The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed how the new-build market has outperformed the rest both where price growth and price premiums are concerned since the turn of the Millenium. The average homeowner is thought to spend 21 years in a home on average, so Warwick Estates analysed new-build
As the ongoing raw materials shortage continues, and with timber still in short supply due to unprecedented lockdown demand, Checkatrade has observed that only a small percentage of homeowners are currently aware of the raw materials shortage and how it will affect them. Please find a comment below from Mike
The vital support that Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association (HAE EHA) provided to its members during the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised at the prestigious National Association Awards 2021. CEO Paul Gaze and Marketing Project Lead Stuart Tyrrell collected the Gold for Best Covid Response award at the
Virtual marketing consultancy doubles office footprint at the Enterprise Centre Moorfield Group, the owner and landlord of Aberdeen Energy and Innovation Parks (the “Parks”), has concluded a relocation and upsizing lease with Prospect 13, the virtual marketing consultancy owned and managed by communications guru Cerri McDonald. Having been based at
Harry Yates, CEO of professional snagging company HouseScan & inspection app BuildScan, addresses Cambridge City Council Building Quality Forum The quality of homes delivered in the new build sector has been an issue for some time and is often highlighted in the media as questionable. In 2017 Bovis, a top
Research by the next-generation, virtual property viewings platform, U-See Homes, has revealed just how much work the property industry has to do in order to lower its impact on the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions are falling U-See analysed data on greenhouse gas emissions across each industry over the last decade
There are a lot of controversies currently surrounding vaccinations or at least whether or not they can and should be required by businesses in the U.S. Around the globe so-called vaccine passports as well as mandates have sparked protests and serious conflict. In the U.S., now many employers have said
A tension fabric structure is an architectural design that consists of a framework which deals with the tension part and a cover, which is typically made of fabric, hence the name. The rigid framework serves as the primary architectural support for the entire structure, while the fabric serves as the
Work has commenced on a new £9.5million health centre to help support the delivery of locally integrated healthcare services. Hadrian Health Centre is another step toward improving health and community services for those that live in the Wallsend and surrounding areas. The new centre, which will become the new home
A report commissioned by the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has highlighted the crucial role played by building ventilation in reducing the risk of Covid-19 and other infections, but it misses some crucial practicalities, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). The report, which was produced by the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC)
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed how the new-build market has outperformed the rest both where price growth and price premiums are concerned since the turn of the Millenium. The average homeowner is thought to spend 21 years in a home on average, so Warwick Estates analysed new-build and existing house prices between 2000 and 2021 and found that across England and Wales, the average new-build has increased in value considerably. In 2000, the average new-build cost £92,234, but today, this has increased to £343,185 – a 272% increase. While the existing market has also seen impressive growth, the average house price has increased by just 254% in comparison. The premium attached to new-build homes has also jumped by some margin. In 2000, the average new-build home cost £17,805 more than the average existing property. Today, this premium has climbed to £79,426. London has seen the biggest jump in new-build values, up from an average of £133,568 in 2000, to £525,927 – a 294% increase and 19% more than the existing market where prices are up 275%. The East Midlands (290%) and the East of England (290%) have also seen some of the largest increases and have also outperformed the existing market to the largest extent, with a 27% and 26% respective difference in price growth during this time. However, all areas of England and Wales have seen new-build house price growth not only exceed 200% since the start of the new Millennium but also outpace the existing market. The East of England has also seen the largest increase in new-build premiums. In 2000, new-builds were valued £19,345 higher than existing homes, but today this has climbed to £97,435 – a £78,090 increase. The East Midlands (£73,222), the West Midlands (£66,255) and the South West (£60,998) have also seen the premium attached to new-build homes climb by more than £60,000 in the last two decades. COO of Warwick Estates, Bethan Griffiths, commented: “New-build homes have always commanded a premium and this premium has climbed considerably in the last two decades as house prices have risen, but also the quality and offering of the new-build sector has evolved. While getting a foot on the new-build ladder may present a tougher task for aspirational homeowners initially, they are far more likely to see their investment