The recovery in import volume seen in the second half of 2020 continued in January 2021 with timber and panel imports 12% higher than in January 2020. The volume of solid timber and panel products imported in January 2021 totalled 895,000m3, a 100,000m3 rise from January 2020’s total imports of
The Building Safety Group (BSG) has reported an 84% increase in the number of ‘Working at Height’ breaches occurring on construction sites during the first quarter of 2021. BSG’s latest figures were obtained following 4300 independent site inspections that took place between 1st January and 31st March this year. BGS’s
Edinburgh based architect, Kettle Collective, is calling for architects to be at the forefront of tackling carbon reduction, a sector which contributes up to 39% of the global carbon footprint, after being honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development. This is the second Queen’s Award for Kettle Collective, which
ISPs and contractors are being urged to consider smaller and more remote rural communities under the new £5bn Project Gigabit scheme which was extended earlier this month. The reminder comes from Paul Churm, Fibre Optic Specialist at REHAU, whose organisation is working relentlessly to develop innovative cabling infrastructure products that
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease around the UK, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) advises all companies to be cautious and still adhere to the GGF and Government’s guidance to make sure that employees and customer stay safe. On 12th April, the Government guidance was updated to state that
Global roofing specialist TN International has won BBA approval for its specification range of Börner bituminous roofing systems. Agrément Certificate No: 21/5879 is the first in a series of BBA certificates that cover the manufacturer’s key specification systems, focusing on torch-safe roofing options for both flat and pitched applications as
It is usually said that a bedroom reflects your personality. Therefore a bedroom should be a personal gateway it should be a canvas to represent your favorite collection, feeling, and color. The bedroom should not only be aesthetically pleasing and full of expressions it also should be someplace that helps
Your bedroom can be said to be your own space. It is the place where you sleep,read and stay most of the time. You spend your private time there. It might be reading books, sleeping, dancing, watching TV, doing your chores, or doing any of your favorite activities. So, your
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed that while house prices are currently at an ‘all time high’, they’re yet to surpass their pre-financial crash peaks in all but three UK regions, when taking inflation into account. The average house price across Britain currently sits at a dizzying £253,382
In the event of fire in large, crowded shopping centres, the safety and well-being of anyone inside relies on emergency systems operating for long enough for people to escape. Limbecker Platz, one of the largest shopping centres in Germany, chose Spelsberg’s WKE enclosures to provide adequate fire safety protection to
The recovery in import volume seen in the second half of 2020 continued in January 2021 with timber and panel imports 12% higher than in January 2020. The volume of solid timber and panel products imported in January 2021 totalled 895,000m3, a 100,000m3 rise from January 2020’s total imports of 795,000m3. When comparing January 2021 with January 2020 the statistics revealed that among the individual product categories: Softwood import volumes rose by 22% (530,000m3). Hardwood import volumes fell by 5.5% (38,000m3). Softwood plywood import volumes rose by 24% (82,000m3). Particleboard import volumes fell by 42% (41,000m3) OSB import volumes rose 135% (58,000m3). MDF import volumes fell by 22.5% (60,000m3) The increase in import volumes comes amidst a resurgent housing market, with housing starts up by 26% in England in Q4 2020 as compared to Q4 2019. Exclusively to TTF members, the full monthly report highlights the stories behind these statistics, including a focus on panel product imports over the last five years. David Hopkins, CEO of the Timber Trade Federation, said: “Our latest statistics reflect the determination of our members to match supply to demand, with a growth in overall wood product imports amidst a competitive international market which is keeping supply tight the world over, and a surge in construction in the UK. “This growth is being supported by a buoyant housing market, a government eager to invest, and consumers choosing to spend money saved during the pandemic on home improvements, with some £160 billion saved during the last year.“
