK’s leading independent air movement specialist. Alongside its comprehensive range of grilles, louvres and diffusers, it has the ability, in-house, to design, manufacture, and test bespoke solutions to meet specific project requirements. It also has one of the most technically-advanced in-house test centres in the country- which it designed and built using internal resources- at its 90,000sq ft Blackpool headquarters.

18 March 2016 | Jamie Harris ISS has won a contract to provide energy services at Aberdeenshire Council. The contract, which is to run for three years with an optional two-year extension, sees ISS responsible for energy management and monitoring, building management systems and water management across 930 council buildings in the Scottish region. Aberdeenshire Council has set a target to achieve carbon-neutral status by 2030. The authority covers a community of more than 230,000 people. Aneysha Minocha, energy services director, ISS Technical Services, said: “We are very excited about this contract, which is a landmark project for the public sector. This type of programme is a prime example of why Scottish organisations such as Aberdeenshire Council are seen to lead the way in adopting green energy principles.” Source link

Savills, on behalf of a private client, has sold Huntswood Golf Club on Taplow Common Road, Buckinghamshire, to a private leisure operator from a guide price of £1.75 million. The property is located between Marlow, Beaconsfield and Maidenhead, benefiting from easy access to the M4 and M40. Occupying a site of approximately 102 acres (41 hectares), the 18 hole golf course features a putting green, practice hole for teaching purposes and greenkeeper’s building. There is also a spacious modern clubhouse which features a shop and recently refurbished bar and restaurant area that opens onto an outdoor terrace with views over the golf course. Originally Huntswood opened as a nine hole course in 1996 and was later extended in 2002. The freehold interest that was acquired includes the original golf course, clubhouse, car park and woodland areas. The area comprising the additional nine holes is held under a 21-year ground lease expiring in 2024. Huntswood currently operates as a proprietary members’ club, with a core group of members and further income is generated from green fee usage, and use as a venue for weddings and other functions. Ian Simpson, director of leisure and trading at Savills, comments: “The sale of Huntswood Golf Club close to its guide price demonstrates the continued demand for well located golf course assets, especially in the Home Counties.” Source link

Healthcare workers can be at risk of exposure to blood borne viruses (BBVs) due to the nature of their work. Although rare, injuries from sharps contaminated with an infected patient’s blood can transmit more than 20 diseases, including Hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We know the number of sharps injuries each year is high, but only a small number are known to have caused infections that become serious illnesses. However, because of the risk of transmission, sharps injuries can worry the many thousands who receive them. An inspection initiative was carried out in 2015/16 to identify any common causes of non-compliance with legislation designed to protect staff from the risk of exposure to BBVs. A summary document, Prevention and management of sharps injuries: Inspection of NHS Organisations, report the findings. Summary of initiative The initiative was focused on 40 organisations; 34 from England (including 3 ambulance Trusts), 4 from Wales, and 2 from Scotland (one a dental hospital). This was not a random sample of NHS organisations. The visits were targeted to organisations where intelligence suggested there might be non-compliance, for example from reported RIDDORs and / or purchasing data. Key findings Health and safety breaches were identified in 90% of organisations visited.  83% failed to fully comply with the Sharps Regulations. Improvement notices were issued to 45% of the organisations visited An earlier inspection initiative was carried out in 2010/11 to assess how NHS organisations managed the risks of sharps injuries. A summary document titled Management and Prevention of Sharp Injuries: Inspection of NHS Trusts/Boards reported those findings. Source link

30 June 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal The managing director of front of house services company Portico has apologised to receptionist Nicola Thorp for causing her “distress” after the company sent her home for not wearing high heels. Simon Pratt, managing director of Portico, appeared before the Petitions Committee and Women and Equalities Committee at the House of Commons. This took place after a petition, started by Thorp in protest of forcing women to wear high heels in corporate environments, reached more than 137,067 signatures – allowing for it to be debated in Westminster.  Pratt started by telling the committee: “Firstly I’d like to apologise to Nicola on behalf of Portico for causing this distress. It was never our intention to do so. When we learnt of this we very quickly took the decision to change the policy which was outdated.”  He was asked by Helen Jones, chair of the Petitions Committees, why Portico’s dress code included specific items of make-up, such as blusher and lipstick, which women were required to wear, and how was it supposed that it helped them do their job.  “In what way does that make one more efficient at their job?” asked Jones.  Pratt replied: “It does in no way at all do such a thing. We are a professional front of house services business where appearances and appearing professional on behalf of the sectors and the market we operate within require one to look the part day to day.” Jones said “clean, tidy and efficient” were acceptable expectations for an employer. But asked: “What is puzzling us as a committee is why that includes blusher, high heels, regularly applied lipstick? I can think of a number of very powerful women in this world who would not fit into your dress code…did it not occur to anyone in your company that these might be discriminatory?” Pratt replied: “These were an outdated set of guidelines and when it was brought to our attention, yes absolutely….The reality was the market and the industry has driven standards to date and now this situation has allowed us all to step back and review and get rid of these guidelines.”   Source link