More than half of SME builders reported the planning system as their biggest barrier to delivering new homes, according to the Federation of Master Builders, FMB, annual survey. Respondents cited ‘inadequate resourcing’ of planning departments as the main reason for delays in applications followed by poor communication. FMB chief executive
The Access Industry Forum, the forum that represents the principal work at height trade associations and federations, is calling for clearer reporting of workplace accidents in a bid to save lives. As newly released Health & Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show another year of little improvement in workplace falls from
Building work is underway on a new £20m development of affordable housing with low-carbon heating systems in Cheltenham. Housing association Bromford has started construction of 71 new homes on a brownfield site on Village Road in the town. The four-acre site is the former home of the Douglas Equipment factory
The winners of the annual Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2023 have been announced at a prestigious awards ceremony taking place in London on Monday 20 November. The awards, sponsored by RPC UK Ltd, celebrate excellence within the project profession – from project organisations, projects, programmes and individuals working
CUPA PIZARRAS’ CUPACLAD® 101 Logic was recently specified by student accommodation provider Study Inn for a large-scale building at Walnut Gardens, Exeter. The natural slate cladding system was chosen for its durability as well as its premium aesthetic. The project involved the demolishment of an empty office building on the
Among various airlines, British Airways stands as a prominent player, renowned for its global reach and customer service. This article explains the nuances of British Airlines compensation, offering a comprehensive comparison with its competitors. While exploring the multifaceted aspects of these policies, we will particularly focus on how British Airways
Construction businesses will be called on to pledge greater support for mental health at the launch of a major lobbying campaign at Frameless in London on 22 November. The campaign, which is being led by Causeway Technologies, will ask for mental health provision to be included in Health & Safety
Integritas Property Group (IPG), one of the fastest-growing property developers in the North West of England, has announced the opening of a new office in Dubai. The move is aimed at bringing foreign investment into the region, which is seeing a regeneration boom. The new office, located in Business Bay,
Guide supports the city-region’s ambitious drive to be carbon neutral by 2038 Greater Manchester Combined Authority has partnered with CBRE’s ESG Consultancy team to create a new commercial Occupier Retrofit Guide to support the city-region’s ambitious drive to be carbon neutral by 2038. The collaborative guide aims to help commercial
Mapei UK’s first Mapecrete jointless floor system has been installed at P1 The Plasterers One Stop Shop & Plastering Superstore, in Cheltenham. The seamless finish was installed over the 440m2 floor area, which will be used as new warehouse space. Concrete was supplied by Flowmix and pumped by Max-Pump. Suitable
More than half of SME builders reported the planning system as their biggest barrier to delivering new homes, according to the Federation of Master Builders, FMB, annual survey. Respondents cited ‘inadequate resourcing’ of planning departments as the main reason for delays in applications followed by poor communication. FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “For small builders, the survey is clear that the system is too complex and costly. Communication from local planning authorities is also poor. Without changing this, planning issues are likely to loom large as a barrier for some time.” Extra expense due to planning delays was the most significant cause of additional costs. Out of the 127 members surveyed only 12 per cent had a ‘high degree of certainty’ in the planning process. Nearly half, 45 per cent, had medium certainty with a third, 32 per cent, seeing a low degree followed by 11 per cent with a very low degree of certainty in the planning process. The second biggest barrier was restricted mortgage availability with just over half, 51 per cent, indicating this was a problem. Buyer demand was at its lowest since 2015, when the survey began recording this data, with an average score of two out of five, with five being very good and nought being very poor. “This issue has seen a rapid rise over the last two years, reflecting the devastating impact the wider economy can have on the small house builders. With many consumers choosing not to take out mortgages it would appear the market is only getting smaller, resulting in less homes being built,” said Mr Berry. He added that this would be tough for SMEs whose housebuilding market share has dwindled from 40 per cent more than 30 years ago to just ten per cent now. Nearly a third of respondents, 63 per cent, said small site opportunities are decreasing, down from 82 per cent last year, with five per cent reporting that the number is increasing. And 60 per cent reported obtaining planning for small sites was worsening with 59 per cent believing national planning policy framework requirements on councils to identify sites wasn’t helping. “Lack of available land is also frustrating small builders and without proper incentives for local authorities to promote small sites it seems unlikely there will be much change,” added Mr Berry. Interest rate charges hold SME developers back Access to finance received the lowest rating in six years of just under two out of five with interest rate charges on new loans quoted as the most significant issue restricting the ability to build new homes. More than half, 53 per cent, cited self-build or custom contracts as the most popular source of funding for a new project. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said there were still development finance lenders out there offering a property development mortgage at a good rate. Nearly all respondents, 94 per cent, said it had become more expensive to build over the last 12 months. More than half, 53 per cent, said it had become 20 per cent more expensive with one in five saying it was 30 per cent more expensive per site. Just under a quarter, 24 per cent, plan to grow their on-site workforce over the next year with 57 per cent planning to keep roughly the same numbers and 12 per cent planning to decrease headcounts. Half of respondents said they would be upskilling their workforce with 36 per cent reporting they would hire one or more apprentices down slightly on last year’s 40 per cent. Over 70 per cent of respondents said they were not confident about the new rules on biodiversity net gain which go live next year. More than half said there would be increased costs associated with future homes standards in 2025 when gas boilers can no longer be installed. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Access Industry Forum, the forum that represents the principal work at height trade associations and federations, is calling for clearer reporting of workplace accidents in a bid to save lives. As newly released Health & Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show another year of little improvement in workplace falls from height, the Access Industry Forum (AIF) is urging government and business to work together to spearhead action and prevent accidents. HSE statistics published last week report that over 5,000 people in Great Britain were injured at work last year due to a fall from height. 40 people also lost their lives1. These incidents are required by law to be reported by employers through RIDDOR2, but it is known there is substantial underreporting of non-fatal falls from height for all workers, particularly the self-employed, who were found to report just 12% of workplace incidents3. In addition to employer reported RIDDOR incidents, the HSE estimates the scale of non-fatal workplace injury using their preferred source, the self-reported Labour Force Survey (LFS). According to the LFS, the number of falls over the last 10 years may be up to 425,0004. Along with the lives, families and businesses affected by these accidents, up to 992,000 working days were lost through non-fatal falls from height in Great Britain last year alone5. Not only that, the total cost of non-fatal falls in 2022/23 is estimated to be over £770 million, made up of costs to the employer and the individual, government tax losses and benefit payments6. These figures have been consistent over recent years, with no signs of improvement. Research undertaken by the AIF found that limited data collected on the circumstances surrounding accidents, coupled with a problematic reporting system, make it difficult to pinpoint the underlying causes of falls from height and identify whether they are related to issues such as faulty equipment, lack of training, or negligence. The AIF is renewing its call for a simplified system of reporting to more accurately reflect the cause of workplace accidents so that informed, preventative measures can be implemented to address the cause of fall from height incidents. Unlike most other types of workplace injuries, the consequences of a fall from height are usually life-changing for the person involved, with many unlikely to return to their previous occupation, as well as having long-term consequences for employers, colleagues and families. The AIF actively supports the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height, which will bring together MPs and stakeholders from across industry at its next meeting in Westminster in December. They will be discussing how government and business can work together to ensure technological and regulatory progress can be made to make the UK the safest country in the world for those working at height. Peter Bennett OBE, AIF Chair, said: “This year’s statistics show that there is much work still to be done to ensure those who have to work at height do so in as safe an environment as possible. Very little information is provided on the circumstance around non-fatal and fatal incidents, with current reporting focused on the type of incident as opposed to what caused it in the first place. This needs to change if we are to see a decrease in the number of people who tragically lose their lives while working at height, and those who suffer the life-changing consequences of a fall from height. “We know that working at height can be dangerous, but we should be able to put appropriate and robust measures in place to make it safer. I look forward to attending the meeting of the APPG in December so we can demonstrate to lawmakers the need for a simplified reporting system and ensure all those working at height go home safely at the end of the day.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building work is underway on a new £20m development of affordable housing with low-carbon heating systems in Cheltenham. Housing association Bromford has started construction of 71 new homes on a brownfield site on Village Road in the town. The four-acre site is the former home of the Douglas Equipment factory which had been empty since the site closed in 2020. The former factory buildings were demolished in April in preparation for work getting underway to build the new homes. The development, called The Fairway, will be a mix of 1-bedroom maisonettes and two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. Thirty-two homes will be available to rent, with the other 39 available to part-buy, part-rent through Bromford’s shared ownership scheme. All 71 homes at The Fairway will be heated by air source heat pumps, which are a low-carbon alternative to gas boilers. They are more efficient than a standard