The Building Safety Group (BSG) has reported an 84% increase in the number of ‘Working at Height’ breaches occurring on construction sites during the first quarter of 2021. BSG’s latest figures were obtained following 4300 independent site inspections that took place between 1st January and 31st March this year. BGS’s report is a cause for concern as ‘Working at Height’ remains the biggest danger for construction workers. Statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2020 show that almost half of all construction accidents (47%) were from falls from height. There were 40 fatal injuries in 2019/20, slightly up on the 5-year average of 37 per year. 29 of these fatalities were due to falls from height. Over 60% of deaths during working at height involve falls from ladders, scaffolds, working platforms, roof edges and through fragile roofs. No. of Working at Height Breaches occurring on construction sites Q1 2021 The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers and those in control of any work at height activity to ensure that the work is properly planned, well supervised and carried out by competent people. In general terms, being competent to work at height means having the right skills, knowledge, training and experience. The precise definition of competence for a specific job depends on the nature of the work and the equipment being used. “Working at Height is clearly the most dangerous activity carried out in the construction sector” commented Andy Harper, Technical Support Manager at BSG. “We can all do more to ensure that work is properly planned, supervised and conducted by qualified workers who have the required skills for the job in hand. Having the correct control measures in place and assessing the risk is also essential for avoiding accidents. In addition, companies should try to complete as much work as possible from the ground, ensure safe access and egress and importantly, make certain that any equipment used is suitable and designed for that purpose, installed and used by a competent person and inspected as required by the Working at Height Regulations 2005 and relevant guidance”. For further information about the risks of working at height and how to limit risk exposure, please visit the BSG website www.bsgltd.co.uk.
Edinburgh based architect, Kettle Collective, is calling for architects to be at the forefront of tackling carbon reduction, a sector which contributes up to 39% of the global carbon footprint, after being honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development. This is the second Queen’s Award for Kettle Collective, which is one of 205 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise and one of only 17 for Sustainable Development. Previously landing the award for International Trade in 2016, the firm was formed in 2012 with a focus on creating high performance and energy efficient designs. Probably best-known for designing the Falkirk Wheel, design principal Tony Kettle is one of the country’s leading architects and is also behind the River Clyde Crossing bridge, the largest opening cable-stay road bridge in the world, as well as the concept for St Petersburg’s LEED Platinum, low energy Lakhta Centre, Europe’s tallest building. Sustainable design is at the core of everything we do,” says Kettle’s managing director, Colin Bone. “It is a great honour to have been recognised by Her Majesty the Queen for our sustainable design. We set up Kettle Collective to make a difference, not just to the quality of the lives of the people living and working in our projects, but most importantly on making a positive impact to the natural environment on a large scale.” Underpinned by the belief that the space we live in directly influences the quality of our lives, Kettle was set up to create vibrant and sustainable projects. “The design phase is critical to the energy efficiency of any building and designers not only need to prioritise but to innovate if they are going to meet the considerable challenges we face. Through regenerative building and promoting habitats and biodiversity we are actively reducing the impact on the planet.” Kettle is an international business with satellite studios in Dubai and Oman, as well as a presence in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, St Petersburg and Shenzhen. The Middle East is a key market for Kettle, a region where they have designed a number of projects from large urban developments to individual buildings all underpinned by sustainable design. Kettle designed the LEED Platinum, multi award winning Solar Innovation Centre at the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park for the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority which acts as a hub to promote the sustainable energy future, showing Dubai at the forefront of thinking in sustainability. “We continually learn from different cultures and are designing new buildings and communities across the world that are not only truly sustainable in a built environment, but that celebrate the place,” says Tony Kettle. “I am delighted and hugely proud of our team. This is our second Queen’s award and it is significant to win for sustainability, which is the key issue of our time and is a commitment on every project we design. We believe everyone has a responsibility to minimise use of the earth’s valuable resources and maximise use of renewable energy to the reduce the carbon footprint. As a studio we look to create long term value for our clients which will benefit future generations and society as a whole.” Meanwhile, The Hunter Foundation in partnership with the University of Strathclyde is currently developing the Hunter Global Leadership Centre on the banks of Loch Lomond, designed by Kettle Collective. The centre will be Scotland’s first dedicated leadership training centre, designed to be carbon neutral for energy usage and drive social benefit and economic growth. Sir Tom Hunter, philanthropist and founder of The Hunter Foundation, said: “It’s fantastic news that the Kettle Collective has won the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development as recognition of its work leading the sustainability charge. I am particularly pleased at the recognition of Kettle’s impact to climate change, which is now nothing short of urgent to our planet.” Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.
