The rollout of the Next Generation Cat® D5 Dozer has well and truly begun, with customers in Wales setting the pace. Plant hire and construction firms including Gravelle Plant Hire, Locke Brothers, Hywel Llewellyn Plant Hire and Alun Griffiths (part of the CRH Group) took deliveries from Finning UK &
Staffordshire-based handrail and balustrade specialists, SMART Balustrades, has expanded its team as it works towards its ambitious 35% year-on-year growth target for 2021 – following a record year in 2020. Set up by brothers David and Jonathan Hough in 2017, SMART Balustrades has experienced a sustained demand for its specialist
Savills has expanded its building & project consultancy team with the appointment of David Wharton who joins as a director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London. David has more than 25 years’ experience in the property industry as a project manager specialising in industrial & logistics. He
As we approach the thought of a release from lockdown it’s important to consider what may have changed in the dormant buildings whilst we have been away. Whilst the Alpine Service Team have remained 100% operational across the UK some businesses may have taken the decision to pause their planned
Electrical fire is one of the most common sources of residential and commercial fires all over the world. Depending on its severity, it can lead to either minimal damage or a massive property loss. What’s worse, however, is when it takes the lives of hundreds of victims. Sadly, some people
700-bed development is granted planning approval by Nottingham City Council The development aims to be net-zero carbon once open, running on 100% renewable electricity Unite Students, the UK’s leading owner, manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation, has been granted planning approval for a new 700-bed development at Derby Road,
Caddick Construction is on schedule to complete WS50 at Warrington South Distribution Park, off Lyncastle Road, Appleton. Appointed by Mileway, the largest owner of last mile logistics real estate assets in Europe, work has progressed well on the 50,000 sq ft. single storey warehouse. Planning was granted last year with
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a ‘Certificate in International Construction Management’. To reflect the increasingly international nature of the sector and provide construction professionals with the knowledge and skills in global construction management best practice, CIOB has produced a programme on international construction management. The course provides the learner with the skills and knowledge to
This month we ask Seb Bentley at award-winning property developers Kebbell to tell us a little more about a day in the life of a construction apprentice. How long have you worked in the construction industry and what made you want to join? I have been working in the industry
The productivity of a construction team is heavily dependent on their satisfaction and happiness, especially when they’re on the clock. Contractors and worksite managers can do a lot to keep their construction teams happy while they’re working. Let’s check out a few of the best methods now. Use Timecard Apps
The rollout of the Next Generation Cat® D5 Dozer has well and truly begun, with customers in Wales setting the pace. Plant hire and construction firms including Gravelle Plant Hire, Locke Brothers, Hywel Llewellyn Plant Hire and Alun Griffiths (part of the CRH Group) took deliveries from Finning UK & Ireland and quickly put their new machines to work. It’s been just over a year since Caterpillar launched the all new D5 Dozer, the successor to the popular Cat D6N, and the benefits are already clear to businesses across the UK. The new machine offers superior performance, backed by a broad choice of technology features, so operators can really get the most from their bulldozer. With harness added weight and horsepower of 170, it is equipped to take on a wide range of dozing and grading tasks. Improvements to the steering, transmission and balance make it easier than ever for operators to perform high quality work more quickly. One happy customer is Locke Brothers, which bought a new D5 after being impressed with the technology offered as standard and has successfully put it to work. Having purchased its first D4 from Finning in 2004, the D5 marked its first investment in a brand new Dozer. After hiring the machine for a week from Gravelle Plant Hire, who were the first company to purchase the D5 in Wales, Locke Brothers took the plunge and purchased a machine for itself. “The technology blew competitor models out of the water,” said Keith Locke, Director at Locke Brothers. “The value add from Caterpillar and Finning including the five year, 5000-hour warranty, VisionLink connectivity and a Customer Value Agreement that included five services, sealed the deal. We’ve fallen in love with the D5, it has supported us through extremely busy periods of agriculture work.” “We’ve chosen Cat Dozers since 1978 when my late father founded the company — and we still love them today,” said Peter Gravelle, Director of Gravelle Plant Hire, the company that took the first D5 delivery in Wales. “We’ve had great driver feedback on the D5, with operators preferring the larger cab and benefitting from the increased power. We’ve found it is excellent on fuel consumption too.” “The D5 brings all the advantages of the D6N, and then some,” said Iwan Jenkins, Territory Account Manager for the Wales Region at Finning UK & Ireland. “It offers incredible technology, better performance and more durability and uptime, so operators can do more work in less time. It is exciting to watch the D5’s domination of the market taking off in Wales and see how beneficial our Customer Value Agreements are.” The Cat Dozer range is gradually being renamed from smallest to largest — D1 to D11 — so that there is one model per class size. For more information on the D5, click here. If you are interested in hearing more about Finning’s Customer Value Agreements, click here.
