Offsite manufacturer Rollalong has been approved by NHBC Accepts, the industry standard accreditation scheme for the residential housing sector provided by the National House Building Council. Rollalong is the largest permanent offsite manufacturer in the south of England and is now one of only two modular manufacturers in the UK using light gauge steel
A proposal for a transformative scheme including 366 new homes and commercial space in the heart of Wolverhampton’s historic Canalside Quarter has been approved in principle today. The £65M proposal directed by build-to-rent developer Placefirst is for an ambitious residential scheme, to be located close to Wolverhampton’s new £150m transport
In the past, companies offering services like construction didn’t have to do very much to market themselves. People would choose a company local to them, relying on the builders and other construction professionals they could access to do the job. This has changed in the modern world, though. There is
Slips and falls are among the leading causes of injuries at workplaces, comprising the largest part of compensation claims. The nature of injuries people suffer from these accidents can be minor or severe. It could include head injuries, lacerations, sprains, and broken bones. Numerous situations can cause slips and falls
Population-dense communities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, remain at risk of a major earthquake because of their location on the joint between tectonic plates. The San Andreas Fault has remained a potential disaster area for centuries and result in persistent small earthquakes. State and Local Governments in California
Over the last 15 years, the stock of private rented residential property has grown faster than owner occupied homes, as the rental market has gone from strength to strength. A fifth of the UK population now lives in private rental accommodation – that’s 4.7 million households and twice the proportion
WorkSpace secures initial project pipeline of £12.7m across fit-out, build and facilities management. Up to 20 new full-time permanent jobs expected to be created. One of the UK and Ireland’s leading and longest established construction companies has launched a new, dedicated, fit-out led division in response to market opportunities throughout the UK
Curtain walling, windows and doors feature on a 33-storey apartment tower. High performance building façade products manufactured by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer were specified to handle the challenging wind loads on Birmingham’s tallest exclusively residential tower block. Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained and capped curtain walling, complemented by AA®720 top-hung ventilator windows
Established over 20 years ago, Bayram is a market leading timber processor and manufacturer, and a key supplier into the UK caravan, leisure home and garden sectors. Operating from a 17 acre site in Melton, East Yorkshire, the business has annual sales of £30 million and employs over 160 people.
In a post-Covid world, governments are being urged by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to implement deep building renovation and performance standards for newly constructed buildings into pandemic recovery packages. While reducing energy demand and carbon emissions through the use of natural construction materials, greater insulation and renewables will be
Offsite manufacturer Rollalong has been approved by NHBC Accepts, the industry standard accreditation scheme for the residential housing sector provided by the National House Building Council. Rollalong is the largest permanent offsite manufacturer in the south of England and is now one of only two modular manufacturers in the UK using light gauge steel which have achieved this accreditation. NHBC Accepts is NHBC’s comprehensive review service for innovative products and systems. It is the fast-track route for acceptance for building products and systems used in homes covered by all NHBC warranty products. The accreditation allows Rollalong to register the modular homes manufactured offsite at its factory in Dorset with NHBC for a full 10-year warranty. “This is a tremendous achievement by our team and I’m so proud and delighted by the news,” said Steve Chivers, Managing Director of Rollalong. “System approval by NHBC Accepts gives us an advantage and will help to cement our position as a significant player in the residential housing market.” The Rollalong HDA System is an offsite, volumetric method of building houses based on light gauge steel structures. Floor, ceiling and wall elements are assembled together in the factory to create modules which are fully fitted out with fire linings, thermal insulation, breather membrane, windows and doors. The modules are then installed on site on a prepared foundation, the roof is added and connections are made to the previously installed drainage and utilities services in the ground. Rollalong was established in 1932 and has built up an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality buildings in the defence, residential, education and healthcare sectors.