ISPs and contractors are being urged to consider smaller and more remote rural communities under the new £5bn Project Gigabit scheme which was extended earlier this month. The reminder comes from Paul Churm, Fibre Optic Specialist at REHAU, whose organisation is working relentlessly to develop innovative cabling infrastructure products that are designed for longevity and to create efficient installations, halving time and engineer workloads. Paul also warns that the centralisation of the scheme puts smaller ISPs at risk as they will have to bid against each other within each county, potentially causing overbuild in already-congested areas of the UK. Paul said: “Overall the extension of the scheme is welcome news for the industry, but caution needs to be paid to some of the more difficult areas to reach. While local councils are now able to top their vouchers up, the increase is variable between jurisdictions. Businesses will inevitably go for the easy low-hanging fruit, however this voucher should encourage ISPs and contractors to move further out into the rural community. It’s up to the supply chain to make a conscious effort to ensure more of the extreme rural hamlets in the UK are acknowledged and brought up to speed, as well as levelling competition for ISPs.” Local authorities are also now expecting ISPs to build redundancy within new networks to allow for an open-market approach, this is in some cases a pre-requisite for the funding schemes. In which case, REHAU says more innovative installation solutions are required if the UK is to meet its ambitious fibre rollout targets. Paul continues: “More redundancy means more cable, which means more installation time, and ultimately more risk of things going wrong – particularly when situated in large remote areas. Solutions that are robust and easy to install are therefore critical to minimise inconveniences in these scenarios.” Some of the most common barriers to implementing fibre cables in rural locations are long horizontal directional drills or direct bury applications without sand bedding. Micro duct design is therefore an important factor in a fibre installation project, yet designs can vary significantly, either enabling or hindering the installation process. Most micro ducting requires additional materials (i.e. waterproof seals or containers) to cover up connections or break out points, however new generation designs, such as RAUSPEED from REHAU, come with thick-walled micro ducts which means they can go straight into the ground. RAUSPEED’s success in rural areas has already been demonstrated across the continent, with one such success story coming from a project in Switzerland, whereby the micro ducts used produced great blowing-in results in Europe’s highest valley. The project involved installing high-speed optical fibre connections for a remote village located in the mountains. Naturally, this presented unique challenges associated with rural areas, such as the lack of infrastructure and the practical limitations of laying the miles of cable required, through difficult terrain. These challenges were overcome by using a 288-fibre count cable in a RAUSPEED 16/12 micro duct, which achieved a record single blow length of more than 5km. Paul added: “You only have to look at the Switzerland case study, which enabled fibre connections with a length of over 80km, to see that choosing appropriate technology with positive properties proves beneficial for any challenging project. With innovations like this, we hope ISPs and contractors can feel empowered to go beyond the low-hanging fruit of Project Gigabit.” For more information on fibre broadband and REHAU’s telecommunications products, visit: www.rehau.com/uk-en/rehau-uk-telecommunications-and-fibre-networks-fttx
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease around the UK, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) advises all companies to be cautious and still adhere to the GGF and Government’s guidance to make sure that employees and customer stay safe. On 12th April, the Government guidance was updated to state that all retail (including showrooms, garden centres and concession stores) in England is now permitted to open. Wales and Scotland re-opened showrooms earlier in April and in Northern Ireland retail is expected to re-open by the end of April. In the Republic of Ireland Government will re-open retail on 4th May. In addition, the Scottish Government also announced that non-essential work in people’s homes can resume in Scotland from 26th April. The GGF wrote to the Scottish Government regarding this matter in March, urging that this restriction be removed and aligned with the rest of the UK, where working in people’s homes has been allowed since last year. On the news of the restrictions be lifted, John Agnew, GGF Managing Director commented, “It is with some relief for all consumer facing companies that the restrictions are now being eased. With all the Government statistics going in the right direction, the GGF advises all companies re-opening retail premises to operate under the GGF