Staffordshire-based handrail and balustrade specialists, SMART Balustrades, has expanded its team as it works towards its ambitious 35% year-on-year growth target for 2021 – following a record year in 2020. Set up by brothers David and Jonathan Hough in 2017, SMART Balustrades has experienced a sustained demand for its specialist services – both in the commercial and residential sectors, and the firm’s investment in its team is testament to its commitment to its growth strategy Sukhi Bassi joins SMART Balustrades as a CAD technician and will be responsible for delivering creative and compliant solutions to difficult design challenges, innovative product development and order processing. With an undergraduate degree in Building Survey and a master’s degree in Building Information Modelling for Integrated Construction, Wolverhampton-based Sukhi is well equipped for the role following six years in the balustrades industry. Paul Heston joins the manufacturing arm of the business as production operative and will be working at the firm’s inhouse production facility in Burntwood. With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, Paul will be producing a range of SMART Balustrade products including bespoke glass and stainless-steel balustrades, Juliet and platform balconies, and handrails. On her new role, Sukhi said: “Joining SMART Balustrades at such a pivotal time for the business is very exciting for me. The company is impressive and I like that it has big ambitions for the future. “As its new CAD technician, I’m looking forward to working with the team to streamline our business processes and maintain the high level of customer satisfaction that SMART Balustrades is known for.” Paul said: “As a growing company with excellent standards, SMART Balustrades is a leader within the balustrade industry, and being part of such a high-quality manufacturing team is amazing. I can’t wait to take on this new challenge and part of the journey.” Specialists in handrail and balustrade systems, SMART Balustrades manufactures and installs a range of products for sectors such as education, retail, leisure, and housing. David Hough, managing director of SMART Balustrades, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sukhi and Paul to SMART Balustrades as our team continues to grow. “With Sukhi in the design team and Paul in the manufacturing team, we can better serve our growing volume of customers and work towards our growth targets. Welcome to the team both.” SMART Balustrades is part of the Unitech Group, and it designs and manufactures its products at Unitech Group’s 75,000 sq. ft. production facility in Burntwood, Staffordshire.
Savills has expanded its building & project consultancy team with the appointment of David Wharton who joins as a director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London. David has more than 25 years’ experience in the property industry as a project manager specialising in industrial & logistics. He joins Savills from multi-disciplinary construction consultancy Lysander where he was a director and key account manager for GLP, project managing more than 10 UK schemes for the global logistics developer including G-Park Northampton, Magnitude and Altitude at Magna Park Milton Keynes and G-Park Bedford Wixams. Prior to this he also held positions at Aecom, Jacobs and WSP. At Savills David will join the London development project management team working alongside Will Cooper to bolster its industrial & logistics capability and utilise his connections and expertise to win new business for one of the division’s most significant sectors. David Wharton, director in the building & project consultancy team, comments: “I am very much looking forward to joining the team, which already has an excellent reputation within the industrial & logistics sector. I have worked alongside many of my new colleagues on projects for key clients, including GLP, over the years and it will be great to finally join them on the same side of the table.” Simon Collett, head of building & project consultancy, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome David to Savills. His experience and expertise in the industrial & logistics sector will undoubtedly help to further strengthen our capability and ensure we can continue to offer a best in class service to our clients.”