A proposal for a transformative scheme including 366 new homes and commercial space in the heart of Wolverhampton’s historic Canalside Quarter has been approved in principle today. The £65M proposal directed by build-to-rent developer Placefirst is for an ambitious residential scheme, to be located close to Wolverhampton’s new £150m transport Interchange on land off Lower Horseley Fields in the city centre. The development will deliver the first phase of a canalside community as part of a major regeneration project in the area, providing a mix of townhouses, new build apartments and commercial space across five acres of brownfield land. The ambitious scheme, which will include the sensitive restoration of heritage canalside properties such as Union Mill, and major bio-diversity and environmental improvements, is designed by award-winning architecture practice jmarchitects with WSP as planning and heritage consultants. Planning permission is subject to the resolution of matters of detail, conditions and a s106 agreement. Placefirst aim to commence construction later this year. The proposed development will regenerate this historic canalside location, creating a new promenade, public open spaces, landscaping and the restoration of listed buildings. New pedestrian access to the canal towpath will be provided as well as commercial space for post-covid working practises to be supported. Build-to-rent developer Placefirst has worked collaboratively with the City of Wolverhampton Council and other stakeholders such as Canal and River Trust and West Midlands Combined Authority, as well as holding an online public consultation ahead of submission. David Mawson, chief executive for Placefirst commented: “We are thrilled to receive planning approval in principle for the commencement of this extensive, transformative development in Wolverhampton’s Canalside Quarter. This will be our first Midlands development and we are proud that it is situated on such a historic location where we can unearth the true potential of this brownfield area. “The vision for this waterside development, like with all of our residential proposals, is more than to build new homes, but also to create a thriving community in the heart of the city centre, providing a real alternative to homeownership where people will love to live. We look forward to the commencement of the project and welcoming residents to the area.” Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “The approval in principle of these plans bring the transformational Canalside vision a step closer to reality. “They will deliver a nationally significant development that not only brings back into use a large parcel of brownfield land but also enables the city to take advantage of our fantastic waterways and the heritage that comes with it. “The Placefirst scheme will also generate around 150 jobs and a boost our economic recovery from Covid-19. “Urban living forms a critical part of how we are re-imagining our city centre and will help us meet the increasing demand for housing. “Canalside is a large and exciting opportunity that will require determined and skilful leadership with our partners to realise the opportunity.” For further information on Wolverhampton’s Canalside Quarter, please visit https://placefirst.co.uk/.
In the past, companies offering services like construction didn’t have to do very much to market themselves. People would choose a company local to them, relying on the builders and other construction professionals they could access to do the job. This has changed in the modern world, though. There is more competition in this sort of field than ever before, with companies taking to the web and using advanced marketing methods that enable them to have their voices heard. Thankfully, you have all of the tools you need at your disposal to take advantage of this for yourself. To help you out, this post will be exploring an all-round approach to construction marketing, giving you the chance to beat the competition. Physical Marketing Physical marketing is the method that most construction companies would rely on in the past, but this doesn’t mean that it can’t have value in today’s world. In fact, many people still choose their construction companies based on marketing like this, giving you the chance to reach a surprisingly wide audience. The is great for approaching demographics who usually don’t spend much time online. Leaflets/Flyers: Paper marketing tools have long been a popular choice for construction businesses. Whether you choose to pop these through people’s doors, leave them in retail businesses, or hand them out to customers, this can be a great tool for construction companies trying to get their name out. Signs & Vehicles: Signs on scaffolding and around your construction projects will be seen by a lot of people. You can also put signs on your vehicles, providing you with a practically free marketing option that will get the word out no matter where you go. Business Cards: Business cards are another option that has been popular for a long time, offering the chance to put your name into the pockets of potential clients. Once they decide to go with your services, they will be able to get the card out and call you, rather than having to find you online. As you can see, you have plenty of options to choose from with your physical marketing. You have a great opportunity to get your business into the world when you use methods like this, and you don’t need to spend loads of time and money on it in the process. Digital Marketing While physical marketing is important, few things will be as crucial as digital marketing for your construction company. This set of options allows you to reach as many people as possible, giving you the chance to work for those who wouldn’t usually see your physical marketing efforts. The vast majority of work like this will take place online. Your Website: It’s just about essential for construction companies to have a website in the modern world. No matter what you do, you need to have