not only hold its value but increase at a greater rate than the existing market. So it can be well worth the additional initial financial investment for those with a long-term view of homeownership.” Table shows the increase in the average value of new-build and existing homes between 2000 and 2021 Location Average NB house price (Mar 2021) Change – 2000 to 2021 (£) Change – 2000 to 2021 (%) Average Existing house price (Mar 2021) Change – 2000 to 2021 (£) Change – 2000 to 2021 (%) London £525,927 £392,359 294% £503,386 £369,173 275% Yorkshire and The Humber £243,791 £180,320 284% £181,826 £131,985 265% East of England £404,852 £300,939 290% £307,417 £222,849 264% East Midlands £302,701 £225,162 290% £209,735 £151,941 263% North West £262,731 £192,821 276% £184,362 £133,006 259% Wales £252,646 £182,754 261% £182,699 £131,557 257% West Midlands Region £305,790 £217,404 246% £214,363 £151,150 239% South West £348,888 £250,269 254% £281,886 £198,732 239% South East £420,199 £298,520 245% £344,314 £237,522 222% North East £217,985 £147,457 209% £138,631 £91,648 195% England and Wales £343,185 £250,951 272% £263,760 £189,330 254% Data sourced from the Land Registry House Price Index – New-build vs Existing (March 2000 to March 2021 – latest available) Table shows the new-build price premium in 2000 and 2021 and the change between the two Location Average NB house price (Mar 2000) Average Existing house price (Mar 2000) NB price premium (2000) Average NB house price (Mar 2021) Average Existing house price (Mar 2021) NB price premium (2021) Change in NB premium (£) East of England £103,913 £84,568 £19,345 £404,852 £307,417 £97,435 £78,090 East Midlands £77,539 £57,794 £19,744 £302,701 £209,735 £92,966 £73,222 West Midlands Region £88,386 £63,213 £25,173 £305,790 £214,363 £91,427 £66,255 South East £121,678 £106,792 £14,887 £420,199 £344,314 £75,885 £60,998 North West £69,910 £51,357 £18,553 £262,731 £184,362 £78,368 £59,815 North East £70,528 £46,982 £23,546 £217,985 £138,631 £79,355 £55,809 South West £98,618 £83,154 £15,464 £348,888 £281,886 £67,002 £51,538 Wales £69,892 £51,142 £18,750 £252,646 £182,699 £69,947 £51,197 Yorkshire and The Humber £63,471 £49,841 £13,630 £243,791 £181,826 £61,966 £48,335 London £133,568 £134,213 -£645 £525,927 £503,386 £22,541 £23,186 England and Wales £92,234 £74,430 £17,805 £343,185 £263,760 £79,426 £61,621 Data sourced from the Land Registry House Price Index – New-build vs Existing (March 2000 to March 2021 – latest available)
As the ongoing raw materials shortage continues, and with timber still in short supply due to unprecedented lockdown demand, Checkatrade has observed that only a small percentage of homeowners are currently aware of the raw materials shortage and how it will affect them. Please find a comment below from Mike Fairman, CEO Checkatrade, that provides some further detail as well as advice for homeowners or trades persons looking to complete work over the next few months. Mike Fairman, CEO, Checkatrade: “The current global raw materials shortage has had a profound impact on the UK trade and construction industry. Soaring demand, the impact of Brexit, continued pandemic recovery and shock factors like forest fire threats in North America are all reasons behind the shortages we have seen. Our recent consumer research* has revealed that awareness of the shortages is low, with only a small percentage of Brits (22%) claiming to have heard of the shortages and understanding how they could affect them. However, many have already experienced its impact, with 21% of respondents* experiencing delays in either their jobs being started or completed due to a shortage of raw materials. The property and home renovation market has been booming over the last year and demand shows no sign of slowing down – in fact we’ve had 49% more consumer searches so far this year than in the same period last year**. With this in mind, we’d recommend that homeowners factor potential future shortages into any upcoming projects they plan to undertake on their homes. In particular, they should make sure to speak to tradespeople when planning a project to discuss timelines and should be careful to use reliable sources such as Checkatrade to find vetted, reviewed tradespeople. We know our trade members are keen to work with their customers to find ways to overcome these issues, including trying to find alternative materials that could be used.” *Research conducted by Opinium on behalf of Checkatrade. Total sample size was 2,003 UK adults. Survey conducted online between 4th June and 8th June 2021. Includes just the respondents who have experienced delays in starting/completing home improvement projects over the last 12 months ***Data captured between 1 January – 31 July 2020 vs 1 January – 31 July 2021