boiler, allowing households to use less energy to keep their homes warm. The homes will all have EV charging points, and most of them will also have solar panels. The £20m development is being part-funded by Bromford’s strategic partnership with Homes England. Project manager Stuart Hay said: “I’m delighted that work is underway on our new development to provide new affordable, sustainable homes here in Cheltenham. Installing air source heat pumps in all these homes will reduce our customers’ reliance on fossil fuels and helps us on our journey to becoming a net-zero carbon organisation. “House prices in Cheltenham are ten times average incomes*, which means buying a home in the town is out of reach for many people, so there is a clear need for more affordable housing in the town. With a mix of rented and shared ownership homes, the variation of housing we are providing at The Fairways means there’s something for everyone. I’m looking forward to seeing the site progress over the coming months and welcoming the first customers into their new homes.” The homes are being built by Bromford’s in-house construction team, which last year completed 232 of the 1,265 homes built by the Gloucestershire-based housing association. The entire development is due to be completed in spring 2025. The first shared ownership homes will be available shortly – find out more at www.findahome.bromford.co.uk *According to National Housing Federation data Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The winners of the annual Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2023 have been announced at a prestigious awards ceremony taking place in London on Monday 20 November. The awards, sponsored by RPC UK Ltd, celebrate excellence within the project profession – from project organisations, projects, programmes and individuals working across a broad range of industry sectors in the UK and internationally. Jacobs has been name winner of the APM Sustainability Award, a new award launched this year, to recognise organisations or individual projects that demonstrate environmental sustainability practices in the development and delivery of their projects. The award recognises the commitment of organisations, project managers and their teams to run more sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly projects. Jacobs which provides a range of engineering, technical, professional and construction services, was selected as the winner by awards judging panel for its approach to embedding sustainability into every project. Sustainability is a critically important priority for Jacobs, it’s embedded from the way the organisation operates its business to the sustainable solutions it co-creates with clients and partners. Jacobs continues to seek ways of making positive environmental, societal and economic differences for businesses, governments and communities around the world. To ensure every project is a climate response opportunity the company embeds sustainability through its global sustainability strategy, PlanBeyond 2.0. This is the foundation of what sustainability means to Jacob’s people, clients and the planet — integrating sustainability objectives throughout operations and client solutions in alignment with the UNSDGs. Will Masters, Sustainability Lead at Jacobs, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for me this is a shared award. This is not just about thousands of people delivering projects in Jacobs. When you look at the list of finalists, not only have we won the award but three of the projects listed as finalists are our projects. “For me, sustainability is something we need to be thinking about in the same terms as safety and quality, so it’s fantastic that APM is recognising sustainability as it is.” Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, said: “I would like to congratulate Jacobs for its outstanding commitment to excellence in sustainability and project delivery. The company clearly showcases a commendable commitment to sustainability, integrating it into every aspect of operations, project management, and client solutions. “Our awards are all about celebrating the outstanding successes of the project profession, and I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists for their incredible achievements over the past year.” For a full list of the APM Award 2023 winners visit apm.org.uk/apm-awards/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CUPA PIZARRAS’ CUPACLAD® 101 Logic was recently specified by student accommodation provider Study Inn for a large-scale building at Walnut Gardens, Exeter. The natural slate cladding system was chosen for its durability as well as its premium aesthetic. The project involved the demolishment of an empty office building on the land at Walnut Gardens and construction of a high-quality student accommodation block, which would house up to 166 students. Located in an affluent part of the city, the design would need to match the high-end, visually attractive buildings that surround the site. Furthermore, it was crucial that the materials used were highly durable and weather resistant, to ensure that the accommodation could endure for a significant amount of time with minimal maintenance required. CUPACLAD® 101 Logic, a rainscreen cladding system, was specified to help achieve this. Installation was simple. First, the insulation material was fixed to the building’s exterior using metal brackets. CUPACLAD® 101 horizontal profiles were installed followed by the 40x20cm natural slates, in a 7.65mm thickness. These were fixed horizontally using self-drilling screws, which are invisible post-application to ensure that the overall design and aesthetic is not impacted. Installation was a straightforward process, partly due to the lightweight of the system, with each natural slate weighing less than 30kg/m2.The slates were easy to cut and work around openings and features, while the self-drilling screws help to