16 March 2016 | Jamie Harris The BIFM has launched a Good Practice Guide to Asset Management Surveying Practice. The guide has been published to help FM professionals produce meaningful asset data which meets expectations of clients, adding value to facilities operations. Peter Brogan, research and information manager at BIFM, said: “Asset management is of major importance to FM professionals. At the most basic level better use of data enables FM to demonstrate its value across all business disciplines. “However, its potential is not limited to day-to-day operations as utilisation of asset management data is recognised as a catalyst to both BIM and soft landings. The asset management opportunities now available to FMs are a complex and sophisticated area of expertise and stretch across a wide range of professional disciplines and activities.” BIFM’s Asset Management Good Practice Guide includes specific guidance on: Applying key built environment industry standard models and principles to improve quality and quantity of asset data information.  This includes building information modelling (BIM), the industry foundation classes (IFC) and COBie, to implement robust survey disciplines Determining key survey goals and objectives Identifying customer expectations and stakeholder needs and defining project scope to ensure these are met Producing detailed specifications for the required asset surveys Setting up a mobilisation process to ensure asset data capture surveys are carried out in a professional, coordinated way Auditing, reporting and management of data asset files to ensure consistency and accuracy for data standards and compliance Maintaining and enhancing quantified and qualified data through analytics and information assessment   The guide is free to download to all BIFM members as part of their member benefits. It is priced at £19.99 for non-members and available to buy direct from BIFM along with other guides in the series.   Source link

Browser does not support script. Contact us The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the results of the ‘Investigation into the Department of Energy & Climate Change’s loans to the Green Deal Finance Company’ by the National Audit Office. RIBA Sustainability Policy Advisor Emilia Plotka said: “We need to urgently address the pending energy trilemma – energy security, climate change and fuel poverty. The Government must stop cutting corners with its lacklustre efforts and instead play a leading role through ambitious national energy efficiency programmes. “The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation suffered from a lack of political support and investment, and subsequently failed to offer a clear long-term vision for household energy efficiency while saving money. Reducing household energy demand remains the most cost-effective and permanent solution for saving money and meeting our legally binding commitment to reduce our carbon emissions.” ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information, contact Howard Crosskey in the RIBA Press Office howard.crosskey@riba.org 0207 307 3761 2. The Investigation into the Department of Energy & Climate Change’s loans to the Green Deal Finance Company is available to read here: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation/ 3. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.architecture.com 4. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates www.twitter.com/RIBA   Posted on Thursday 14th April 2016 Source link

CEF has supported the Fairlie family of Monmouth, Wales as part of BBC’s DIY SOS programme with products supplied from its Cwmbran branch. The BBC sent out an appeal for local tradespeople and suppliers around Monmouth to offer their products, services and time to help on its latest project, and the CEF team of Paul Fieldsend, Simon Evans, Darren Humphreys, Richard Lloyd and Gareth Handy were there to answer the call.   Branch manager Paul Fieldsend says: “We are really pleased that we were able to supply so much of the electrical equipment that was needed on the project. Our branch was delivering to the site even after hours to help ensure that work could be completed within its nine-day deadline.” The DIY SOS team is well-known to BBC viewers, as Nick Knowles and his crew regularly set to work to improve the homes of families in need of help around the UK. The Monmouth project focused on Charlotte Fairlie and her husband Rob. Charlotte suffered a stroke after giving birth to her twin sons, but she is now back at home and learning to walk again, cared for full-time by Rob and her sister. Unfortunately, their house was too small for her essential physiotherapy needs. The DIY SOS team stepped in with the original aim of adding a two-storey rear extension to the two-bedroom house. However, it turned out to be a much bigger project than anticipated and all will be revealed when the episode comes out in six months time. This new space will allow Charlotte to have treatment at home, while also creating space for their growing boys. Paul Fieldsend says: “When the day of the big reveal arrived, CEF Cwmbran had donated around £3,000 of kit including cabling, accessories, lighting and fans. We even supplied armoured cabling to be used to take electricity out to the garden and shed.” Regular CEF Cwmbran customer O.D Electrical also donated their skills on-site to help achieve a successful outcome. Fieldsend added: “The show really doesn’t work without local companies and people pulling together. I was so pleased that one member of the DIY SOS team, Billy Byrne, actually came down to our branch to say thanks for all our help. It was great to be part of this worthwhile project.” Source link

The government has given development consent to the world’s largest offshore windfarm, Hornsea Project Two. The windfarm, located off the Yorkshire coast will have a capacity of around 1.8GW and will consist of up to 300 turbines. The Dong Energy owned project is being developed by Smart Wind, and was approved by business and energy secretary Greg Clark today (16 August). The consent covers the entire project including the turbines, foundations, offshore and onshore substations, array cables and export cables. Clark said: “The UK’s offshore wind industry has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last few years, and is a fundamental part of our plans to build a clean, affordable, secure energy system. “Britain is a global leader in offshore wind, and we’re determined to be one of the leading destinations for investment in renewable energy, which means jobs and economic growth right across the country.” Dong Energy UK country chairman Brent Cheshire said: “Development consent for Hornsea Project Two is very welcome. We have already invested £6 billion in the UK, and Hornsea Project Two provides us with another exciting development opportunity in offshore wind. “A project of this size will help in our efforts to continue reducing the cost of electricity from offshore wind and shows our commitment to investing in the UK.” The Crown Estate director of energy, minerals and infrastructure Huub den Rooijen said: “Offshore wind is already on course to meet 10% of the UK’s electricity demand by 2020. “Major developments of Hornsea Project Two’s scale will pave the way for its continued growth alongside driving down costs, creating high value jobs, and supporting the UK’s transition to a low carbon energy supply.” RenewableUK chief executive Hugh McNeal said: “Today’s announcement is the latest vote of confidence in the UK’s world-beating offshore wind market. This huge infrastructure project will provide much-needed investment and energy security for our country. “Offshore wind represents a massive economic opportunity to the UK and our coastal regions. It is creating new jobs and regenerating local communities”. Source link

Mr Brown’s previous role covered London Overground, DLR, Trams and TfL Corporate. He was also the chair of the Independent Railway Assurance Board for Crossrail and the independent safety expert on the Olympic Delivery Authority Games Transport Safety and Security Committee. Before this he was executive director for health, safety, quality and environment at Tube Lines between 2002 and 2005 as well as holding other senior roles in the sector. Crossrail programme director Simon Wright said: “The Crossrail programme is approaching 75 per cent complete with major fit-out of the tunnels and stations underway. “Martin’s considerable expertise in rail health and safety will be invaluable as we progress towards the start of dynamic testing in November 2017.” Source link