somewhere for customers to find you online, and this site needs to be well-built. SEO: Search engines can provide a lot of organic traffic once you build up your SEO. This can take a long time, though you can make this easier by using tools like Google My Business. Getting yourself into searches as soon as possible can limit the need for paid advertising. Social Media: Social media has long been a great place for businesses like those in the field of construction. Not only do you get the chance to post for free, but you can also use personal accounts to spread the word to friends, family, and other local people. Directories: Online directories like Yelp have been in place for a long time. These sites are often used by people looking for businesses, and construction is no different. You can add your business to many directories for free, though you should try to use different content for each of them. Email Campaigns: Email marketing campaigns are seldom used by construction companies, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t have a place. Your website offers a good place to get people to sign up for newsletters and other email options, and this can be a good way to gain more interactions. Influencers/UGC: User-generated content has exploded in popularity over the last few years, with many social media users using the businesses that are shown on profiles that they like. Digital marketing will usually take more work than physical marketing. This is thanks to the time that it takes to keep making new content and the monitoring that goes into it. A good digital marketing agency can help you with work like this, providing you with the means to push your marketing further than ever before. Options like this can be great for construction teams that don’t have the time to spend on their marketing efforts. Indirect Marketing Indirect marketing isn’t an area that you have to put any work into, as long as you treat your customers well and give them quality construction services. Word of mouth is a great example of this, with many construction companies being able to gain most of their customers through the words that their old ones use. Of course, though, you can’t rely on this alone in the modern age. Alongside word of mouth, reviews have also become a popular way for people to choose the companies that they work with. Google reviews are very good for this, and you can encourage the clients that have successful products to leave reviews so that you can build a good platform. You can even show off your reviews on the website that you use. As you can see, construction companies have a lot of marketing options available to them in the modern world. You can use all of these methods to find success, but it can also be worth exploring different ideas to make sure that you have every possible avenue covered. The more work you do on your marketing, the higher your chances of success will be down the line, which is well worth the work.
Slips and falls are among the leading causes of injuries at workplaces, comprising the largest part of compensation claims. The nature of injuries people suffer from these accidents can be minor or severe. It could include head injuries, lacerations, sprains, and broken bones. Numerous situations can cause slips and falls to occur at the workplace. These range from greasy or wet floor surfaces, uneven floor surfaces, and loose flooring, to electrical cables or cords, uneven or missing floor tiles, damaged ladder steps, cluttered walkways, and even ramps that are not fitted with skid-resistant surfaces. While it may not be possible for companies to eliminate jobsite injuries that result from slip and falls accidents completely, there are several steps they could take to reduce the risk of injuries. The most critical of these steps is to adopt a proactive approach to managing the workplace environment, as opposed to a reactionary one. Below are specific actions companies or businesses can take to reduce slip and fall accidents at the workplace: 1. Install Handrails On Stairways Most fall accidents in the workplace happen on stair cases. As such, companies are encouraged to take extra precautions to reduce the risk of employees getting injured due to slip and fall accidents. Some of the preventive measures companies can take to prevent accidents include illuminating staircases well and ensuring they’re free of obstacles or unsecured objects such as carpets or rugs that can cause people to trip and fall. Furthermore, companies should ensure stairways are fitted with handrails in line with OSHA walking and working surfaces checklist. The stairways should also be marked clearly at the top and bottom points using reflective tape to highlight inform employees and customers of potential problems. This makes them easy for employees and customers to spot. 2. Avoid Wet Or Slippery Floor Surfaces Slippery floor surfaces are the most common cause of slips and falls. At the workplace, majority of these accidents occur in food preparation areas, sidewalks, and parking lots. The reason why slips and falls are likely to occur on outdoor surfaces is the fact that traction in these areas changes considerably any time the weather changes. Even so, the outdoor situation will quickly affect the indoor floor surface, because outdoor moisture is sucked into the room by pedestrian traffic. To manage the situation, companies should adopt control procedures including keeping repairing and maintaining cleanliness on sidewalks and parking lots, removing ice and snow, and the use of anti-skid paint or adhesive striping material on outdoor floor surfaces. Some control measures businesses can take to ensure indoor floor surfaces aren’t wet nor slippery and must include placing moisture-absorbing mats at entrance points, displaying ‘wet floor’ signs, and placing anti-skid adhesive tape on most affected areas. Businesses can also place mats or rugs on food preparation areas and ensure spills are cleaned up immediately to keep floor surfaces dry and safe. 3. Remove Obstacles From Walkways And Aisles When placed on aisles, corridors, stairways, and walkways, clutter, equipment and other materials obstruct people and result in falls. To prevent this, adopting proper housekeeping practices in areas that have traffic is an effective way of preventing falls. To ensure that this happens, companies should adopt policies and procedures that stipulate cleaning and clearing of work environments, particularly where waste or scrap materials are byproducts of workplace operations. Specifically, companies should maintain cleanliness and orderliness in all passageways, service areas and storerooms, remove stringing cables, cords or air hoses from hallways and aisles, and encourage employees to adopt safe work practices like closing cabinet drawers and picking loose items from floors. 