secure each slate to the substructure. Now complete, the dark cladding provides an effective contrast with the glass and render sections of the building to deliver a strong overall aesthetic with striking impact. As a natural product, the slate elements of the façade also complement the building’s leafy surroundings, as well as other local buildings made from similar materials. “Finally, as with all of our products, the natural slates used in the cladding system at Walnut Gardens are classified as A1 non-combustible in accordance with current building legislation,” said Simon Hope, Product Manager at CUPA PIZARRAS. “They are also highly durable, weather resistant and waterproof ensuring a performance life of over 100 years, with no noticeable colour fading. As such, our natural slates offer the ideal material for high-rise, exposed applications like this one.” To find out more about CUPACLAD®, please visit: https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/rainscreen-cladding/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Among various airlines, British Airways stands as a prominent player, renowned for its global reach and customer service. This article explains the nuances of British Airlines compensation, offering a comprehensive comparison with its competitors. While exploring the multifaceted aspects of these policies, we will particularly focus on how British Airways structures its compensation strategies, aligning them with the stringent guidelines set forth by EU law. Detailed look at British Airways’ Compensation Policy British Airways adopts a comprehensive approach to its compensation policy, particularly for instances of flight delays and cancellations. The integration of data in compensation strategies ensures a systematic response to passenger inconveniences. Passengers incurring additional expenses due to such disruptions can seek reimbursement for reasonable costs, including hotel accommodation, transport between the hotel and airport, meals, refreshments, and two telephone calls or internet-related costs. However, expenses for altered travel points (different departure or destination from the original booking) and consequential losses like missed hotel stays are not covered. The British Airlines compensation levels are limited by EU regulation, ranging from 250 EUR for flights up to 1,500km to 600 EUR for longer flights. These amounts are reduced by 50% if an alternative flight with a new scheduled arrival time close to the original is offered. Compensation Policies of Other Major Airlines Direct Comparison of British Airways with Other Airlines Flight Delays British Airways. Offers compensation following EU guidelines, with amounts ranging from 250 to 600 EUR based on flight distance. Delta Air Lines. Offers compensation as per U.S. regulations for domestic flights; may comply with EU regulations for flights within or to the EU. American Airlines. Compensation largely follows U.S. standards, with considerations for controllable delays. Lufthansa. Follows EU guidelines offering up to 600 EUR for significant delays. Cancellations British Airways. Compensates for cancellations within EU regulation limits, reducing amounts by 50% if an alternative flight close to the original schedule is offered. Delta Air Lines. Compensation is primarily based on U.S. regulations and may align with EU standards for relevant flights. American Airlines. Primarily follows U.S. standards for compensation, with EU compliance on applicable flights. Lufthansa. Provides up to €600 compensation, especially for cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice. Overbooking British Airways and Lufthansa adhere to EU Regulation 261/2004. In contrast, U.S.-based Delta and American Airlines follow the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulations and internal policies. These regulations dictate the terms of compensation and assistance provided to passengers denied boarding due to overbooking. Unsplash Lost Luggage British Airways compensates for lost or damaged baggage, requiring passengers to report the issue within 21 days for missing baggage or 7 days for damaged baggage. The British Airways compensation for lost luggage can reach up to GBP 1,100. Delta Air Lines compensates up to $3,800 for U.S. baggage issues and up to $1,728 for international baggage concerns. American Airlines requires a claim to be filed within 24 hours for U.S. flights and within 7 days for international flights for delayed or damaged baggage. Lufthansa offers compensation limited to 1,288 SDRs per passenger for most international baggage issues and refunds for checked baggage fees in such cases. Differences and Similarities Similarities: All airlines follow the Montreal Convention, setting compensation limits for lost or damaged baggage. The process of claiming compensation is similar. Differences: Delta and American Airlines generally offer higher amounts for U.S. flights. British Airways and Lufthansa have more defined limits, aligning closely with EU regulations. Impact of the Compensation Policies on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Transparent compensation practices build trust and reliability, essential for customer loyalty. Promptly addressing issues like flight delays not only resolves immediate concerns but also fosters long-term loyalty. Clear and generous compensation policies can significantly enhance customer retention in the competitive airline industry. In Conclusion The examination of British Airways’ compensation policies in comparison with other major airlines, underscored by data in compensation, reveals a commitment to adhere to EU regulations and the Montreal Convention. All airlines aim to balance regulatory compliance with customer satisfaction in their compensation policies. This approach ensures legal adherence and builds positive passenger relationships, key to brand loyalty and competitiveness in the global airline market.