and Government COVID-secure guidance.” James MacPherson, GGF Health, Safety and Environment Manager added, “It’s great to see that the Government testing and vaccination programme are having a significant impact and numbers of cases, hospitalizations and fatalities are coming down. However to make sure that we don’t slip back into another lockdown, it is vital that everyone behaves responsible and takes the necessary precautions. If companies need any support or guidance on this I urge them to utilize the GGF website and check our COVID safe guides.” All companies in the industry can access and download the GGF specific guidance via the GGF website. Please see links below: GGF COVID Safe guides COVID Safe guide for consumers COVID Safe guide for Installers COVID Safe guide for manufacturing and the supply chain
Global roofing specialist TN International has won BBA approval for its specification range of Börner bituminous roofing systems. Agrément Certificate No: 21/5879 is the first in a series of BBA certificates that cover the manufacturer’s key specification systems, focusing on torch-safe roofing options for both flat and pitched applications as well as zero-fall protected roofs such as green roofs. Fire performance and roof safety were key considerations in awarding this certification. For fire resistance, the BBA testing found that, when classified to EN 13501-5: 2016, the Börner systems achieved BROOF(t4) for roof slopes below 10°, the highest fire standard possible in Europe. Fire performance figures are laid out in a clear and concise matrix table to help designers identify BROOF T4-accredited systems. Other key factors assessed for each system included weathertightness, condensation risk, resistance to wind uplift and mechanical damage, and durability, with the anticipated service life certified as being in excess of 35 years. The certificates cover both stone wool and PIR insulations, with a comprehensive range of thicknesses covered to allow architects and specifiers complete design flexibility in achieving the latest U-values. In addition, in the BBA’s opinion, the Börner roof waterproofing systems, if installed, used and maintained in accordance with their individual certificates, satisfy or contribute to satisfying the relevant requirements in relation to NHBC Standards 7.1 Flat roofs, terraces and balconies. The comprehensive certification process included several factors relating to compliance with Building Regulations, as well as other non-regulatory requirements. It also incorporated evidence from independently verified technical specification, assessment criteria and technical investigations, along with design considerations and installation guidance. Environmental considerations were also taken into account during the certification process. Börner membranes are manufactured from bitumen and polyester, both of which can be recycled to help meet specifiers’ and contractors’ sustainability targets. TN International business development director Craig Smith commented: “To have won BBA approval for our key Börner specification systems is testament to the quality of the products and our innovative approach to developing market-leading self-adhesive bituminous technology. We also have further BBA accreditations in the pipeline, so it really is exciting times for our roofing team.” Börner is part of TN International, one of the largest manufacturers of roofing, waterproofing and insulation materials in the world.
It is usually said that a bedroom reflects your personality. Therefore a bedroom should be a personal gateway it should be a canvas to represent your favorite collection, feeling, and color. The bedroom should not only be aesthetically pleasing and full of expressions it also should be someplace that helps you get a peaceful and sound sleep. There are various accessories that you can use to make your bedroom look relaxing and stylish at the same time be it luxurious bedding, relaxing hues, and carefully chosen bedroom accessories all combined with meticulously chosen bed mattresses and pillows will promise you a sound sleep while also making your bedroom marvelous. Your bedroom could be of different sizes and square feet but if you use a little planning and have a little eye for detail you could design a simple and comforting bedroom. But while planning for your bedroom you must also make a comparative analysis of the mattress that you would be sleeping in. If you are a couple then you can choose any of the beds between king beds, queen beds and california king beds. Let’s make a comparison between queen vs king beds as they are the most popular ones. Queen beds dimensions are 60 inches wide and 80 inches long and are comfortable for most of the couples. But couples needing extra space on the bed need not go with this size. King beds on the other hand are 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. They are more spacious than the queen beds and can fit couples with a kid or a pet. So, you can choose the one according to your need. Though a detailed sales process will majorly cover all these