4. Ensure Proper Lighting In Workplaces Poor lighting in workplaces has been associated with rising accidents, particularly falls, in workplaces. Companies to enhance the safety of employees in their premises by ensuring that walkways, hallways, construction sites, basements, ramps, and dock areas are properly illuminated. Encourage employees to always turn on the lights immediately when entering a dark room, and work-related injuries can also be avoided. Companies should see to it walkways are poorly lit and are clear of any obstructions and clutter with easy access to light switches. Any faulty wires or switches should also be repaired immediately to facilitate property lighting in the work area. 5. Encourage Employees To Get Proper Footwear Shoes play an important role in preventing slips and falls at the workplace. As an important components of personal protection equipment, the type of shoes employees wear to work can either aggravate workplace injuries or reduce them significantly. To prevent slips and falls, companies should evaluate the kind of heels required for the workplace environment as well as the slickness of shoe soles. As a matter of fact, companies should make it a practice to evaluate footwear needs anytime a fall-related injury occurs to determine whether the shoes contributed to the accident. This information should be used to either improve the kind of footwear that companies issue employees as part of personal protection equipment or advice employees on the kind of shoes they’ll require. Employees should also be encouraged to tie shoelaces correctly to prevent trips and falls. 6. Installing Signage And Providing Step Ladders Another way for companies to reduce slip and fall accidents in the workplace is to place clear signs in potential accident areas to alert employees and customers. Important signage that informs people of steps, uneven ground, gaps, slippery floor, or loose rocks can go a long way in raising awareness of potential hazards and increasing attentiveness in the workplace. In addition, companies can provide employees with convenient step stools or ladders so that they can reach heights safely, thereby minimizing injuries caused by falls and slips. Making these supportive options available to them make sure they don’t rely on unstable tables, chairs or desks reach such heights. Final Thoughts Injuries resulting from slip and fall accidents are common in workplaces. However, companies can reduce them by taking proactive measures to raise awareness about them among employees and customers and increase
Population-dense communities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, remain at risk of a major earthquake because of their location on the joint between tectonic plates. The San Andreas Fault has remained a potential disaster area for centuries and result in persistent small earthquakes. State and Local Governments in California and other earthquake-prone areas have embarked on a soft story retrofit program designed to protect multi-story buildings. Understanding the importance of retrofitting a soft tory structure is the first step towards making a property safe for its inhabitants. What is a Soft Story? Structure Magazine points back to the 1989 earthquake in the Bay Area as the point when concern over soft-story structures began. The city is made up of wood-framed buildings that include numerous garages, lobbies, and open-plan spaces. When the 1989 earthquake struck the Bay Area, San Francisco officials believes the relative strength of its wood-framed structures would protect against the excessive shaking. The reality of the earthquake was much different, with the expensive marina area of the city seeing large-scale damage because of the garages positioned below living areas. Parking garages located underneath homes allowed the base of the property to become unstable during an earthquake. The problem was not limited to expensive properties in the San Francisco Marina area but included multi-family dwellings with a lobby or parking beneath. The concern among state and local construction experts was the inability of structures to withstand the excessive shaking of an earthquake. Soft story structures tend to be unstable because they lack lateral support across open spaces on the lower floors. If a soft story is not retrofit to help it withstand the shaking of an earthquake, it is in danger of collapse. Start with an Inspection Asoft story retrofit is completed to the standards laid down by city and state officials. The use of published standards makes it easier for a specialist construction company to ensure they meet the exacting demands of their customer and the building code. A property owner concerned about the long-term stability of their home or office space should start with an inspection by a seismic specialist. A specialist will be able to complete a survey of the property and determine whether the structure meets local structural codes. A property 9in need of a retrofit will be passed into the hands of designers and construction specialists in seismic retrofitting. The Available Options City and State building codes provide options about the best ways of retrofitting a soft story structure. There are