Equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) has long been a topic that has dogged the construction industry. There’s no golden bullet for fixing decades of limited progress, but the steps being made in the industry at the moment are nothing but encouraging, according to executive chairman of Pagabo, Gerard Toplass. Anyone
A few seconds footage are all that’s needed to convey the size and scale of the UK’s heaviest single-span bridge, being moved into place by Osprey at Gipsy Patch Lane, Bristol. Super-structure upgrades improve the quality of life On behalf of South Gloucestershire Council, Network Rail has been putting in
The market for graphene is at a tipping point, with long periods of R&D now starting to translate into significant purchase orders. For a long time, the graphene market was overwhelmingly driven by a ‘materials push’ whereby graphene firms worked hard to persuade markets of the properties and benefits of their
Morris Site Machinery has announced a significant investment in stock of its renowned Denyo generator and ArcGen welder brands and has taken delivery of £4 million worth of much sought after and affordable Stage IIIA compliant equipment. The £2.5 million stock of Denyo generators includes Renta 20’s, Renta 37’s, Eventa
Barriers and insulating components on strategic locations can help you reduce the impact of wildlife on your power system. When specified and installed correctly, power components can reduce fire risk, lower power outage instances and safeguard the environment for over four decades. Industrial power distributors and utility companies have to
Thetford, UK: Above-the-neck PPE specialist Centurion Safety Products, has announced a partnership with Swedish helmet safety technology company Mips, which will see the British manufacturer incorporate the Mips (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) patented helmet-based technology within their market-leading Nexus helmet. When the Centurion Nexus with Mips helmet technology launches in
A lovely roof and beautiful home exterior combination can strengthen a house’s charm for years. That’s why it’s crucial to look for the right blend which will suit your home’s distinctive personality. Whether you’re installing a new roof or replacing the ones you have, read first the following four tips
Peter Johnson, chairman of Vivalda Group, the UK’s largest independent distributor of non-combustible facade products, has welcomed additional powers granted to the safety body charged with maintaining cladding standards in the wake of Grenfell Tower. It was confirmed this month (January 2021) that the new regulator for construction products, will
Learn about the importance of specifying and sourcing third party approved cables to implement effective electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures. As demand for electric vehicles and charging systems becomes greater than ever, safeguarding the longevity of the cable is vital to ensuring safety once installed. Read on to find out
DIRFT III Features Specialist Rail Traverser Mechan is supplying a multidisciplinary main contractor, Winvic Construction, with a bespoke rail traverser for a new £29 million Intermodal Rail Freight Terminal that is being constructed for Prologis at its DIRFT intermodal logistics park in Northamptonshire. The rail depot equipment specialist is one
Equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) has long been a topic that has dogged the construction industry. There’s no golden bullet for fixing decades of limited progress, but the steps being made in the industry at the moment are nothing but encouraging, according to executive chairman of Pagabo, Gerard Toplass. Anyone that works in property and construction will tell you that there is not enough diversity in the industry, despite great progress being made over the last decade in particular. Just one in eight people who work in the industry are female, while a 2018 report on diversity showed that just 5.4 per cent of workers in the sector are BAME. As Amos Simbo, founder of the BPIC Network, said on the latest episode of Pagabo’s Building Blocks podcast, the fact that the topic of equality, diversity and inclusion – or lack thereof – is even being discussed shows how things have progressed, and how seriously it is now being taken in the industry. But just discussing it is no longer enough. Unfortunately, there are decades of poor practice on this front that need to be undone, and it’s no easy task. The experiences of Faithful+Gould’s Ella Sanders – who was actively discouraged from a career in construction while at school – illustrate that there’s still a way to go to mitigate the damage that has been done in the past, which is the key contributory factor behind the ugly statistics. It’s not something that is going to be done overnight, but the slow and steady progress being made currently is absolutely a step in the right direction. Especially given the industry’s historically poor performance around ED&I, it’s also important that we benchmark ourselves against other industries, see how we stack up and take learnings from their approaches where appropriate. Jenny Hinde – who, as executive director of The Clear Company works in ED&I across several industries, including construction – told us on the podcast that there is a real push from people working within the industry to get things right on the ED&I front, but this is largely coming from the bigger organisations. These companies are looking to take the lead and not be driven by their clients on embracing ED&I. However, this initiative doesn’t yet seem to be permeating down to SME level to the same extent and getting this to happen is an important stage on the journey. As Dara Jafari, associate director and ED&I lead at Faithful+Gould pointed out on the podcast, there is an important distinction to make between the professional side of the industry and the site work side. While both face similar challenges in terms of ED&I – and there has been a genuinely positive shift towards embracing the importance of a diverse workforce – the approach to tackling this can’t be one-size-fits-all. It’s important not to forget the “inclusion” element of ED&I. Jenny touched on the use of divisive language – “blue collar” and “white collar” being a prime example – and even the difference between the terms of employment for on and off-site workers as key indicators of the lack inclusivity. The question – as she put it – doesn’t just need to be “how diverse are we?”, but “how diverse and inclusive are we?”