Construction businesses will be called on to pledge greater support for mental health at the launch of a major lobbying campaign at Frameless in London on 22 November. The campaign, which is being led by Causeway Technologies, will ask for mental health provision to be included in Health & Safety and Social Value procurement conditions in construction contracts. At the event, Causeway will reveal the results of a unique industry survey of 1,439 construction site workers, which show that 56% are currently experiencing or have experienced mental health problems including anxiety and depression. 12% of respondents said they had experienced or were experiencing suicidal thoughts. The survey was conducted by Causeway’s mental health ambassador Trevor Steven – ex-England and Everton football player – who visited sites up and down the country between May 2022 and September 2023. While most surveys in the sector tend to be completed by office-based employees, Causeway’s approach has been to use the subject of football to encourage construction workers to open up about their mental health. Crucially, this includes labourers and site-based workers who very rarely complete questionnaires. As a result, the vast majority of respondents were employed full time or self-employed trades and subcontracted staff on site. “Shockingly, we are still losing on average two construction workers to suicide every working day,” Trevor said. “Studies have shown that male site workers are disproportionately affected by mental health issues. However, they are often deemed the most vulnerable but hardest-to-reach demographic in the construction industry. “We need to do more than just hanging a few signs up around sites. Mental health needs to be approached in the same way as health and safety – which is why we are asking businesses to step up and pledge to provide greater and more meaningful support.” In addition to the pledge, Causeway will lead a political lobbying campaign that will call for mental health provision to be part of the Health & Safety and Social Value procurement conditions for future construction contracts. Causeway CEO Phil Brown explained: “We have seen some encouraging signs that businesses are engaging with mental health at an industry level and we are grateful to the progressive businesses that have worked with us to help complete the survey. However, the industry’s mental health crisis still shows little sign of abating and we need to approach the issue from multiple directions. “Mental health is the true health and safety crisis in construction today. That’s why we are proposing that mental health be an integral part of future construction contracts.” The full results of the mental health survey will be published at www.causeway.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Integritas Property Group (IPG), one of the fastest-growing property developers in the North West of England, has announced the opening of a new office in Dubai. The move is aimed at bringing foreign investment into the region, which is seeing a regeneration boom. The new office, located in Business Bay, one of Dubai’s central business and commercial hubs, will serve as a base for IPG’s existing investors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle East regions. From working with first-time to seasoned investors who want to explore diversifying into the UK real estate market and ultra-high net worth investors for Joint Venture Partnerships, IPG’s new Dubai office will be a base for IPG to expand across Middle East. Leah Higginson and Lori Driscoll, who both have extensive experience in global investment management, have been recently appointed to manage this new venture. With over a decade of experience in the property industry, Leah Higson has cultivated robust relationships with industry leaders with extensive expertise spanning a wide spectrum of areas, including residential and commercial investments, portfolio management, and comprehensive research and analysis of the UK property market. Lori Driscoll brings more than a decade of multifaceted real estate experience, garnered in both the UK and the Middle East. Her expertise encompasses various aspects of the real Commenting on the opening of the new office, CEO & Founder of IPG, Mitchell Walsh, said: “We are excited to be expanding our international presence with the opening of a new office in Dubai. Over the last 18 months, we have seen an increasing demand from our Middle Eastern investors and wanted to ensure that we were able to offer them the best possible service.” Leah Higginson, Global Investment Manager, continued, “IPG’s Dubai office will showcase the immense potential of the UK’s property market, which has consistently attracted a diverse array of property investors, including those from overseas. “The UK’s property market offers stability in the economy, a secure and well-regulated legal framework for property investment, currency hedging against fluctuations in the GCC currencies alongside a consistent track record of performance in terms of rental yield and capital appreciation. Liverpool, the home of IPG, is an emerging hot spot for landlords, with annual apartment rental rates experiencing an impressive surge, surpassing the national average rental increase, 10% signifying a significant upturn in the city’s real estate sector. IPG will initially promote its Sovereign Point development, situated in Liverpool, UK, while actively seeking investment opportunities for Dubai investors within its other units across all its developments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Guide supports the city-region’s ambitious drive to be carbon neutral by 2038 Greater Manchester Combined Authority has partnered with CBRE’s ESG Consultancy team to create a new commercial