several options open to a property owner and their design team for adding strength to soft story’s when earthquake damage is a risk. Several of the recommendations from local building codes are unsightly and unwanted by property owners. The unsightly options include boarding up picture windows and adding exterior braces for more support during an earthquake. The unsightly nature of exterior braces has led to several innovations in design, including the use of a steel frame within soft story’s. Seismic retrofit experts have discovered there are several simple ways of improving the strength of a structure, including the use of plywood in place of the drywall sheets on the interior of a property. What Type of Buildings are at Risk? A common mistake among property owners is to believe only multi-family homes are at risk of problems caused by soft-story structures. The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection reports there are several commercial spaces with the potential for collapse or major damage should an earthquake strike. Restaurants and office spaces are at particular risk because of their open-plan design that limits the use of strengthening walls and beams when constructed. The buildings most at risk include those constructed before the change in city building codes of 1978. Wooden frame structures classed as type V are classed as the highest risk, with structures including a basement extending above ground level also at risk of collapse. Does a Retrofit Make a Building Earthquake-Proof? For decades, architects and structural engineers have been working to create earthquake-proof buildings. The ability to make a soft-story structure completely earthquake-proof is not with us yet. Using the latest technology, retrofitting a structure will protect it from the long-term damage of the past. Soft-story buildings are required by the building codes of San Francisco and Los Angeles to be at least 80-percent as strong as the floors above following a retrofit. The building code updates of the last decades have helped limit damage and collapse for property owners when an earthquake strikes. The use of a soft story retrofit is required by the building codes of densely populated cities in earthquake-prone areas of the U.S. After completing a retrofit, the property owner will feel confident their property is capable of withstanding an earthquake. Without a retrofit, property owners could face legal problems following the next earthquake to strike some regions.
Over the last 15 years, the stock of private rented residential property has grown faster than owner occupied homes, as the rental market has gone from strength to strength. A fifth of the UK population now lives in private rental accommodation – that’s 4.7 million households and twice the proportion of renters compared to 20 years ago, according to recent statistics. Whereas getting the best from your property investment once meant double digit capital growth, now rental yield has become a significant measure of ROI. And whether you’re a seasoned property investor or a first-time landlord, charging the right amount of rent to give you the best return on your asset can be tough in a crowded, highly competitive market. So, what can you do to make sure your property performs? The trick is to think like a commercial operator, by defining where the greatest demand for your ‘product’ lies, then giving your ‘customers’ exactly what they need. When it comes to achieving the best rental rate for your buy-to-let flat or house, here are some key steps you should take to stay one step ahead of the competition. Who is your target tenant? Finding the right tenant for your rental property is fundamental for business success. It’s not simply a case of finding just anyone who can pay the rent on time. If you have a clear idea of who your ideal tenant would be – low/high income tenants, young professionals, families, students etc – it gives you a much better chance to present the property to attract the target market and maximise the return on your investment. There’s no point styling your executive flat to suit a family if the property and the location are ideally suited for the young professional commuter market, and vice versa. Young professionals are often favoured on account of their independence and financial security, while renting to families tends to be a longer-term arrangement requiring less property management time on the part of the landlord. Paying close attention to the market will enable you to zoom in on the people with the highest level of demand for your property, and who are willing and able to pay top rents. Maintaining your property Unlike traditional financial investments, a physical asset such as a property needs looking after, and this is one of the landlord’s key responsibilities. Your tenants may or may not be interested in carrying out minor DIY jobs, and if they report a problem to you, it’s important that you investigate and take swift action to stop any minor niggles from turning into major building problems. From a loose door handle to a cold radiator, a faulty microwave or a damp patch on the ceiling, it’s never a good idea to let things slide. When you are between tenants and have unencumbered access, use the opportunity to check the property over to make sure it’s in tip top condition for the next contract. Schedule in a professional deep-clean, including window, carpet and oven cleaning, and bear in mind that you can charge tenants for an end-of-tenancy clean if the property has been left in a particularly poor condition. Now is also an excellent time to carry out additional maintenance or refurbishment jobs such as replacing tatty carpets, repainting walls and woodwork or getting the chimney swept. Looking after outdoor spaces If your rental property is a house with a garden, patio or conservatory, your tenants are more likely to be families or high income tenants who appreciate the extra space along with a few home comforts. Don’t make the cardinal mistake of focusing all your upkeep efforts on the inside of the house – the garden is what sets your property apart from the competition and justifies a premium rent! Traditional UPVC conservatories are prone to deterioration with age; they become brittle and the seals become less pliable, which can lead to leaks. You should have them professionally cleaned and serviced every three years or so, as recommended by Fargil, the UK’s leading conservatory valeting company. Decking, garden steps and patio paving can all get wet over time and present a slip hazard. An annual going over with a pressure washer is an effective way to remove the build up of moss and algae. If you have a hot tub or swimming pool, it goes without saying that these should be professionally maintained. Energy efficiency Since April 2018, the Energy Efficiency Certificate (EPC) is a key part of a landlord’s legal energy efficiency obligations – all rented properties must have one. The EPC rating goes from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and can be a big selling point for tenants. If you can show that your BTL property is going to help tenants keep their heating bills down, they will be more inclined to pay a premium price. The Certificate also has a ‘recommendations’ section to suggest improvements that could substantially improve the building’s rating. Low energy lighting, cavity wall insulation and loft insulation fall under ‘lower cost’ recommendations typically budgeted at less than £500 to implement, while higher cost suggestions include boiler replacements. Interestingly, many of the lowest cost measures are actually the most efficient and beneficial for the property, and well worth considering. Consider home improvements If you are planning non-essential home improvement projects such as major renovations or structural work, it’s advisable to assess the likely costs and benefits and scrutinise the numbers to make sure it’s really worth doing. How much downtime is involved where the property won’t be generating income? Will your target tenants appreciate the improved amenity? How long will it take to recoup the investment? If you do want to make improvements, the kitchen and bathrooms should be your first port of call – and this applies whether you’re hoping to attract quality tenants or purchasers. Install a new kitchen with build-in appliances including a dishwasher, and replace the bathroom with a white, modern suite and a decent shower unit. This is
WorkSpace secures initial project pipeline of £12.7m across fit-out, build and facilities management. Up to 20 new full-time permanent jobs expected to be created. One of the UK and Ireland’s leading and longest established construction companies has launched a new, dedicated, fit-out led division in response to market opportunities throughout the UK and Ireland. WorkSpace, part of McLaughlin & Harvey, will offer clients a range of services spanning build, fit-out, facilities management, bespoke joinery, and commercial furniture under one brand. Richard Cheevers, McLaughlin & Harvey Director, said: “The company has built a strong reputation for delivering large scale construction and civil engineering schemes over many years, and recently the directors felt there was a need to create a dedicated division for projects outside the scope and scale of those traditionally associated with McLaughlin & Harvey. “WorkSpace provides a specialist option for what might be regarded as ‘smaller’ projects with a market-leading fit-out capability at its core, but also encompassing build, bespoke joinery, commercial furniture and hard facilities management services. We are delighted to have secured an order book of £12.7m across fit-out, build and facilities management which is a testament to the hard work of our team and the appetite for our offering. “McLaughlin & Harvey has a long-standing heritage stretching back to 1853 with some of the top talent in the industry. We believe WorkSpace can benefit from these undoubted assets to deliver a proposition that combines all of McLaughlin & Harvey’s traditional strengths with the freshness, energy and nimbleness of what effectively is a new enterprise aimed at enabling the company to deliver a full range of right-fit projects of all sizes.” It is expected the new division will create up to 20 new full-time permanent posts in year one, as well as opening up new opportunities for the company’s trusted supply chain. Richard Carron, who has been recruited as WorkSpace Head of Business Development, said: “Whilst our focus will be as a main contractor delivering build and fit-out projects, we believe there is a lot of potential for us to provide high quality integrated packages that also include bespoke joinery, commercial furniture, and aftercare. Our team has extensive experience delivering projects for prestige brands such as M&S, ITV News, NatWest and Charles Hurst Aston Martin and Bentley. We plan to extend our reach further in other key areas such as commercial, hospitality, leisure, education, heritage, and visitor centres.” Referring to the thinking behind the WorkSpace name Richard Carron added: “We wanted a name that would reflect our ability to work in any space; to bring great design concepts to life – whether it’s building, stripping-out, fitting-out, or providing after care.” WorkSpace and McLaughlin & Harvey recently completed a major project at Jewish Care in Stanmore. A unique interior feature of the project was the bespoke wall and ceiling panelling. Each panel manufactured in-house had a unique olive tree design which was CNC engraved and finished with a painted gold leaf. The division has also recently handed over an interior fit-out project at the highly acclaimed Seamus Heaney Homeplace Visitor Centre in Bellaghy, Northern Ireland. Its order book includes work on ITV’s Parliamentary Studios at Millbank, London; ongoing facilities management with M&S throughout the UK; a major FF&E project at a leading English University and a range of other Framework education schemes within Ireland and Scotland.
Curtain walling, windows and doors feature on a 33-storey apartment tower. High performance building façade products manufactured by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer were specified to handle the challenging wind loads on Birmingham’s tallest exclusively residential tower block. Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained and capped curtain walling, complemented by AA®720 top-hung ventilator windows on the first to top floors, with AA®190 TB entrance doors on the ground floor, were specified by Glancy Nicholls Architects for the £30 million 33-storey Left Bank 2 tower. The external façade is constructed of in-situ reinforced concrete frames that were developed over two years by main contractor Wates for developer Regal Property Group, Left Bank 2 is the second tower to feature Kawneer’s aluminium systems at The Bank, between Broad Street and Brindley Place in the city centre. Also funded by real estate investment company Aprirose, Left Bank 2 comprises 217 luxury one to three-bedroomed apartments with private gym, residents lounge and coffee bar, private kitchen and dining room, on-site cycle storage, and secure and private outdoor green space. Featuring 3,580ft2 of ground-floor retail space, it is one of only two residential skyscrapers in the city to measure over 100 metres tall. Left Bank 1 is 21 storeys and features Kawneer’s thermally superior AA®720 windows. Glancy Nicholls’ focus was to respond to the Grade ll listed building that occupies a key part of both the site and its streetscape, and to provide a new public realm link to the adjacent commercial and leisure district. The “brass” building envelope on both towers takes reference from the historical context of the neighbouring Brasshouse building and the site’s brass and metal working heritage. Glancy Nicholls’ Marketing Co-ordinator Sophie Casewell said: “We specified the Kawneer systems for their system performance, particularly in relation to wind loads. “The curtain wall system delivered the required performance to deal with the challenging wind loads on the 33-storey tower, with the site also elevated geographically within Birmingham. The aesthetics of the system also delivered upon the desired design intent.” She added: “The Kawneer glazed elements are a significant element with the façade design and assisted with the aesthetic detailing required. The glass to glass corners maximise daylighting and views across the city. “The client has been very satisfied with the product, with over 70% of the apartments sold by building completion. The glass to glass corner windows were a big selling point and the aluminium material assisted in achieving the client’s sustainable target deliverables.” The Kawneer systems, including AA®100 curtain walling featuring 50mm sightlines, were installed over 18 months by a team of eight operatives from Kawneer-approved specialist sub-contractor APiC UK who also installed the Kawneer windows on Left Bank 1. APiC’s Sales and Estimating Technician Andrew Finn said: “The relationship that was established on the first tower ensured that Wates and Glancy Nicholls had the confidence to proceed on Left Bank 2 using Kawneer products with APiC as their preferred curtain walling sub-contractor.” Left Bank 2 was a finalist in the 2020 Facades Awards UK for Best use of a building facade system using aluminium. Glancy Nicholls have also used Kawneer systems on the St Modwen student residences in Swansea and the John Taylor Free School in Burton.
Established over 20 years ago, Bayram is a market leading timber processor and manufacturer, and a key supplier into the UK caravan, leisure home and garden sectors. Operating from a 17 acre site in Melton, East Yorkshire, the business has annual sales of £30 million and employs over 160 people. The acquisition of Bayram will strengthen BSW’s value-added processing capabilities and further broaden BSW’s product offering and service to customers. Following the acquisition, BSW plans to undertake a significant capital investment program in the Melton site to increase capacity and broaden the capabilities of the business. Geoff Goodwin, Chairman of Bayram, said: “We are proud of what we have achieved at Bayram over the last 20 years and delighted to be selling the business to such a good home in BSW. “Bayram has a strong position within the caravan and timber market, and by being a valued supplier into BSW for many years, we feel this acquisition is hugely positive for our employees, customers and the whole supply chain”. Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW, added: “We are very pleased to be strengthening our position in the value-added timber market by acquiring Bayram. The opportunity to enhance our supply chain and additionally widen our product offering is exciting. “This represents another major milestone in the growth of BSW and provides our customers with a more robust and broader range of products. We are looking forward to drawing on the expertise and knowledge of Geoff, Chris Husband and the whole team at Bayram. I would also like to thank the Endless LLP team for their support in acquiring Bayram.” Bayram will be integrated with BSW Timber Solutions Ltd and will continue to operate from the existing site in Melton. Bayram processes 120,000m³ of machined and further refined timber annually, with the support of 160 colleagues. Bayram supplies bespoke components for many markets including garden, caravan manufacturers; timber merchants; and decking and cladding retailers.