. The good news is that the shift is definitely happening. Those on the podcast that dealt with public sector clients all agreed that they had seen greater focus on ED&I in bid documents, and importantly that shift had progressed from questions about simple compliance to ones asking more about how it is being delivered in practice. Most impressively, there also seems to be a desire from those clients to learn more about that delivery, and how they can replicate it within their own structures. Acting upon this self-awareness is absolutely critical to ensuring we handle these challenge in 2021 and beyond. As Dara pointed out, it’s one thing for a board of directors to identify that they potentially have improvements to make where it comes to ED&I, but it’s quite another for them to recognise that – for that very reason – they themselves may not be best placed to solve the problem. It’s a long battle, and not one that is going to be won overnight. However, the positive steps being taken across the industry show us that we are moving in the right direction. You can listen to the most recent episodes of Pagabo’s ‘Building Blocks’ podcast on Anchor and YouTube.
A few seconds footage are all that’s needed to convey the size and scale of the UK’s heaviest single-span bridge, being moved into place by Osprey at Gipsy Patch Lane, Bristol. Super-structure upgrades improve the quality of life On behalf of South Gloucestershire Council, Network Rail has been putting in a new railway bridge at Gipsy Patch Lane – a single-span superstructure that’s part of the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension scheme. This £57m investment should reduce congestion in the area and improve journey times for all road users with a new public transport system and an alternative to travelling by car. Supporting Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, Osprey was asked to deliver a full suite of specialist logistics that could move the UK’s heaviest, single-span, reinforced concrete ‘portal’ structure. The approach was challenging. The video shows the single-span in transit on a 144-axle self-propelled modular transport (SPMT) unit with 576 individual wheels – and Osprey also used heavy-lift cranes and an innovative arrangement of hydraulic jacks and longitudinal beams. In all, the portal structure and the installation equipment weighed 5200 tonnes, over half the weight of the Eiffel Tower. Editors can view and share the video here: Removing the existing bridge, installing a new asset With a span of almost 25m, the new bridge at Gipsy Patch Lane replaces an existing single-arch brick structure. The installation needed a closure of the railway. During the replacement, teams removed overhead railway line equipment, dismantled and removed the existing railway track and ballast, demolished and removed the existing bridge and excavated over 30,000 tonnes of earth. Using our in-house experience of transporting and installing other giant assets – everything from the same kind of railway engines that will use the Bristol line, to renewable wind farm turbines or nuclear power plant components – Osprey used a wide range of equipment to complete the move. The project experienced challenges but the SPMTs manoeuvred the entire portal into position, while the bracing effectively ‘held the walls apart’ to maintain its structural integrity during the move. Assets of this immense strength have flexibility built into them, which is a challenge that needs to be overcome during installation. Working collaboratively delivers innovation This way of working significantly reduced the amount of time our team needed to be on site, which is of instant benefit to project planning. However, it is also a benefit to the local community – it means their lives are disrupted far less. Osprey’s project manager, Mitchell Smith: “Our short video clip puts things into perspective. The Gipsy Patch Lane bridge is one of several in this programme of work for Network Rail, but it’s the largest and the heaviest. The project did face challenges, but we quickly found ways to adapt and, in fact, improve our health and safety approaches – making it possible to work very collaboratively with our suppliers, and move the single-span superstructure into place in the shortest amount of time possible.” The new bridge will bring communities together, reduce commuter times, and provide a boost to the business environment that helps the local economy. Mitchell continues: “The Gipsy Patch Lane bridge will reduce commuter times for several major employers. We’re proud to play our part in preparing for the future, helping our local Bristol community to re-establish even better connections with an improved transport network. What’s more, many of our team live in the local area, so it’s been very rewarding to be working on something that will have such a long-term impact – this new bridge should be here for at least the next 125 years.” The importance of upgrading infrastructure Efficient road and rail networks are crucial for the economy and renewed investment in transport and communication links is essential. Traditionally, a project like this might involve many months of disruption. In all, Gipsy Patch Lane itself has to be closed for around eight months, but we’re delighted to say the overall disruption is being reduced by the work we’ve been doing – working closely with our client, Alun Griffiths, to remove Network Rail’s older and narrower bridge and replace it with an impressive piece of smart, modern engineering.