The vital support that Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association (HAE EHA) provided to its members during the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised at the prestigious National Association Awards 2021. CEO Paul Gaze and Marketing Project Lead Stuart Tyrrell collected the Gold for Best Covid Response award at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington on behalf of the organisation for members who hire or manufacture plant, tools and event equipment. Hosted by Sky TV sports presenter and entertainer Jonny Nelson, the audience represented trade associations from a huge variety of UK industry sectors. HAE EHA was on the front foot from the start of the first lockdown of the pandemic, creating a Covid-19 Response Team and becoming the go-to place for information, guidance and news, with numerous resources to help hire companies both small and large to understand what was happening, how it affected them, and where they could turn to for help. In addition to Covid-19 email updates, HAE EHA supplied dedicated newsletters and communications carrying links to key information on the HAE EHA website, gov.uk, or to funding sources, political statements, guidance on HR and SSP, and message templates helping members to deliver information to their own customers. Covid-19 Response Workshops were also organised and held virtually using webinar platforms for numerous essential subjects. These covered mental health and wellbeing, practical guidance on social distancing, developing business resilience, event hire practical guidance and other related subjects – all designed to assist members during the crisis. Many businesses in the tool, plant, and equipment hire sector either remained open or have since reopened operations for customers after lockdowns. HAE EHA lobbied the UK Governments during the pandemic to help ensure that hire and rental was deemed as essential retail, implementing appropriate measures to minimise the spread of infection, including social distancing and hygiene arrangements. The hire industry was rarely singled out in any of the government guidance or legislation, rather it was referenced in the broader context of construction, so HAE EHA says it was vital to cut through the generalisations and highlight the relevant matters to its members. Paul Gaze said: “Our response to the pandemic demonstrates a true understanding of our members and the people who work in hire. This award reflects the efforts of our member-led board and staff to deliver critical support for the hire industry during the most challenging times that most of us have ever faced. We are delighted that this has been recognised nationally in what has been a real team effort.” This could be the first half of a sensational double, as HAE EHA has also entered the Best Membership Support During Covid-19 category in the Association Excellence Awards, being held on October 7th at the Kia Oval in London. For more information visit www.hae.org.uk
Virtual marketing consultancy doubles office footprint at the Enterprise Centre Moorfield Group, the owner and landlord of Aberdeen Energy and Innovation Parks (the “Parks”), has concluded a relocation and upsizing lease with Prospect 13, the virtual marketing consultancy owned and managed by communications guru Cerri McDonald. Having been based at the James Gregory Centre on the Innovation Park for the past two years, Prospect 13 has now relocated to a larger, more modern office suite in the Enterprise Centre on the Energy Park, located in Bridge of Don. The business has agreed a three-year lease for the ground floor Unit G3, which can accommodate up to eight people and includes an element of collaboration space. Cerri McDonald, Managing Director, Prospect 13, said: “We are excited to have settled into our new, larger office in the Enterprise Centre. This office move represents a key milestone for our fast-growing company as we continue to deliver an increasingly diverse subscription-based service to new and existing customers. The expansion comes after a 55% growth in the last 12 months despite lockdown, meaning we had outgrown our previous premises. “The new bespoke office space better accommodates our ever-expanding creative team and offers a modern, open environment with easy connection to the city and local amenities. We have such a positive relationship with the Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks team so we were keen to remain with them and feel optimistic about what the future holds for Prospect 13.” Hugh Canham, Head of Asset Management at Moorfield Group, added “It is always exciting to see an occupier grow and develop with us here at the Parks. Prospect 13 is a great example of a dynamic local business that is working hard, thriving, expanding and capitalising on the opportunities presented in the current market. We wish the Prospect 13 team continued success in their new base at the Enterprise Centre. “Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks offer a variety of office solutions, including serviced offices, co-working space and virtual offices, all with competitive and flexible lease terms, which give our occupiers the opportunity to expand as their business develops. The Parks are set to benefit from the post-pandemic rise in demand for flexible serviced workspaces, providing the convenience and technology required to enable agile workforces to flourish.” Prospect 13 was established in 2018, and in that time the business has gone from strength to strength with an impressive and growing client base. The company works with small local organisations to deliver on-demand access to a wide range of strategic and hands-on marketing services, tailored to suit specific business and growth challenges. The company recently joined forces with Cornerstone Consulting, managed by Sally Cassidy, to bring sales enablement and leadership expertise within the in-house capabilities. Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks comprise 200,000 sq ft of multi-let office and industrial space for more than 80 companies and a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees. Located just minutes from Aberdeen city centre, the Parks offer a range of flexible workspaces and high-end facilities for businesses of all sizes. Knight Frank and Ryden are joint agents for Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks.
Harry Yates, CEO of professional snagging company HouseScan & inspection app BuildScan, addresses Cambridge City Council Building Quality Forum The quality of homes delivered in the new build sector has been an issue for some time and is often highlighted in the media as questionable. In 2017 Bovis, a top ten housebuilder, apologised for releasing properties that they’d said were finished, too early. They also set aside £7m to repair badly built new units that they’d sold to unsuspecting buyers. Local authorities grant planning permission for sites across the country and manage building control and so they have a vested interest in ensuring quality, especially as these very councils are funded by the public whom they seek to represent and serve. On Friday 23rd July, Cambridge City Council held a Building Quality Forum to debate the issue of new home quality, led by Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport. Cllr Thornburrow invited Harry Yates, CEO of HouseScan and BuildScan, to provide information and context to the assembled members, officers and stakeholders present during the four-hour session. Harry spoke to the panel about his experience in the construction industry and the experiences of the countless new-build buyers he works with through both HouseScan and BuildScan. His main message was that the dissatisfaction among new-build buyers is increasing at an alarming rate, alongside and directly in relation to the rising trend for poor quality. In more extreme cases; this has even led to the detriment of buyers’ mental health. On average, each new home delivered in Britain has approximately 157 snagging faults, which if left unchecked and unraised can leave homeowners bearing the complete cost of rectification. Harry also spoke about his experiences with developers often seeking short-cuts to quality sign-off by moving to less fastidious warranty providers. He went on to explain a number of reasons why poor quality in new homes is increasing. These included: ● How government pressure on house builders is stretching them and reducing quality ● Skilled tradespeople are fewer and further between due to a) the previous recession when many left the sector and b) due to Brexit deterring tradespeople from overseas – a vital component ● Recruitment issues mean that more upskilling is needed and housebuilders are not investing enough resources in training and supervision ● A focus on transactions and related KPIs, not quality Harry also explained that the rise of social media has meant that consumers have become more informed about the standards their home should be built to, and the issues that are widespread. Though it can occasionally lead to homeowners having skewed expectations, overall the heightened connectivity has been positive, leading to developers being held accountable for their shortcomings and in turn helping to improve the quality of new homes. Whilst providing the context of the problem and the reason behind those problems is important to understand, Harry was also an active voice in providing ideas that will form solutions to this growing trend of new homes not being finished to an acceptable standard in many cases. “Quality standards must form part of a house builder’s KPIs, not just goals around completion times.” says Harry. “Supervision of trades and sub-contractors needs to be taken much more seriously as they work. Technology now allows senior stakeholders in build projects to assess quality ‘as it goes’ and this must become more mainstream now.” “And training, especially around proper apprenticeships and the ensuring of high standards being a matter of mindset, is something that Britain used to be renowned for but in some areas of industry is often dismissed as not providing a return on investment – it’s ‘just another cost’. Whereas, as we can see from the issues highlighted here, a lack of training leads to a lack of quality further down the line.” The most important progress is being made with the launching of the forthcoming New Homes Code and likely a New Homes Ombudsman as a robust regulator of the sector. Harry continued: “We have worked alongside the code’s formation as a stakeholder and in my opinion it is the biggest step being taken in highlighting and promoting better quality delivery that we’ve seen in years.” “In particular, allowing home buyers the legal right to inspect their property prior to completion using a professional inspector such as HouseScan or themselves via an app such as BuildScan, enables them to complete and move in with more confidence but also puts the housebuilder on notice that poor quality and premature certification of new properties will not be tolerated.” Harry hopes that forums such as the Cambridge City Council led event will raise the profile of build quality and snagging and consequently will lead to happier home buyers and housebuilders attaining much better reputations. The full forum event can be seen here.
Research by the next-generation, virtual property viewings platform, U-See Homes, has revealed just how much work the property industry has to do in order to lower its impact on the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions are falling U-See analysed data on greenhouse gas emissions across each industry over the last decade and found that as a whole, there’s been a reduction of -16.9%. The latest data shows that the property sector generated 980,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2019, the fifth-lowest of all sectors and considerably lower than the 88,395,000 generated by the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply unit sector – the worst offending of all sectors. However, the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply unit sector has also seen the biggest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the last decade, down by a notable -47.4%. An additional 12 other sectors have also managed to reduce their impact on the environment in this time. But not across the property sector Unfortunately, seven sectors have seen an increase, the property sector being one of them. Greenhouse gas emissions produced by the property sector have increased by 10.8% in the last 10 years, with just the accommodation and food services sector (11%), the construction sector (12.6%) and the activities of households as employers sector (14.7%) seeing a bigger increase. What can be done? So how can the property industry tackle its impact on the environment for the better? Utilising technology is a good place to start and previous research by U-See Homes found that by replacing just the first initial viewing of a property with a guided virtual tour, estate agents could save 3,216 tons of C02 in a single year across the hundreds of thousands of property sales that take place. Utilising a virtual platform could also bring greater benefit when it comes to the numerous property conferences and meetings held every year. Research by digital coaching platform, Ezra, recently found that holding just one conference of 1,000 people in a digital capacity could cut carbon emissions by nearly 95% – enough to power 17 homes for a whole year. Of course, remote working can also play a part should the property sector stick with some form of it in life after the pandemic. Recent research by Vodafone highlighted how prior to the pandemic, the total carbon saving of an employee was just 272 kg, but as a result of remote working during the pandemic, this climbed to a huge 889 kg. Simon Dempsey heads up marketing for U-See Homes and says “Although the property sector may not be the worst offender in terms of its detrimental impact on the environment, it’s disappointing to see that there has been an increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the course of the last 10 years. In this day and age, there is a wealth of information and technology available to us that could, and would, allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and so there’s really no excuse for failing to address this issue head-on. As a result of COVID-19, we currently find ourselves at a fork in the road and there is a real opportunity to salvage something positive from the pandemic. A lengthy stint of remote working has proven that great people utilising great technology can keep the world turning and incorporating this permanently within the industry could make a real difference to the planet. Of course, some form of physical workplace and activity can never be replicated digitally but we would urge everyone within the sector to consider what sort of balance could work for them on an ongoing basis.” Greenhouse gas emissions by industry – Mass of air emissions per annum in thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent Industry 2009 2019 Change (%) – 2009 to 2019 Activities of households as employers 41 47 14.7% Construction 12,279 13,827 12.6% Accommodation and food services 3,240 3,596 11.0% Real estate activities 885 980 10.8% Administrative and support service activities 3,109 3,364 8.2% Human health and social work activities 5,176 5,469 5.7% Agriculture, forestry and fishing 46,030 48,586 5.6% Other service activities 987 973 -1.4% Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 16,623 16,056 -3.4% Transport and storage 83,685 79,546 -4.9% Professional, scientific and technical activities 1,981 1,861 -6.1% Financial and insurance activities 278 260 -6.3% Manufacturing 94,184 83,655 -11.2% Arts, entertainment and recreation 1,195 1,050 -12.2% Information and communication 980 844 -13.8% Education 3,185 2,565 -19.5% Mining and quarrying 27,056 21,786 -19.5% Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 36,408 26,211 -28.0% Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 6,952 4,765 -31.5% Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 168,060 88,395 -47.4% Total greenhouse gas emissions 663,614 551,523 -16.9% Data sourced from the Office for National Statistics – Atmospheric emissions
There are a lot of controversies currently surrounding vaccinations or at least whether or not they can and should be required by businesses in the U.S. Around the globe so-called vaccine passports as well as mandates have sparked protests and serious conflict. In the U.S., now many employers have said they will require their employees to have a COVID-19 vaccine before they return to work. Major companies like Walt Disney World have announced the requirements, and now, a lot of private companies also say they’re going to ask customers to show proof of vaccination as well. In New York City, it was just announced that vaccine passports would be required to go into certain businesses and venues. As the first city in the country to require proof of vaccination, Mayor DeBlasio said it would apply to indoor dining, gyms, and performances. You would have to show your CDC vaccination card or use the state’s Excelsior Pass. The Mayor spoke at a press conference saying his objective was to increase vaccinations rather than reverting to old methods like mask mandates. Despite that, public officials are once again urging even vaccinated people to wear masks in indoor locations. Many are questioning what rights businesses have in these situations. Companies are accustomed to facing issues of liability, but this is somewhat uncharted territory. For example, questions might arise about what would happen if you didn’t require employees and customers to get vaccinated and then someone became sick. Could employees and customers potentially make a personal injury claim against a business? There are some things we don’t know yet, at least as far as how they might play out in future legal cases, but the following are some of the things we do know about businesses and vaccines requirements. Current Mandates Larger employers are starting to work to take steps to either require their employees to get vaccinated or if not, get regularly tested for COVID. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced a mandate for health care workers, and President Joe Biden also announced his administration requires federal employees to be vaccinated or get tested. Vaccine Passports A vaccine passport is a document showing that someone has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. These are used to regulate international travel in some cases or to prevent unvaccinated people from entering certain spaces. States like New York and Hawaii already have some form of a vaccine passport, in that residents can upload their vaccine credentials and then access and show them digitally. In general, private employers might be able to require a COVID-19 vaccine or a passport program unless there is something in state or local law preventing them from doing so. There is not anything in the federal law right now that prevents an employer from mandating COVID-19 vaccines in their business. The EEOC recently updated their technical assistance to specify that under federal law, employers can require all employees who enter the workplace be vaccinated for COVID-19. They do have to make reasonable accommodation and keep disparate treatment considerations in mind, however. A recently dismissed district court lawsuit was brought by hospital employees who were required to vaccinate as a condition of their employment. The court rejected the employees’ argument that the requirement would violate federal statute regarding emergency use authorization and the federal regulation about informed consent for human subjects. In that case, the court also went on to say that the vaccine requirement was in line with public policy. By contrast, it’s very possible that state and local laws can prevent you from requiring vaccines. For example, there’s at least one state that prevents employers from refusing employment or discriminating against someone due to vaccination status. If it’s something you’re considering, you need to make sure you comply with state and local laws. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order in April that prevents businesses from asking customers to show proof of vaccination to receive service. Incentives Could Be Another Option If you have a business, but you don’t necessarily want to require employees to get a vaccine, another way to compel them could be offering incentives. This may seem more appealing and less controversial to your employees. According to guidance from the EEOC, an employer can incentivize an employee to confirm their vaccination status voluntarily, but there are limitations. For example, an employer can’t incentivize an employee in exchange for their family member getting vaccinated by the employer. Also, if someone can’t be vaccinated because of a disability or religious belief may be able to seek accommodation that would then entitle them to the same incentives that you offer to other employees. Ask Your Employees Their Thoughts There’s a lot for businesses to think about right now. As was touched on, it’s not just their employees they’re thinking about requiring to be vaccinated. Several high-end restaurants in New York City announced they would require customers to be vaccinated for indoor dining, even before the city’s large-scale announcement. If you aren’t sure what’s right for your employees and your business, consider asking them. It’s a good time to conduct a survey and ask for feedback on what people’s attitudes about vaccination are right now. Could FDA Approval Help? Some businesses say they’re going to wait until there’s at least one vaccine with full FDA approval before they require it. Currently, the three available vaccines in the U.S. only have emergency use authorization. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found three in 10 unvaccinated respondents said they’d be more likely to get it if there was one approved. The labor market is challenging for employees on the flip side of all of this right now, and many employers are having a hard time finding workers. That’s leaving them to think that maybe it’s not the right time to add an additional hurdle for employment. As far as the legality, it’s largely legal to require your employees and even your customers to get vaccinated, but that doesn’t mean it’s the
A tension fabric structure is an architectural design that consists of a framework which deals with the tension part and a cover, which is typically made of fabric, hence the name. The rigid framework serves as the primary architectural support for the entire structure, while the fabric serves as the cladding or covering. Although it has only become prevalent lately, its concept isn’t new by any means. It’s been around for ages, as evident with the existence of tents, a structure that uses the same concept as tension fabric structures. You set up the tent poles (framework) and stretch them over so the cover can spread and create the overall design. Due to their ability to withstand severe weather conditions, they became the perfect fabric structures for industrial use. Unfortunately, much like tents, setting up tension fabric structures can be pretty challenging, especially if you’re not as knowledgeable of its concept. But that’s not to say it’s impossible to figure it out. Read on to learn how to install tension fabric structures. Designing The Structure Before anything else, the team would have to go through the design phase. This is where you would make the important decisions. In this phase, you’ll have to determine the pattern and shape of the entire tension fabric structure. Naturally, your decision would affect the actual installation process. You’ll also have to decide what materials you’ll be using for the framework, although you most likely would use steel for that part. The same goes for the fabric, and you’ll often find yourself choosing from the following options: Laminated polyesters Polyesters coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Woven fiberglass coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Manufacturing The Components As you may already know, each structure consists of components with varying shapes and sizes. That’s why only after you or the project manager decides on the overall setup of the structure can you start manufacturing the components. Usually, you have to use precision production equipment such as laser cutting to weld and shape the components of the tension fabric structure. It’s also essential to apply coating on the surfaces of these parts. Once these are available, installation should now be possible. But of course, you must first ensure that the construction area is safe both for your workers and the general public. Stage The Area Before the actual installation, you must first arrange the area for public safety. You can do this by placing fences, placing signs, etc. Your crew may also tear down existing structures if they’re on the way, given that you were already given permission. Once that’s done, the work zone should now be safe to work on, and the installation will officially begin Establish The Support Structures The first part of the actual installation process is the placing of support structures, more specifically, the steel framework. These are usually erected by the crew manually, but you may use lifting equipment depending on the size. This part is perhaps the easiest part of the installation process, but if you encounter difficulties, using cables would be the best next step. Laying Out Cables Regardless of the shape you want the tension fabric structure to take, cables would always play a significant role in the architecture. This is mainly because it maximizes the safety around the work area and serves as a support or supplement for the steel framework. Although there are different kinds of cables, all of them serve as a way to add stability while preventing any accidents when deploying the fabric cover, which would be the next step. Deploy The Fabric Cover Once the steel frame and cables are laid out in a predetermined location, the staff will add a film or fabric covering. There are several ways to deploy the fabric, but it’s important to always handle it with care since they can be fragile before the tensioning process. Furthermore, fabrics are affected by the wind, so the crew must be skilled to handle the deployment of the membrane. The structure may not look much after this step, but it should come together once you tension the fabric. Tensioning The Fabric Tensioning is the process of stretching something, and in this case, tensioning means stretching the fabric to achieve the desired results. This is perhaps the most challenging step of the entire process since you’ll have to make sure you stretch the fabric in all directions with the same intensity. By doing this, you can prevent wrinkles from forming on the fabric. Of course, even after this step, there would still be some issues with the final result. Final Words After completing each step, the crew must conduct a final inspection and quality assurance to ensure everything is in place. Usually, during the final touch – up, the staff will clean the fabric or remove slight wrinkles. Doing so can not only improve the aesthetics of the fabric cover, but also ensure the highest durability of the structure.
Work has commenced on a new £9.5million health centre to help support the delivery of locally integrated healthcare services. Hadrian Health Centre is another step toward improving health and community services for those that live in the Wallsend and surrounding areas. The new centre, which will become the new home for Park Road Medical Practice and Portugal Place Health Centre as well as a range of community health services for more than 20,000 patients, is set to transform healthcare services in the area when in opens in Summer 2022. Located next to the Forum Shopping Centre, the new building is being built to modern, environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art specifications. It will include both consulting and treatment rooms, light and airy spaces for patients and dedicated training areas as well as offering convenient links to public transport. The two practices will be able to share resources and work more flexibly, offering extended opening times to patients, whilst more doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals will be able to receive training within the building. Dr Kerry Burnett, GP from Park Road Medical Practice, said: “We’re all so excited to see that work on our new health centre is getting underway. “Not only will it make it easier for patients to access a range of services all in the same building but the new centre is also located just a few hundred metres from the old surgeries.” Dr Nathalie Ellis, GP from Portugal Place Health Centre, said: “The practice is really looking forward to moving into the new building. “Providing the best possible service to those in our communities has always been our top priority and having this new health centre will certainly help us continue to do this well into the future.” North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group, clinical chair, Richard Scott said: “As North Tyneside’s population continues to grow, this new health centre will mean the practices can continue to meet the ever-increasing health and care needs of patients in what is going to be a fantastic new building for local people.” Community services operated by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust which currently operate from within Wallsend Health Centre, will also move into the new health centre. These include: district nursing, mental health concern, talking therapies, neuro rehabilitation/physio, podiatry, speech and language therapy and office administration. Teresa Creighton, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s deputy director of community services, said: “This new health centre, right in the heart of Wallsend, will ensure patients will be able to access a range of primary care and community healthcare services all under one roof and it will be easy for them to get there with nearby transport links. “This is an excellent example of how we can integrate healthcare services and ensure that patients are at the centre of delivering this care.” It is anticipated the new building will take 15 months to complete and is being funded by Assura, the national primary care premises specialist who will also work as the practices’ long-term premises partner. Andrew Cooper, Assura, Senior Development Manager, said: “As ever, this is a real team effort and the whole project team including the practices, CCG and Trust are excited to finally bring forward this transformational development that will benefit the whole community in Wallsend.”