aspects it is better to do your homework and know your priorities before the salesman/woman makes you the suggestion. After having a brief understanding of all these issues we have identified some of the ways that will help you decorate your master bedroom more effectively. Choose The Right Furniture Before starting to design your bedroom and starting to buy furniture for your bedroom, you must be aware of the floor plan and measured space of the bedroom. Thus it will help you choose the furniture of the right size. you should be careful with the size of the furniture, buying bulky furniture will make the bedroom feel less spacious. Again too small furniture will be lost in a large bedroom, therefore you must be careful buying the furniture for the bedroom. Your choice of bedroom furniture should reflect your purpose and your style while bringing a comfortable and cozy feel to the bedroom. If you are single then go for either a twin bed or a full bed for comfortable sleep. Get a comparison done to select between full bed vs twin bed. Twin beds are ideal beds for the single people who are less than 6 feet tall and also for the kids. This bed has a dimension of about 38 inches wide and 75 inches long. Full bed, can be used by single adults who want some extra space on the beds while sleeping. Couples, who have smaller space in their rooms and are tight on budget can also use a full size bed but wont find any extra space in between. The dimension of a full size bed is 54 inches wide and 75 inches long. Choose Delicate Color Though colors of the bedroom depend upon your choices it is suggested not to choose bold primary colors and instead settle for calming shades and a restful palette of monochromatic tones gentle touches of lavender green and blue are considered calm and sober. Glittering color might uplift the mood to induce comfort, .but if your favorite is still deep colors it is advisable to use toned-down versions of the same. The Ceiling The ceiling is often considered the fifth wall in a room, and a blank wall without any features or color will never let you achieve the authenticity that you wanted to make your room look like. If you want to add any color a subtle pattern or soft color will look on the ceiling. Another solution to developing the ceilings is to use wallpaper or stencil on the ceilings. You can also use architectural modifications in the ceilings by adding beams or moldings in the ceilings. Adding a chandelier with delicate shade or a molded medallion can bring some inspiration to your fifth wall in your bedroom. Storage Besides being a room that dives into your personality bedroom are also the most personal and intimate space that you would be owning therefore to add the tranquil feeling of the bedroom you have to arrange things that are mostly attached to you sorted and out of sight. You can choose a spacious bedside table with drawers or doors behind which you can hide books, reading glasses, medicines, and other useful amenities out of plain sight but within reach. You can also choose a table with skirting or a dresser with a drawer for more storage. A storage bench at the foot of the bed ct distance acts as a store for linen and bed sheet. A headboard with built-in shelves and sliding panels can be easy storage for books and other accessories. A shallow box underneath the bed hidden with a skirting can also help you store a load of other personal amenities. Keeping It Simple The final result of the bedroom should be that it should look simple, sophisticated, elegant despite the type of decoration you choose to decorate your room with. There should be a minimum of three feet distance between the bed and the side wall or large pieces of furniture and at least two feet distance between the bed and other small furniture. Keep only the necessities in your bedroom: a bed, a bedside table, a dresser, a chair, that should be the most furniture a master bedroom can have. A simple artwork with some family
Your bedroom can be said to be your own space. It is the place where you sleep,read and stay most of the time. You spend your private time there. It might be reading books, sleeping, dancing, watching TV, doing your chores, or doing any of your favorite activities. So, your bedroom needs to have the perfect design and decor according to your choice. Your bedroom has some essential components like bed, wardrobe, fan, false ceiling, table, chair and other furniture and electronic objects. Here are a few points one needs to remember while designing one bedroom Ways To Design Your Bedroom CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOR: The first and foremost thing that one needs to choose is the paint color that you are going to put on your bedroom walls. Experts always advise you to choose subtle colors for your bedroom walls and also if your bedroom is not too big then it is always good for you to choose light and subtle colors then it will make your room look bigger and brighter and give you an airier feel. THE RIGHT FURNITURE: Another essential feature of your bedroom is to choose the right furniture. You must choose the right side of your bed, wardrobe and other furniture also you should keep in mind that all your furniture is of the same color as this will give your bedroom a defined and proportionate look. While keeping in mind the bed one must also think about the mattress, you must know the types of mattresses like latex, innerspring, foam, hybrid, etc. and also along with the type and size one must check the lifespan of the mattress. Latex has the advantage of being a natural cooling mattress with the most durablity, although they can be more expensive. There is one more variety known as the futon mattress. Futon mattresses are a combination of foam and coils and are said to have originated in Japan. They provide significant back support and keep the spine aligned. If you are using a futon mattress like many others, then you must check the lifespan of the futon mattress. They typically last for 5 to 10 years and also on usage. Also, try buying a mattress which has a minimum lifespan of 7 to 10 years and so it is very important to first make your bed and mattress the most comfortable because sleeping is very important and bedroom is the place where one sleeps DON’T NEGLECT THE CEILING: Yes, it’s right that you should not neglect the ceiling because a ceiling is a very important part of your bedroom. A false ceiling with a great design can change the whole outlook of your bedroom as it is like the 5th wall of your bedroom. When you lie down and look at your ceiling it shouldn’t look bland and if you can’t afford a false ceiling then other options are painting it with a light color or adding some wallpapers or architectural designs that will give you a feeling of comfort and intimacy. If you are designing your kid’s bedroom then you can add glowing stars or different shapes to the ceiling. HAVE ENOUGH STORAGE SPACE: It is very important to have enough storage in your bedroom because when things are lying here and there then it gives a very messy and cluttered look so it is always better to have enough storage space in your bedroom. You can have multifunctional storage units like storage shelves along with your bed or dressing table that comes with a chest of drawers or maybe a custom-designed closet which will have a lot of secret storage spaces. CHOOSE THE PERFECT CURTAINS AND COVERS: A great change is made with the look of your bedroom with the curtains you choose. A perfect curtain must match you’re your bedroom walls and there are many types of curtains available in the market nowadays and you must choose the print or design of your curtain according to the needs of your bedroom for example if your bedroom gets too much sunlight which makes the room very hot then you can opt for thick curtains but if you want a curtain which will not take so much space and give your bedroom a modern look then you can go for blinds. ADD MORE LIGHTS IN YOUR BEDROOM: You must add more and more lighting options in your room as it enhances your bedroom very much. It is very good to layer your lighting to make the room look bigger and brighter. For activities like reading books or doing some work on your laptop, you can add small lights or reading lamps for that purpose. FIX YOUR BUDGET: Whether you are designing or redesigning your bedroom you must fix a budget before doing so and this will help you to design your room better. If you are designing it by an interior decorating company then you must first check that the company is genuine. Also, while selecting the props, make sure that the brand is authentic, has proper reputation and has an excellent sales process. DON’T MISS OUT THE SMALL DETAILS: Even after decorating your room you should always keep in mind that even the small things like ea small showpiece or decorating item is very important to enhance the look of your room and also you must keep some indoor plants inside your room as it gives a very earth touch to your room. INCLUDE SOME PRIVATE TOUCH: As said earlier that your bedroom is your private space and so you must include a space to relax and enjoy it can be a cloth swing or a statement couch and if you have some space around your window then you can make a window seat to enjoy the view and sunlight. Also, if the amount is huge for decorating your room, then EMI or monthly payment is reasonable and a very effective option for those who want a lavish decoration but has a shortage
The latest research from Warwick Estates has revealed that while house prices are currently at an ‘all time high’, they’re yet to surpass their pre-financial crash peaks in all but three UK regions, when taking inflation into account. The average house price across Britain currently sits at a dizzying £253,382 according to the latest figures from the Land Registry. That’s 34% higher than the market peak of £189,199 in September 2007, before the worst property market crash of recent times brought the market to its knees. However, while the market is currently running red hot as a result of the stamp duty holiday, the research from Warwick Estates shows that it hasn’t quite reached the same level as 2007. Warwick’s research shows that when adjusting for inflation the average house price of £194,764 prior to the financial crash would be the equivalent of £276,250 in today’s market. This means that the current average property price of £268,291 still sits some -3% below historic highs. The North East is the region currently further off the pace when compared to its pre-financial crash peak of £139,400. While property prices currently sit 1% higher today at £140,606, they are actually -29% lower when taking inflation into account. Scotland (-17%), the North West (-15%), Wales (-15%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (-15%) are also home to some of the lowest property values when accounting for inflation and comparing them to their 2007 peaks. Just three regions are currently home to a higher average house price when compared to their 2007 peaks and when adjusting for inflation. Prior to the financial crash, the average London house price hit £298,596 before the market crashed. Today, this has increased by 69% to £503,308. Even when adjusting for inflation, the current average London house prices sits 4% higher than the pre-financial crash peak seen at the start of 2008. The East of England and the South East have also seen a stamp duty boost push house prices higher than their 2007 peaks. Even after adjusting for inflation, the average house price is now 4% higher in the East of England and 2% higher in the South East. COO of Warwick Estates, Emma Power, commented: “The market is currently performing very well with house prices climbing to historic highs across all areas of Britain thanks to the additional boost of the stamp duty holiday. We’re also seeing market values sit some 34% higher than their pre-financial crash peaks and so the overall market remains in very good health indeed. However, when taking inflation into account, we’re yet to see a full return to form across all regions of Britain and, in fact, homes across just three regions are worth more than their 2007 price peaks when adjusting for inflation. That said, with the market moving at a current rate of knots and likely to do so for the remainder of the year, it might not be long before the entire market surpasses the pre-financial crash peaks of 2007.” Location Date of pre-financial crisis peak Average house price Financial crisis peak – average price inflation adjusted Current peak – date Current peak – average price Nominal change – financial crisis vs current (%) Inflation adjusted change – financial crisis vs current (%) London 1/1/2008 £298,596 £423,677 1/1/2021 £503,308 69% 19% East of England 1/11/2007 £209,624 £297,435 1/1/2021 £309,243 48% 4% South East 1/10/2007 £238,845 £338,896 1/2/2021 £345,075 44% 2% East Midlands 1/9/2007 £159,537 £226,366 1/2/2021 £213,967 34% -5% South West 1/9/2007 £212,666 £301,751 1/2/2021 £279,242 31% -7% West Midlands region 1/8/2007 £165,807 £235,263 1/2/2021 £215,451 30% -8% Yorkshire and the Humber 1/10/2007 £150,233 £213,165 1/2/2021 £182,220 21% -15% Wales 1/8/2007 £150,316 £213,283 1/12/2020 £181,879 21% -15% North West 1/12/2007 £152,427 £216,278 1/2/2021 £184,351 21% -15% Scotland 1/5/2008 £145,641 £198,725 1/11/2020 £164,541 13% -17% North East 1/7/2007 £139,400 £197,794 1/1/2021 £140,606 1% -29% England 1/9/2007 £194,764 £276,350 1/2/2021 £268,291 38% -3% Great Britain 01/09/2007 £189,199 £268,454 01/01/2021 £253,382 34% -6% Data on house prices sourced from Gov.uk – UK House Price Index, based on the house price peak of each region prior to the financial crash and the change between then and the latest house price peak in 2020/2021
In the event of fire in large, crowded shopping centres, the safety and well-being of anyone inside relies on emergency systems operating for long enough for people to escape. Limbecker Platz, one of the largest shopping centres in Germany, chose Spelsberg’s WKE enclosures to provide adequate fire safety protection to vital circuitry that can save lives in the event of fire. While fire prevention plans have greatly contributed to minimise the likelihood of a fire happening in public buildings such as airports, hospitals and shops, the risk cannot be completely eliminated. The percentage of fires in the UK’s shopping centres accounts for 1.7% of the country’s retail fires, which are estimated to be 10.5% of all large loss fires in the UK, according to the Fire Protection Association and the RISCAuthority Large Loss Fire database. The data provided also indicates that the likelihood of fires in malls is equally distributed throughout the day, i.e. the event has the same probability of occurring during a shopping centre’s opening or closing times. Therefore, fire safety is essential and should be supported at all times. In particular, the electrical equipment that supports emergency systems must be adequately protected in the event of fire. In fact, in the event of a fire, electrical systems such as lighting, ventilation, smoke extraction and suppression are vital for saving lives. These systems must be protected from the force of the fire and remain operational long enough for thousands of people to be safely evacuated and for firefighters to extinguish the fire. A shopping centre that has been successful in implementing state-of-the-art fire safety equipment is Limbecker Platz. Built in 2008 and located in Essen, Germany, the mall contains more than 140 retail shops and 25 restaurants across its 70,000 m2 of floor area. With a daily foot traffic of over 50,000 people, the mall requires the highest standards of management to ensure that risks, including fires, are anticipated and covered. Alexandra Wagner, Center Manager at Limbecker Platz explained: “We feel responsible for the safety of our visitors and tenants, and we aim to be well-prepared in case of a real emergency.” Enclosures for optimal electrical functional integrity In order to ensure that electrical installations for emergency systems function safely during a fire, mall managers have to choose between two standard methods of providing fire protection to electrical circuits. The first one consists in encasing the conduits in concrete, mostly within walls; while the second option involves cabling and enclosures that can withstand fire for a prolonged amount of time. The first method presents some limitations. First, it is necessary to design the encasement before the building is erected, therefore any modernisation, inspection or maintenance would require the demolition of the original concrete encasement. Second, while the concrete encasement protects against flame passage, there is no standard identifying how long different concretes may protect an electrical circuit from failure. Finally, this design does not allow for access or visual inspection of conduits and cables should a problem present itself in day-to-day operation. Despite the high quality of fire protection afforded by this option, in many cases the expense and impracticalities make concrete encasement an unviable option. Having reviewed their options, the mall managers at Limbecker Platz chose to follow the second option of specifying fire resistant cabling and enclosures. Solutions that adhere to stringent fire safety regulations are key The next challenge for Limbecker Platz’s managers consisted in finding suitable equipment that would comply with the German standard DIN 4102-12 “Fire behaviour of building materials and elements – Fire resistance of electric cable systems required to maintain circuit integrity – Requirements and testing”. This regulation is considered one of the strictest in Europe and requires all the components of an entire cable system to withstand temperatures of up to 1,000°C and remain operational for at least 30, 60 or 90 minutes. The minimum duration for functional integrity of electrical systems is expressed as an ‘E’ followed by the number of minutes of functional integrity. For example, E60 indicates that the enclosure can resist fire for a minimum of 60 minutes. The intrinsic fire resistance of the electrical components allows the people inside to leave the building and rescue forces to operate. More precisely, the E30 protection is necessary to support safe evacuation and rescue operations. Accordingly, fire alarms, acoustic alerts and other systems used to issue instructions, as well as emergency lighting systems, lifts with fire control and fire extraction systems must remain operational. The E90 is necessary to help during fire-fighting operations. Therefore, the following equipment should remain operational for a minimum of 90 minutes: systems that provide fire suppressing water supplies, fire brigade elevators, as well as mechanical smoke extraction, smoke protection pressure and heat venting systems. In addition to DIN 4102-12, the installations must adhere to the European EN 60670 standard “Boxes and enclosures for electrical accessories for household and similar fixed electrical installations. General requirements”, which provides a number of environmental requirements. For example, the electrical enclosure should feature protection against moisture, dust, corrosion and mechanical stress. Ingress protection classification, in turn, is regulated by the DIN EN 60529 (VDE 0470). In order to address the relevant regulations, the electrical installers for the Limbecker Platz mall project chose to rely on one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electrical equipment enclosures and distribution boards: Spelsberg. Chris Lloyd, Managing Director at Spelsberg, commented: “We are committed to deliver high-quality fire protection enclosures that support businesses like Limbecker Platz and align with their fire protection policies. The safety measures within the mall are advanced, and we are happy to play a part in protecting its visitors and personnel with our quality solutions.” With a long tradition of technical innovation and quality products, Spelsberg manufactures its WKE fire protection enclosures in accordance with DIN 4102-12, i.e. guarantees electrical functional integrity for 30, 60 up to 90 minutes in the event of a fire. Also, Spelsberg’s solutions are certified according to EN 60670 and EN 60529, thus