As we approach the thought of a release from lockdown it’s important to consider what may have changed in the dormant buildings whilst we have been away. Whilst the Alpine Service Team have remained 100% operational across the UK some businesses may have taken the decision to pause their planned maintenance schedules whilst the facilities are empty. We have gathered the thoughts of our in house technical experts for advice on some considerations to be given where sites have not been fully maintained, tested or checked. Here are 5 issues that may arise from a pause in the regular tests and checks advised by LPS 1048 and could potentially compromise the operation of a fire sprinkler system. Seized Pressure switches – unless regularly exercised pressure switches can stick causing a number of issues with the sprinkler system. Pressure switches installed on the pump initiation lines would not detect a drop in system pressure and would therefore not start the fire pump(s) preventing the sprinkler system from operating. The pressure switches on the alarm line of the control valves would not send a signal to the main fire alarm, impairing the detection of any issues, either accidental damage or fire related. Water Motor Alarms could be seized – although seen by some as outdated technology the mechanical aspect of a water pressure driven alarm cannot be overlooked as this should still give an audible signal if there was ever a problem with the building fire alarm system. It also enables a hard check on the alarm valves operational effectiveness during regular checks, this would not be possible with an inoperable alarm motor and gong due to failed or seized components. System valves could be stiffer to operate or seized – water flow control valves that are seized or at least stiff would be much more difficult to close in the event of an accidental discharge, potentially leading to excessive water damage if the flow of water cannot be stopped. Individual test valves seized will prevent the normal testing procedure being carried out. However the worst case is that the alarm valves may not open correctly preventing water from flowing into the main sprinkler system in the event of a fire situation. Fire pumps could be seized – As above, if the fire pump is not able to deliver water to the sprinkler system then the effectiveness of that system is eliminated. The ability to provide a continuous flow of water at required pressure based on the design parameters is paramount in the operation of the overall fire suppression system. Undetected frost damage – we have endured some of the coldest days on record in the UK during lockdown. There is a risk within closed sites that there may be frost damage to parts of the system, which could lead to impaired components that could fail on returning to standard operation. These components may not operate as designed and impair their ability to control a fire or at the minimum could cause water damage within a facility in the event of failure. So, as we all look to Spring for a return to something more like the life we remember, we recommend that your fire sprinkler systems are checked for impairments and correct operation by a competent engineer before reoccupation of buildings takes place. For more information on our design, project management and aftercare solutions please contact Louise Plant on 0161 791 4500, or l.plant@alpinefire.co.uk or visit www.alpinefire.co.uk
Electrical fire is one of the most common sources of residential and commercial fires all over the world. Depending on its severity, it can lead to either minimal damage or a massive property loss. What’s worse, however, is when it takes the lives of hundreds of victims. Sadly, some people appear to never learn from the devastation caused by electrical fires. Many residential and commercial property owners still ignore the importance of implementing safety measures, such as the use of short circuit protection devices in their household and commercial buildings. What Is Circuit Protection It’s not only the responsibility of owners to ensure that their property’s electrical wiring is safe enough to protect its residents from the occurrence of electrical fires. Every country also has specific electrical codes that engineers and electricians are required to follow when building houses and other infrastructure. Once faulty electrical wiring is identified as the main reason for a fire’s occurrence, this inability to meet the indicated standards has serious legal repercussions for these involved professionals. Another source of electrical fires is a faulty appliance or an ignored worn-out electrical wire. This type of problem is usually avoided through the practice of circuit protection. Circuit protection works by adding extra devices or equipment to an electrical circuit. Conveniently, different types of circuit protection equipment are readily available in the market that can help eliminate the massive danger and property loss resulting from these preventable events, Using circuit protection devices ensures that the wirings are protected under faulty conditions or when there’s a sudden spike of high current. These devices and equipment are designed to protect the circuit from total damage by cutting the current flowing on it, whenever it detects excessive current in the electrical wirings. Different Types Of Circuit Protection Devices And Equipment There are many circuit protection devices already available in the market. Deciding if it’s the right one for your household or property will depend on their usage and how they work. Below are some types to consider: 1. Fuse For starters, it’s important to note that electric