In a post-Covid world, governments are being urged by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to implement deep building renovation and performance standards for newly constructed buildings into pandemic recovery packages. While reducing energy demand and carbon emissions through the use of natural construction materials, greater insulation and renewables will be the way forward, the aspect of fire resilience is often overlooked. It should not be. Losing the materials and building usability in a fire will result in valuable resources taken to rebuild them. A holistic approach that addresses sustainability and fire resilience will be needed to deliver these outcomes with active fire protection playing a key role in this resilience. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report[1], when adding emissions from the building construction industry on top of operational emissions, the built environment sector accounted for 38 per cent of total global energy-related CO2 emissions. Pre-pandemic building emissions from the built environment in 2019 were noted to reach their highest level. Action is needed if we are to meet the aspiration of net zero carbon by 2050. The drive to preserve resources will mean a building will no longer follow the traditional linear model of ‘take, make, dispose’, but would be circular and built with reused materials and/or more organic (bio) materials. Buildings will also be able to be taken apart and deconstructed. Furthermore, a building will need to be flexible and adaptable to the short term whilst being built for the long term when considering its internal use. They will also need to be smart and connected, using sensors to determine efficiency operations and user experience. We will need to consider a building more as a system and an asset where the value is in its efficiency, flexibility and re-usability. Protecting that reusability will therefore become key to a building’s sustained value. Losing the materials and the building usability in a fire will see it taken out of the cycle – the result will be a valuable resource taken to rebuild them and increasing lifecycle costs as was noted by a study by FM Global.[2] Therefore, a holistic approach that addresses sustainability and fire resilience will be needed to deliver these outcomes. This will mean a shift in regulatory thinking too. The pursuit of green For many years now the construction industry has started this journey pursuing sustainable and green construction. This has been supported by government regulations, incentives, certification schemes and the credits within them. One of the most obvious items across Europe is the drive to use more natural products. For example, the use of timber is considered to be more sustainable for certain buildings than other traditional methods of construction. However, we also know these materials burn. High profile fire events have raised questions around the detailing and resilience of buildings where natural products are used as a structural material. There is a clear need for research in this area but also thinking in terms of what this means for long term sustainability. Fires in new buildings with high-level ratings in green certification schemes have occurred. Some have been completely destroyed by fire, meaning their potential saving and green credentials are gone. Valuable resources are needed to recreate them, and their function has been interrupted for several months, if not years. Some see this as a signal that fire safety regulations deliver the wrong outcome for sustainability and others that there is a blind spot in certification schemes. This is neatly illustrated by the Carbon Neutral laboratory in Nottingham, UK which was constructed using mass timber but destroyed shortly before it was completed in 2014. When it was rebuilt following the fire it was in line with regulations; it followed the original design and there was no increase in fire resilience – no active fire protection. The rebuild was showered with shortlisting for awards relating to its green credentials. Somehow the resources lost in the original fire did not matter or count. The original fire was consigned to history and had no bearing on the claims for the efficiency and carbon neutral credentials. Active fire protection does not feature in this discussion. Instead, it is assigned to mirroring the state fire regulations in differing countries where the focus is on safety and limiting conflagration. A recent update on a study from 2015 by the Fire Protection Research Foundation summarises this by looking at the challenges that need further research. [3] Active fire protection Active protection systems such as sprinklers are part of the building system and add to their overall carbon emissions. However, before dismissing active fire protection because of these emissions their benefits need to be weighed. Studies show their benefits in minimising the impact of fire and emissions. [4] A future view of the world wherein protecting the hard-won resources so that they can be used and reused leads to a path where minimising fire incidents will be important. Active protection systems will increasingly make sense for this reason. They will also make sense when thinking of the desire for buildings that can be flexible in use throughout their life. The whole life cost of a building and its value will be tied to both these concepts. That said active fire protection systems will need to continue to adapt to demonstrate their improving whole life costs and sustainability credentials too. This will require adapting test regimes, increased recycling of water and perhaps new technology to improve their already high effectiveness. In a world where sustainability is key, a disposable building will no longer be the ‘right thinking’. I would contend that a sprinklered one will be. For more information visit www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org