The market for graphene is at a tipping point, with long periods of R&D now starting to translate into significant purchase orders. For a long time, the graphene market was overwhelmingly driven by a ‘materials push’ whereby graphene firms worked hard to persuade markets of the properties and benefits of their product. Now, that has transitioned into ‘market pull’, with key drivers coming to the fore. IDTechEx continues to provide the most comprehensive independent market research on the field of graphene and other nanocarbons. In the latest update to their report, “Graphene Market and 2D Materials Assessment 2021–2031”, IDTechEx provides a granular outlook for the industry, including forecasts, manufacturer analysis, material benchmarking, price and applications. The tipping point for graphene is here but with so many manufacturers not all will become successful and some consolidation is inevitable. Multiple drivers are emerging for graphene as the value-added material of choice. Graphene’s ability to enhance mechanical lifetimes – for example, through wear-resistant liners or anti-corrosion coatings – and greater thermal management requirements are two examples of prevalent forces. However, there is another market driver emerging, one that is perhaps surprising but will have a major impact over the next decade – sustainability. As Dr. Soroush Nazarpour, President and CEO of NanoXplore, puts it: ‘Graphene is a key ingredient when it comes to sustainability of many markets and applications. For instance, it enables closed-loop production practices for plastic processing; and it enhances the capacity and charging speed of Li-ion batteries. Graphene will definitely make the world a greener place.’ IDTechEx has identified three core application areas for graphene that can serve this key market driver. Biobased and recycled polymers Many territories – and the companies that operate within them – have committed to aspects of the circular economy, particularly the elimination of waste. This often means firms are seeking to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics and to increase the amount of recycled material they use. But this is a challenge: recycled content is typically mechanically inferior to the virgin material, and incorporating a (‘non-green’) additive to overcome these limitations can defeat the sustainability objective. Also, it may still be insufficient in quality terms. This is where graphene comes in. The multifunctional properties of graphene as a polymer additive are well known. Being derived from graphite, it also has an advantage over competing, fossil-fuel-based additives when it comes to enhanced sustainability. Graphene can be used this way within many diverse sectors, and even low-volume incorporation could generate big wins for graphene manufacturers – if they can scale appropriately and control costs. The most immediate is in graphene-enabled non-food packaging which IDTechEx expect to become a key growth area in the mid-term. Beyond this, there is also the opportunity in bioplastics. Again, these can be improved to the necessary performance by utilising graphene’s mechanical and barrier properties. Packaging, coffee cups, and other opportunities are being explored from some of the largest customers through to young emerging companies such as Toraphene. Energy storage This is one of the most significant market movements of the 21st century – full electrification of our transportation is underway with a booming potential. Driven by legislation in the backdrop of a climate crisis the market landscape is quickly transforming. “Graphene batteries” are a headline that is seen readily but poorly used. Predominantly graphene is used as an additive with a high electrical and thermal conductivity coupled with beneficial mechanical properties. This can be used in either of the electrodes, the coatings on the current collector, or outside of the cell. For current generation lithium-ion batteries graphene will only have a modest uptake, mainly for those seeking fast charging solutions in the consumer section. This is most notably seen in the smartphone products launched from Xiaomi in 2020 and upcoming work from Real Graphene and Appear. However, the greater potential lies in future developments, namely silicon anodes and lithium-sulfur batteries. Significant developments – enabled by graphene – have already been seen and there remains a high interest from nearly every graphene manufacturer. Graphene is certainly not the only solution being explored, but if companies can find a graphene-enabled solution it will be very significant for the industry. What is more, graphene’s energy storage applications are not limited to batteries; graphene-enabled supercapacitors are gaining notable traction and could be critical solutions in conjunction with other energy storage devices (e.g. hydrogen). In this arena, Skeleton Technologies has had a very significant year, raising EUR 41.3m in a Series D funding round, announcing a partnership with Wrightbus, and signing a EUR 1bn letter of intent with an automotive manufacturer. Concrete and Asphalt Perhaps surprisingly, many graphene companies are currently exploring the potentials of concrete and asphalt markets. In their current forms, both of these products are significant contributors to climate change and would benefit from improved mechanical performance. Some early-stage trials have suggested that graphene could solve both problems, driving up sustainability and practical outcomes together. Notable projects from the likes of Directa Plus have made headlines, and several graphene manufacturers have told IDTechEx that they are in advanced conversations with key players. The volume potential of these markets is huge – perhaps far greater than the other markets described in this article – and would completely change the outlook for graphene. However, as is so often the case, there is a gap to be bridged between current interest and real orders. The building and construction industry has very fine margins and is notoriously slow to adopt. Thus, concrete and asphalt are certainly markets to watch, but there is some way to go yet. IDTechEx provides critical independent analysis of the graphene industry and many other advanced materials and emerging technologies. The latest report, “Graphene Market and 2D Materials Assessment 2021–2031”, provides a comprehensive overview of the industry at a critical time. For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/graphene or for the full portfolio of Advanced Materials research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/AM. Looking at related fields, IDTechEx also has dedicated market reports on polymer recycling technologies 2020–2030 and multiple energy storage categories, including li-ion batteries, solid-state and polymer batteries, supercapacitors, the electric vehicle market, and more.
Morris Site Machinery has announced a significant investment in stock of its renowned Denyo generator and ArcGen welder brands and has taken delivery of £4 million worth of much sought after and affordable Stage IIIA compliant equipment. The £2.5 million stock of Denyo generators includes Renta 20’s, Renta 37’s, Eventa 37’s and the £1.5 million stock of ArcGen welders includes 200SSD’s, 400CC/CV’s and 500CC/CV’s all of which are now available for immediate delivery, backed by the professional, friendly support of the dedicated MSM customer service team at Four Ashes. With its 70-year heritage of reliability, Denyo generators are recognised for their stand out performance. The instantly recognisable purple Renta generators offer around 14-16 hours of continuous run time and are super silent with lockable fuel caps, multiple transportation options and a choice of sockets. The robust pink Eventa 37 offers a full 25 hour run time. Denyo is a thoroughbred within its marketplace and ensures reliability and efficiency with the lowest possible noise output. The Renta 20, for example, is super silent at just 60dB(A) at 7m, essential in meeting stringent health and safety site standards. The new ArcGen Welder stock includes the ever popular ArcGen Multi Process 500 CC/CV welder which features a brand new 2021 special offer – available on a first come first served basis until March 2021. Richard Denholm, Sales Director at Morris Site Machinery commented: “I am thrilled to have such a compelling deal on these incredible powerhouses. They genuinely are a multi-purpose site essential: big on welding power, with the mig wire feeder and 500-amp heavy duty stick welding capability, but equally big on generator power too, with the 15kVA 3 phase capable of powering inverters and plasma cutters. Underpin these credentials with the undisputed pedigree of the ArcGen brand name, and this really is a cracking offer to take advantage of in advance of the expected market-wide Stage V price hike”. For information on any of the products and prices, contact Sales Director Richard Denholm on +44 (0) 7872 818267 or email: richard@morrismachinery.co.uk
Barriers and insulating components on strategic locations can help you reduce the impact of wildlife on your power system. When specified and installed correctly, power components can reduce fire risk, lower power outage instances and safeguard the environment for over four decades. Industrial power distributors and utility companies have to face a prevalent problem where animals interfere with high voltage lines and power substations and cause bushfires that have a serious effect on the environment. Such power incidents may be a result of the following: • Fires resulting from the ignition of animal nests and other debris; fires at pole tops as well as the electrocution of animals and birds • Fire induced by vegetation when live conductors clash with vegetation • A clash of conductors, when adjacent conductors come into contact and generate travelling arcs, sparks and lead to conductor damage • Pollution flashover (airborne environmental pollutants and bird guano) where pollutants build up on insulated components. They then become conductors where the current flows through, increasing the chances of a flashover, flame tracking and arcing Vegetation and wildlife can cause phase-to-earth-faults when they form conductive paths, which connect the power equipment to the ground. They can also cause phase-to-phase faults that occur from the collision of the adjacent phases or getting connected via debris or wildlife (wire clashes or animal conduction). This often results in the production of molten metal particles that cause fires by igniting dry vegetation. These risks may be lowered by preventively installing TE Connectivity’s (TE) Raychem Wildlife Asset Protection solutions. What are TE’s Wildlife Asset Protection solutions? They are insulating barriers and covers that lower a fire risk on substation and overhead line components. They are both reliable and retrofittable. Wildlife and Asset Protection products are always at a risk of premature failure and degradation due to environmental factors, which in turn may cause fire. Thus the selection of materials used in producing these products is very important. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked at the selection stage. Particularly important is that the polymers used are formulated to endure harsh environmental conditions without material breakdown for decades. The importance of choosing the right Wildlife Asset Protection Solutions Most utility companies find investing in systems to reduce the risk of bushfire from wildlife-related causes more of a reactionary or discretionary effort. However, these components indeed help enhance reliability in power connections as well as power safety, which would result in a significant payback of the power providers as they prevent fire catastrophes. The costly and far-reaching implications include: • Injury to people and sometimes, fatalities • Extensive damage or total loss of the assets in the power grid • Power outages and service interruptions (SAIFI and SAIDI) that not only disrupt communities and residential homes, but may also lead to dangerous conditions in hospitals, learning institutions, and industrial centers, among other places • Environmental pollution that may