current flows from the source to the load. A good example of source is your house’s circuit breaker, while loads refer to any of your electrical appliances. As a circuit protection equipment, fuses have strips that bridge the current flowing from the source to the load. Its strip is designed to melt when an excessive amount of current passes through it. When this happens, this will cause the strip to separate. Upon melting, the bridge no longer exists, stopping the current flow from the source to the load. There are different types of fuses available in the market. Most common are the cartridge type and screw-in type fuses, but they all generally work the same. 2. Circuit Breakers Generally speaking, electrical guidelines require a proper size of circuit breakers for electric circuits. Unlike fuses that you can only use up until the strips have melted, circuit breakers work differently. Circuit breakers have a bimetallic strip, which is a kind of metal conductor, that doesn’t need to melt to be triggered. This strip is connected to another piece of metal conductor inside the circuit breaker, which is then connected to the output or outlet. Overcurrent results in too much heat. Once this gets detected by the bimetallic strip, it’ll immediately bend, making the piece of a metal conductor lose contact with the source. Nothing is technically broken, which means that together with other metal conductors inside the breaker, it’ll still be good to use even after getting triggered. What needs to be done is to simply move the circuit breakers’ lever to close the circuit once again. This will allow the current to flow without replacing any part. There are many types of circuit breakers. The most common is the Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) and Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overload Protection (RCBO). These two are frequently used in both residential and commercial establishments as they only require low voltage power distribution. Their main difference lies in the fact that Miniature Circuit Breaker can only be used against short circuits and over-currents, while Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overload Protection can also protect against earth leakage current. 3. Surge Protection Device (SPD) Your electrical appliances or electrically powered gadgets have a specific voltage requirement that it can accept. For example, your television needs 120 volts from the outlet to function. While a voltage lower than 120 can make no harm to your television, an amount higher than 120 volts can cause serious damage to it. Surge Protection Device eliminates overvoltage in appliances or load. It’s connected to the source and load in a parallel circuit to provide protection. Once overvoltage occurs, this device conducts the excess voltage to the ground. 4. Residual Current Device (RCD) The worst scenario that can happen because of faulty electrical wiring or appliance is getting someone electrocuted. More than properties, human lives should be the main priority in adding circuit protection devices to electrical circuits. If you mistakenly touch a live wire or a faulty appliance, the Residual Current Device may save your life. This device immediately cuts the current once it detects that electricity is flowing in an unintended path, like your body. This is its way of eliminating the risks of humans getting electrocuted. This is one of the unique features that an RCD has that fuses and circuit breakers don’t. 5. Thermal Protectors Thermal protectors are generally designed to protect a motor from overheating by cutting the current flow when its temperature goes too high. This prevents the motor from severe damage and becomes a cause of fires. Thermal protectors work similarly to circuit breakers. They have bimetallic strips inside, which bends when heated and causes the circuit to break. Once the bimetallic strip cools down, its metal contact will go back to its original state and close the circuit once again. Choosing The Right Electrical Products And Services By now, you’ve learned in this article
700-bed development is granted planning approval by Nottingham City Council The development aims to be net-zero carbon once open, running on 100% renewable electricity Unite Students, the UK’s leading owner, manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation, has been granted planning approval for a new 700-bed development at Derby Road, Nottingham. The development, which is located adjacent to the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus, is planned to open in time for the 2023/24 academic year. The total development costs will be £57 million. It will consist of 661cluster flats with en-suite bathrooms and 39 studio apartments. The development aims to be net-zero carbon once open, running on 100% renewable electricity with solar panels installed on the roof and an all-electric heating system, including air-source heat pumps. The new complex, which is a former car showroom site, will also provide a commercial building for external use. Additionally, there will be extensive green public open space, as well as substantial biodiversity improvements to the land around the property, with improved access to the River Leen. Nick Hayes, Unite Students’ Group Property Director, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning approval for this exciting development, which allows us to deliver high-quality student accommodation that complements the surrounding area. “The development supports our strategy of increasing our alignment to the strongest universities and will help to deliver operational efficiencies through greater scale in Nottingham.”
Caddick Construction is on schedule to complete WS50 at Warrington South Distribution Park, off Lyncastle Road, Appleton. Appointed by Mileway, the largest owner of last mile logistics real estate assets in Europe, work has progressed well on the 50,000 sq ft. single storey warehouse. Planning was granted last year with completion well on target for May 2021. The construction project covers delivery of the warehouse for Class B8 use, with 3,300 sq. ft. of mezzanine office space, loading bays, service yard, trailer and car parking and landscaping. Caddick Construction Managing Director Ian Threadgold said: “The logistics sector is booming at the moment with construction supply having to work hard to keep up with demand, particularly in the North West. Warrington South has both excellent road links and is very much a sought-after location for global and national distributors.” Warrington South Distribution Park overall comprises of 450,000 sq. ft of industrial warehouse accommodation on the 25-acre site which offers a mix of new and flexible warehousing plus external yard space. Existing occupiers include Hermes, Eddie Stobart and DX Mail. It sits close to junctions on both the M56 and M6, enjoying easy access to the M62 and Liverpool ports beyond. Architects for the scheme are AEW Architects with structural engineers Tier Consult Ltd. Project Management, Employers Agent & Cost Management Services were provided by Gardiner and Theobald.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a ‘Certificate in International Construction Management’. To reflect the increasingly international nature of the sector and provide construction professionals with the knowledge and skills in global construction management best practice, CIOB has produced a programme on international construction management. The course provides the learner with the skills and knowledge to plan, develop and execute construction projects, whether in foreign markets or within their home countries. The course comprises three technical modules running over six months, looking at best practice, the fundamentals of understanding global markets, rules and regulations, and managing international projects throughout the construction cycle. In addition, the course will also contain a short module with essential information on CIOB and how to become a member or fellow of the institute. The course is being led John Hayes, a Fellow of CIOB and industry veteran, with more than 30 years’ experience as a quantity surveyor and commercial director. John has extensive experience of multi-million pound global framework and construction projects in the UK, Europe and Australia. The course begins on 20 April 2021 and you can register here.
This month we ask Seb Bentley at award-winning property developers Kebbell to tell us a little more about a day in the life of a construction apprentice. How long have you worked in the construction industry and what made you want to join? I have been working in the industry for around a year and a half now, but I was really into construction since a young age. At first I studied engineering at college and was also working for my dad part time as he is a joiner. I needed some work experience for my college course and was offered a week’s official work experience on the Cornelian Fields development for Kebbell. I put absolutely everything I had into that week and was really happy when they offered me a job with them. What are your ambitions? I love working in construction management, it is something I am really passionate about. I am 18 years old but I am looking to become a Trainee Assistant Manager as soon as I can. I have been training for a year and have another year of training to go and attend Redcar College of Technology doing a BTEC Diploma at the same time. What sort of work is involved in your job? The best thing about the job is the array of tasks that I do from stock taking to quality control, helping organise the trades or getting a house ready pre-plastering. I help with snagging and checking specifications, as well as these days checking everyone has got the right PPE. How long do you stay on a project at any one time? I have only worked at Cornelian Fields in Scarborough so far but that has been a really exciting project as we move through the phases. The fourth phase has just been launched which is another 106 homes so we are very busy! What does your typical day look like? I get up about 0620 and have a shower and then I am off just before 7am, ready to start work for 8am, five days a week. I have quite a big commute of around an hour each way, so it is a long day. I finish on site around 1630. Pre-Covid days I would go the gym but now I work out at home. What is the best thing about your job? I love the variety and it keeps the day flowing. We work as a really smooth team with the trades. Each day is different and I am always learning new things. Specification changes may happen so we might have planned to build in a certain way but then have to change tack. Work never stops on a building site! What skills do you need for your job? I want to be an assistant manager as soon as possible. I plan to do a two-year HNC course in September and then I will see what happens from then. There are lots of other courses I am interested in like safety and scaffolding courses. I want to take on more responsibility and roles as soon as I can. I like being relied upon and being part of the team, the development, and the sector. What has been your proudest moment? My proudest moment was after that first week of work experience when I was offered the job. I wanted to put everything I could into that week to really take hold of the opportunity and for my passion to be noticed. I had to prove myself that week so I really went for it! How has Covid-19 affected your job? There are a lot of new things about working on site now. I help organise the timetables to make sure there aren’t too many people on site at any one time and that lunch breaks are spread out to minimise contact. I check everyone has the right PPE, check the toilets and make sure hand sanitisers everywhere are regularly topped up. We created a one-way walk system too which works really well. The work force are happy to be safety compliant of course because we all understand the reasons. Everything has run smoothly. What do you like to do outside of the job? I am really sporty. I have recently taken up surfing which I really like. I take my health seriously – I play cricket, work out, count my macros and have quite a physical job too. What is the most important thing about building a home? The fine finishing detail is what really makes a difference and everyone caring about what they are creating. To find out more visit https://kebbell.co.uk
The productivity of a construction team is heavily dependent on their satisfaction and happiness, especially when they’re on the clock. Contractors and worksite managers can do a lot to keep their construction teams happy while they’re working. Let’s check out a few of the best methods now. Use Timecard Apps to Enable Flexible Clocking In and Out One of the best ways to boost the productivity (and overall pride) of your construction team is to leverage timecard apps. This might seem counterintuitive at first, but construction teams are often happy having the ability to flexibly clock in and out depending on the workday’s requirements. For example, timecard apps allow your employees to track their time and accurately bill you for both regular hours worked and overtime hours. Additionally, timecard apps offer your employees the opportunity to punch out early if they complete their work ahead of time – who doesn’t like that? There are plenty of construction-specific timecard apps to choose from, allowing you to integrate this software-based solution with other software or tools your company already uses. Be Humane with Shifts Speaking of shifts and time punching, you should always be humane when it comes to requests for punching out early or sick days. Everyone has crazy days when they have to take care of other responsibilities or duck out of work early. You can inspire an environment of trust and honesty in your construction team by being flexible and humane with these requests. Don’t deny someone the opportunity to leave early to pick up their kid from the hospital just because you have to meet a deadline. Maintain Equipment A happy and productive construction team always has high-quality equipment. Contractors or worksite managers know that buying new equipment isn’t always possible, but any stuff your guys are using should be well maintained and safe overall. Well-maintained equipment will be appreciated by a construction crew and allow them to complete their tasks ahead of schedule, which may result in overall savings for your company in the long run. Plus, no one likes to work on a construction site that seems dangerous or use tools that can harm them. Emphasize Regular Training Want to boost productivity and satisfaction in your construction team? Be sure to implement regular training exercises so your team members are always doing things as efficiently and safely as possible. Regular training sessions are excellent, both for teaching experienced construction team members about your technologies or systems and for teaching new workers who may not know what they’re doing. Using regular training programs or seminars also means your experienced construction team members don’t have to spend their valuable time teaching newcomers stuff that they can easily learn from another source. Have an Open Door Policy – Encourage Communication Lastly, your construction team members will be happier on the clock if you maintain an open-door policy and encourage active communication. If your construction team members can come to you with any problem, they’ll feel happier and more content at their jobs, which means more profits and a better workplace for you overall.