A report commissioned by the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has highlighted the crucial role played by building ventilation in reducing the risk of Covid-19 and other infections, but it misses some crucial practicalities, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). The report, which was produced by the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) – a group of 43 professional engineering organisations led by the Royal Academy of Engineering – revealed flaws in the design, management, and operation of buildings. It advised Sir Patrick that, unless these flaws were addressed, they could disrupt the management of this and future pandemics, impose high financial and health costs on society, and constrain the UK’s ability to address other challenges including climate change. However, BESA said the problem was that many buildings were designed in a way that made it very difficult and sometimes cost prohibitive to fit the systems needed to achieve adequate ventilation. It said the government should link its ambitions for climate change mitigation and sustainability to work on ventilation and overheating in buildings and consult with all parts of the engineering and construction sectors to get a joined-up solution. “It is very positive that the government’s top scientist recognises the importance of raising standards of building ventilation to deal with this and future pandemics, but he is only getting part of the picture,” said the Association’s head of technical Graeme Fox. Solutions “The knowledge of professional institutions is hugely valuable, but unless they align their theoretical expertise and design philosophies with industry practitioners who operate at the sharp end and know what it is achievable, we will not be able to deliver the solutions the country needs,” he added. BESA said building designers needed to consider practical measures like allowing enough space in ceiling voids to add or improve mechanical ventilation systems. Enabling access for maintenance purposes, cleaning ventilation ductwork and fitting or renewing air filters were other crucial factors often overlooked during design and fit-out phases. The Association also highlighted the recent report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which warned that many new buildings were being developed without adequate adaption measures, which means they would be prone to overheating as our climate warms up. The CCC identified overheating in buildings as a major climate change risk and health emergency in 2016, but since then 570,000 new homes had been built without climate adaption measures and a further 1.5 million were due to be built in the next five years. Fox said there were more than 2,500 heat-related deaths during the 2020 heatwave in England, which was higher than at any time since records began, and that the CCC expected heat related deaths to treble by 2050. “The government needs to understand the concept of a sustainable built environment in the widest sense,” he said. “Sustainability is not just about carbon and energy saving, it is also about ensuring that the facilities we build and refurbish are able to sustain human activity in the long-term while also safeguarding health, well-being, and productivity. “It is highly possible that a huge proportion of the homes and commercial buildings being designed now will no longer be inhabitable in a few years’ time because they are too difficult to cool and ventilate.” BESA has recently released new technical guidance to help contractors deliver indoor air quality (IAQ) solutions to transform existing buildings into ‘safe havens’ for people including how to minimise the risk of transmitting diseases via airborne particulates. “The vast majority of the work needed to create safe and healthy indoor spaces will be retrofit and so we need a strong focus on low cost, practical measures that can actually make a difference to people’s lives,” said Fox. “Professional institutions should not be expected to provide that kind of work on their own. This requires a joined-up approach from the whole construction and building engineering supply chain.” Consistency The RAE report: ‘Infection Resilient Environments: Buildings that keep us healthy and safe’ called for the plugging of skills and knowledge gaps and criticised the lack of building management consistency in healthcare settings. It added that investment in research and development was needed to clarify acceptable minimum standards for ventilation to support regulation by Local Authorities and others. “We welcome the report and agree with many of its findings, but it only goes so far,” said Fox. “We have a big job to do in defining what we mean by the skills required to tackle the major health threat to people posed by buildings that have been designed to trap heat in order to minimise energy use. “If you design tight you have to ventilate right and, unfortunately, our members come across buildings that have locked in air quality and overheating problems on a daily basis. This also needs to be explained to government at the highest level so that investment can be targeted in the right areas.” www.theBESA.com/iaq