threaten wildlife, livelihoods and power infrastructure personnel, especially if potentially hazardous components are burnt in the process • Irreparable damage to horticultural and agriculture assets from the fire • Legal implications that result in litigations and penalties from the fires • Negative publicity on mainstream and social media outlets that not only damages the reputation of the company but also lowers the shareholder value. Choosing Materials for Wildlife and Asset Protection Installations The level of effectiveness of a Wildlife and Asset Protection product, and thereby its level of fire protection, varies based on the type of material it is made of. It is important that the manufacturer makes its products using materials formulations that can handle the harsh conditions substations and overhead lines are regularly exposed to for extended periods of time. These include mechanical stress, pollution build-up, high voltage stress, elevated temperatures and pollution-induced arching. If you do not select components made from the right performance material, you could end up increasing ignition sources. With this in mind, consider the following performance characteristics, as explained in selecting Wildlife and Asset Protection components. 1. Resistance to Erosion and Tracking (TERT) TERT measures the extent of tracking resistance of a material. This is its ability to resist ignition and surface arching when subject to high-stress environments. The ASTM D2303 abrasion test and a step method using 2.5kV to 3.25kV are the common methods to determine TERT. If the tracking resistance is inadequate, the material is susceptible to degradation over a given period. This, in turn, leads to the breakdown of the insulation, propagation of the flame and production of sparks. With the test standard in mind, the material with an excellent TERT resistance is one that can withstand more than a single Step TERT after the abrasion method has been applied. 2. Ultraviolet (UV) Resistance This is the ability of a material to withstand prolonged UV exposure without failing over a long period. This is because the materials will be outdoors all the time. Materials that do not have excellent UV resistance tend to degrade over time This gives a leeway to environmental pollutants to build upon the cracks, thereby increasing the chances of ignition, arcing and tracking from conduction from these pollutants. Scientists demonstrate UV resistance by the use of ASTM G154, UV-3, Cycle 3 test that takes at least 1,000 hours. However, to determine if the polymer at hand can perform for over 30 years, the materials are UV tested for at least 5,000 hours. 3. Thermal Endurance This is the measure for a material’s ability to resist deforming or melting (maintain mechanical integrity) in environments with sustained high temperatures. If a material can withstand melting, there is a reduced risk that it might drip down on dry grace or other vegetation and trigger fire. There are two methods used in testing thermal endurance in wildlife and asset protection components: 1. Thermal Index IEC 60216/IEEE 98. Here, the material is subjected to temperatures of105°C (221°F). If it can withstand these temperatures over 20,000 hours, it can last over 20 years. 2. Thermal Aging ASTM D2671that takes 750
Thetford, UK: Above-the-neck PPE specialist Centurion Safety Products, has announced a partnership with Swedish helmet safety technology company Mips, which will see the British manufacturer incorporate the Mips (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) patented helmet-based technology within their market-leading Nexus helmet. When the Centurion Nexus with Mips helmet technology launches in March 2021, Centurion will become the first UK manufacturer to offer Mips helmet technology in a hard hat and be the first company globally to incorporate the new Mips ‘cradle’ rotational impact protection system into their helmets. In contrast with helmets which only use a foam liner to reduce impact shock, the Centurion Nexus already features advanced protection in the form of a liner and six-point cradle system, which acts as a secondary layer, reducing impact shock further and helping to reduce risk for acquired brain injury. The addition of Mips helmet technology will further enhance the protection by decreasing rotational motion otherwise transferred to the head from certain oblique impacts. Injury statistics show that our head is likely to hit the ground at an angle when we slip, trip or fall. Also when we receive an impact to the head from a falling object or debris, off centre, rotational motion may be introduced to the head. The Mips Low Friction Layer allows the head to move inside the helmet (10mm – 15mm relative motion in all directions) on certain angled impacts, which can redirect the harmful rotational motion otherwise transferred to the head. Studies show that the human brain is 6–7 times more sensitive to rotational motion than linear motion. Impacts that generate rotational motion can cause strain to the brain tissue, which may lead to minor or severe brain trauma. Concussion injuries or even more serious brain injuries are commonly caused by rotational motion of the brain. Mips helmet technology is based on 25 years of research and is already popular in the sports market where many skiers and cyclists consider Mips a must-have feature in their helmets. Combining the advanced industrial safety standards and superior comfort of the Centurion Nexus with Mips helmet technology will create a market-leading helmet protection system. Nick Hurt, CEO of Centurion Safety Products says: “As leaders in above-the-neck PPE, our customers trust us to be at the forefront of head protection innovation so we are constantly looking at how we can ensure our products not only meet relevant safety standards but exceed them. “We are therefore excited to become the first company to incorporate the Mips cradle rotational impact protection system into our helmets. The Mips system will be featured in our market-leading Centurion Nexus helmet, which is already a stand-out product thanks to its advanced safety standards.” Max Strandwitz, Mips CEO says: “We are very proud to announce this partnership, Centurion is a trusted well-established British PPE Manufacturer of over 140 years, who share our values and lead in occupational head protection. We know that construction workers are particularly at risk for accidents, especially head injuries. “For people who take a high risk because of their occupation, the best possible helmet at work should also be a priority. Protection against rotational motion should be as important for safety helmets as airbags and seatbelts are in cars,” Despite the widespread and mostly mandatory use of hard hats, construction and industrial workers are still at risk for severe head injuries including concussion. They can suffer concussions from the impact force from a slip, trip or fall, as well as from, for example, falling objects. Be part of head protection history and join Centurion and Mips for the unveiling of the Centurion Nexus with Mips helmet technology on Wednesday 24th March 2021. Register here: https://centurionsafety.eu/save-the-date-and-be-part-of-head-protection-history/ Watch Centurion, CEO, Nick Hurt and Mips CEO, Max Strandwitz discuss their new partnership: https://bit.ly/3ooRwlc
A lovely roof and beautiful home exterior combination can strengthen a house’s charm for years. That’s why it’s crucial to look for the right blend which will suit your home’s distinctive personality. Whether you’re installing a new roof or replacing the ones you have, read first the following four tips for choosing the best roof colour to guarantee you’re selecting the right shade for your home. 1 Search for Real-Life Models The optimal way to begin your search for the best roof colour is by checking existing roofs in your neighbourhood. Likewise, you can google images of charming ceilings to kickstart your creativity, but remember nothing compares to observing the real thing. Additionally, you’ll be seeing excellent colour combinations and those which are unsuitable. When you go around your area, you’ll also discover the prevailing theme in your location, which can be a huge factor in your decision. Typically, expert roofer recommend homeowners to select a shade that merges with the rest, but, at the same time, shines on its own. 2 Consider Your Home’s Climate Do you reside in an area that perpetually showcases hot weather? If your home features an attic, take note that the shade of your roof shingles can influence the attic temperature by roughly 20° to 40°. This fact can significantly impact the cooling or heating expenses of your home. Remember that dark shingles draw in heat and help houses remain warm during wintertime. On the one hand, light shingles block the sunlight and reduce the temperature when the weather is hot. 3 Determine Whether to Revitalise or Tone Down Colour Meanwhile, if the exterior of your house features a variety of shades, it’s best to stick to low-key hues to defuse the splash of colours. But, if your home exterior is somewhat on the minimalist side, choosing a revitalising shade can do wonders for your structure. If you need help deciding whether to tone down or select a revitalising paint for your roof, consult a local roofing company near your area. 4 Match Colours Lastly, when choosing the best roof colour, keep in mind to match your shingles’ shade with the hues present in the trims, stones, tiles, stucco, or siding of your home. As an example, a black or dark grey roof combines well with a blue or grey home. On the other hand, a blend of cream or brown shingles will look excellent in a tan, brown, or cream-coloured house. In case you own a yellow, green, or red home, these shades are more adaptable, and you can accentuate them with grey, brown, or black. Final Thoughts Choosing the best roof colour can be a challenge when you consider all the available factors. Some homeowners prefer envisioning the result to help them make a decision. They try to visualise their roofs with metal, shingles, or tiles. Then they picture their preferred roof colour after the installation. Exploring many alternatives can be stressful. Hence, picturing the outcome can, in effect, remove unsuitable choices. Please note that while some contractors recommend applying trendy shades to your roofs, those colours will not be attractive anymore in the future. Understand also that roofs last between 20 to 30 years. If you’re planning to market your home in the following 20 years, it’s best to adopt a subdued design. Remember, the majority of homeowners favour timeless charm rather than trendy styles for their houses.
Peter Johnson, chairman of Vivalda Group, the UK’s largest independent distributor of non-combustible facade products, has welcomed additional powers granted to the safety body charged with maintaining cladding standards in the wake of Grenfell Tower. It was confirmed this month (January 2021) that the new regulator for construction products, will operate within the Office for Product Safety and Standards department. Granted an additional £10m of funding, this will give the new watchdog more responsibility to conduct its own independent product-testing when investigating cases of suspected malpractice. Cladding firms must now ensure that their products are safe before being sold – which includes testing cladding and associated products such as insulation against new, tougher safety standards. Reacting to the latest announcement from Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, Peter Johnson said: “This is definitely a step in the right direction for the cladding industry. Damning evidence heard from the Grenfell enquiry is liable to cast a long shadow of suspicion across the entire construction sector and so any additional quality assurances must be fully supported. Without independent and transparent testing and quality checks, nobody wins. “Indeed, my own company has lost several competitive contract pitches over the years to products where the fire test performance of a cheaper material is highly questionable owing to gaps in the certification. I would like to believe that such fast and loose practice is now a thing of the past. Certainly, this measure goes some way to stamping it out for good, thus providing what the industry and wider society demands – proven safety.”
Learn about the importance of specifying and sourcing third party approved cables to implement effective electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures. As demand for electric vehicles and charging systems becomes greater than ever, safeguarding the longevity of the cable is vital to ensuring safety once installed. Read on to find out more about how you can be confident of quality. Driven by the launch of the UK government’s ‘10 Point Plan’, a new date of 2030 has been set to phase out the use of petrol and diesel automobiles. Even greater reliance is now being put on installing safe and efficient electric vehicle charging points and nationwide systems, within is reduced time frame. Removing all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK by 2050 is an overarching target that is critical to the plans. This in turn drives the requirement for more environmentally friendly, effective infrastructures. As fossil fuel energy production continues to be phased out there is a significant need for electrification, particularly concerning transport networks. The imminent surge in demand for electrified systems require high quality cable products that can perform efficiently to satisfy operating demands. Market installation drivers and priorities The transportation sector is experiencing significant challenges, which are set to continue over the next decade. The race now, is focused on integrating EVs as a primary choice for road users, as opposed to their existing petrol and diesel counterparts. Policy is driving the requirement for charging facilities to become more accessible, whilst also offering a reliable and efficient service. As more EVs hit the road, users demand charging services that match their usability expectations against the speed of today’s traditional refueling stations. Reliance on electric power to operate many EVs means that the demand for charging points needs to rapidly increase, to make facilities accessible within both public and private settings. In order to meet demand, it is estimated that 2.8 million charging points are planned to be required across the United Kingdom by 2030. Charging cable specific impacts EV cables themselves can also be impacted by several factors including installation, component failure, weather conditions, and even user damage. These are key challenges to ensuring that the cable products installed are safe and efficient for long term use within their infrastructure and can function as expected within demanding conditions. Testing and certification of cable products is vital to minimising the risk of failure, resulting from the above factors. Worldwide, there are two standards in existence in relation to EV charging cables, they work to reduce risk to safety. Within Europe EN 50620 is most prevalent and specifies design, dimension, and test requirements for halogen free cables with voltage ratings up to 450/470 V. From a broad international perspective, the IEC 62893 series exists, which is comprised of several different parts and also specifies the construction, dimensions, and test requirements of EV charging cables. Independent, third party testing and approval bodies, such as BASEC, undertake rigorous checks to assess an EV charging cable product’s ability to meet the requirements of safety and quality in line with the standards. Smart connection integration of charging units Smart charging systems are a relatively new technology developed to maximise efficiency within electric vehicle charging units. Commonly referred to as intelligent charging, they include a data connection which is shared between an electric vehicle and a charging device, allowing them to communicate with each other and the wider systems. The smart system provides the charging station owner the ability to closely manage how much energy to input into the EV. This helps to optimise energy consumption, ensuring the grid is not overloaded at peak times. Safe, reliable cables that have gained third party approval are vital to installed smart charging systems, confirming they are powered by high quality products. The use of substandard cables can lead to electric current loading, based on the power output of the EV device or overall load requirements, and higher levels of conductor resistance. Generating excess heat which could lead to problems, accelerating the deterioration of cables and impacting the EV system’s ability to perform efficiently. EV charging point accessibility The accessibility of EV charging infrastructures on a nationwide scale to meet net zero targets is one of the biggest challenges the industry currently faces. There is a huge risk of cable products entering the market that have not been properly approved. Cables that have gained independent, third party approval are able to prove that the cable performs sufficiently. This in turn helps to provide confidence to specifiers and installers that the cable has met the relevant quality, safety and performance requirements. Acting to verify that the claims of conformity made about a cable product, by the manufacturer, are valid. Considerations for EV charging cables and their supporting infrastructures Rapid developments around the globe are underway to launch new technologies in support of the widespread implementation of EVs and their charging infrastructures. Power is being generated in new and sustainable ways to reduce impact on the environment. Smart technologies are also being integrated, as they allow devices and multiple data systems to communicate with each other. Offering greater control over the transfer of power and maximising renewable energy generation efficiency. There are many benefits to smart monitoring such as avoiding peak charging times and minimising charging costs. To safeguard the implementation of EV charging infrastructures it is crucial that cables are thoroughly tested for quality and safety, whilst also ensuring they will be reliable and efficient once in operation. Comprehensive testing as part of an EV certification programme is designed to assess pressure, heat shock, ultraviolet resistance, water immersion, and flame retardance. Each of these factors are closely monitored to determine a cable product’s performance under different circumstances, and in turn minimising the risks to those installing and using the cables in the end charging application. Summary There are substantial efforts required to ensure the required number of charging points are installed in time to meet the UK’s ban on petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. With rapid
DIRFT III Features Specialist Rail Traverser Mechan is supplying a multidisciplinary main contractor, Winvic Construction, with a bespoke rail traverser for a new £29 million Intermodal Rail Freight Terminal that is being constructed for Prologis at its DIRFT intermodal logistics park in Northamptonshire. The rail depot equipment specialist is one of few UK firms with the ability to design and build traversers, holding the record for the largest installation in the country at the Port of Felixstowe. Known as DIRFT III, the project comprises a 344-hectare logistics site, which will include a state-of-the-art rail freight terminal. Mechan’s traverser will be situated outside the terminal building, at the end of 9km of new lines, being constructed by Winvic, who is also responsible for installing three new bridges and a 79,000m² terminal slab. The traverser will be used to move Class 66 locomotives in a perpendicular direction to the tracks, so they can return to service after loading/unloading. This has allowed the terminal length to be shorter, as a head shunt isn’t required. Working closely with the Winvic team, Mechan has designed the multi-rail traverser to suit the specific conditions at DIRFT III. It spans 28 metres, has a capacity of 140 tonnes and comprises an access platform, plus loco buffer to prevent trains overrunning. Lindsey Mills, Mechan’s sales manager, said: “We are really pleased to secure a contract for the DIRFT III traverser, after successfully completing a competitive tendering process and we look forward to working with Winvic on this key project. Although the sheer size of a traverser makes each installation a challenge, they are actually a great space saving device, allowing trains to be transferred between tracks easily and efficiently.” Once the design process is complete, Mechan will begin construction of the traverser at its headquarters. It will be dismantled for delivery to site and is due to be installed and commissioned in April 2021, before training is provided to end user, Prologis. Winvic’s Rob Cook, Civils and Infrastructure Director, added: “As rail traversers aren’t that common in the UK, this is a particularly exciting element of an already significant and complex scheme. Mechan’s reputation is second to none and our design teams have been working very well together to get to the stage where the firm is almost ready to begin the manufacturing process. Installation is planned for the end of April and we are looking forward to seeing this specialist piece of equipment – that is central to the compact nature of the terminal’s design – being installed on site.” Winvic commenced construction of DIRFT III in June this year and it is expected to be completed next summer. The intermodal rail terminal will enable 24, 775-metre trains to carry freight in and out of the logistics park, while the concrete yard will provide space for the storage of approximately 460 containers. Each Mechan traverser is built to order and incorporates the latest technology, ensuring it is adaptable enough to handle future trains that are expected to be longer than they are today. For more information, telephone (0114) 257 0563, visit www.mechan.co.uk or follow the firm on Twitter, @mechanuk. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.