Occupier Retrofit Guide to support the city-region’s ambitious drive to be carbon neutral by 2038. The collaborative guide aims to help commercial occupiers understand the actions they can take to play their part in delivering the Greater Manchester’s carbon neutral ambitions and wider sustainability strategy. To achieve this target, Greater Manchester has taken steps to tackle emissions across multiple sectors, especially in buildings and transport, where emissions are the highest. The scale of mitigation activities is increasing year on year, however there is much more to do. Commercial buildings account for 6% of Greater Manchester’s total carbon footprint. Councillor Tom Ross, Greater Manchester Lead for Green City-region, said: “To achieve our ambitious environmental aims, we must not only build better, greener buildings, but must also improve the quality of our many existing buildings across the city-region. Local Authorities are already leading by example, with 240 public buildings having been fitted with energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating systems over the last four years. “But improving public sector buildings will only get us so far – we need to encourage commercial building owners and occupiers to do the same. This new guide will provide examples of good practice to help them do just that, all whilst supporting our wider sustainability strategy, which includes increasing the energy efficiency of fuel poor homes, installing more local renewable energy generation and improving public and active transport.” The purpose of the guide is not only intended to steer occupiers towards what to look for, but to help them understand the associated benefits linked with effective retrofit. It focuses on two areas including best practice certification, giving an overview of current market certifications and the benefits related with each; as well as guidance on landlord engagement and green leases, with advice on how to maximise the impact during the term of a contract, and energy provision and management. Part two of the guide expands on circular economy solutions, covering design principles for the future based on the dynamic of reduce, reuse and recycle. It helps to crystalise the direct benefits to organisations, such as direct cash impacts through lower energy bills and reduced operating costs; enhanced strategic and corporate alignment through ESG strategy compliance and ESG messaging to stakeholders; and ultimately improved wellbeing and talent retention through a healthier work environment, and better employee facilities. Lucinda Lay, Associate Director, ESG Consultancy, CBRE, said: “Greater Manchester has one of the most ambitious targets in relation to the climate emergency. By collaborating with the team on this project we can play an important role in helping them realise the city region’s ambitious plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2038, with the role of retrofit playing a significant part in its push. “Sustainability and real estate trends are accelerating. We have investor demands expanding, increasing sustainability and climate change regulation and we have tenant demands evolving. It’s all coming together to actually need greater consideration of ESG and sustainability in the built environment. That’s why guides such as this commissioned by the Council are crucial to get ahead of the climate curve.”
Mapei UK’s first Mapecrete jointless floor system has been installed at P1 The Plasterers One Stop Shop & Plastering Superstore, in Cheltenham. The seamless finish was installed over the 440m2 floor area, which will be used as new warehouse space. Concrete was supplied by Flowmix and pumped by Max-Pump. Suitable for all environments – from commercial and industrial to residential – the Mapecrete system provided benefits including enhanced durability, reduced maintenance and a fast-track installation. Fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) jointless slabs represent a significant advancement in concrete technology, offering numerous benefits over traditional reinforced concrete (RC) slabs. The Mapecrete FRC jointless system is based on a shrinkage compensated concrete technology where contraction is compensated by restrained expansion through structural reinforcement. The modular system consists of four Mapei products which work in synergy to create a jointless finish: they include Dynamon XTend W300 N, Mapecure SRA 25, Expancrete, Mapefiber ST42 and Mapecure E30. Whilst RC slabs are jointed to assist in controlling cracking, FRC jointless slabs contain fibres within the concrete mix to enhance performance and reduce cracking and spalling. The slab’s increased durability provides increased load-bearing capacity and greater ability to withstand heavy loads and high traffic. As well as reduced maintenance, further cost savings result from reduced downtime and repairs, and from a less labour-intensive installation. The jointless system is also more resistant to environmental factors, such as freeze-thaw cycles. “The Mapecrete system provided a multitude of installation and performance benefits, as well as a safer working environment. The FRC jointless slab system eliminates the need for steel mesh and greatly reduces labour days. Installation was also far easier, compared to traditional RC slabs, creating a seamless floor. Further down the line, we’ve also eliminated the issues that can arise from having joints every 5-6 linear metres. It’s a fabulous innovation and we’re delighted with the finish achieved in the superstore, ”commented Andrew Hill, Managing Director at Plastering Superstore. For more information about Mapei products and applications, please contact: info@mapei.co.uk or visit www.mapei.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals