UK commercial properties are facing an ongoing battle with poor air quality. According to research from the BBC, up to 800,000 people die every year globally from poor workplace air quality; this represents a productivity lost of nearly £0.50 per hour per employee where productivity is concerned. Clearly, tackling this issue
Citrus Durham has strengthened the agency team at Integra 61, the North East’s largest new logistics and manufacturing park, with the appointment of Colliers International to join existing agent Avison Young. The agency team will jointly market the remaining 1m sq ft of industrial/logistics space and circa 80,000 sq ft
Award-winning quantity surveying and commercial management consultancy, Soben, has launched an MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Division, to be led by newly appointed Operations Director for MEP, Matthew Lopacki. Matthew, who has over 40 years’ experience in the MEP Services bidding and estimating environment, was previously an Estimating Director at
EXPERIENCED home staging expert, property professional and director of Lemon and Lime Interiors Elaine Penhaul has today launched her first book – ‘Sell High, Sell Fast – How to sell your home for the best possible price, in the quickest possible time’. The book, which was written with vendors in mind, equips sellers with the skills and knowledge they need to get
The challenges around our ageing demographic are growing, with additional incidents like COVID-19 putting a magnifying glass on the problems we already have and need to address. Action is required to ensure we can all Age Well without fear of loneliness, isolation, avoidable ill health and poor living conditions. In
Why do we want wind energy from the sea Wind energy will play a major role for the world in the future. Because wind energy is a lot better for the environment than Fossil fuel. To arouse wind energy there are few things necessary. First of all you need a
Building workers are around a hundred times more likely to die from a disease caused or exacerbated by their workplace than through a construction accident. That’s the shocking news the Health and Safety Executive is sharing during a month-long campaign to raise awareness of lung diseases caused by workplace dust.
As per expert projections, by 2030, the power consumption will rise 70% over today’s levels. On the other hand, energy efficiency systems will contribute to 57% of the decrease in GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. The energy used in building facilities, all residential, commercial, and industrial facilities, is the largest creator
In April 2020, the Office for National Statistics reported that almost half the UK population (46.6 percent) had been working from home and 86 percent of them did so as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Does that mean the end of the office, as we know it? Changing patterns
Offsite manufacturers looking to boost the profile of MMC in the public sector are wanted for a new four-year framework to supply schools, hospitals and community buildings. The Modular Buildings (MB2) framework from LHC is for the design, supply, installation and hire of permanent, temporary, and refurbished modular buildings for
UK commercial properties are facing an ongoing battle with poor air quality. According to research from the BBC, up to 800,000 people die every year globally from poor workplace air quality; this represents a productivity lost of nearly £0.50 per hour per employee where productivity is concerned. Clearly, tackling this issue is important both for employee health and for the success of a business. A determinative way in which to address the challenge is through well designed inbuilt air control design from the minute the building goes up. The function of air purification To properly design air filtration for your build it’s important to build up a knowledge of exactly how filtration works. Modern air filtration works via the High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter, more popularly known as the HEPA filter. Studies have shown the efficiency of such devices in remediating poor air quality – a study published in the Journal of Advances In Technical Nonwovens found that filters can take 99.7% of particulates out of the air. It is worth noting, however, that they aren’t effective for smaller particles, such as viruses. These filters then are standardised against MERV ratings, which are an important consideration for businesses. A certain rating, typically MERV 13 or higher, is necessary to filter out all of the particulates you would expect to find in the work environment. However, going too high will restrict airflow and can leave the atmosphere inside of work feeling stale, if still safe. Tackling that aspect and thus making it comfortable for workers is important. The filtration/quality balance Air filters can make sure air is clean and healthy, but they can stifle proper airflow, too. It’s no longer enough to simply have air con systems that push and pull air into the building; a more finely controlled and flexible system is needed to ensure that the building has proper airflow throughout. This is, of course, entirely possible, and buildings from as far back as the mid-noughties show that. As City Wire have explored, London’s Gherkin has a deft set of movements from its outside plates to allow a whole range of alterations to air flow. Working in a smart mechanical fashion, it ensures that the air inside can be clean while also not being stifling. Futuristic futures Of course, steps can be taken that will improve the situation even further. For example, look to Mexico, where a living and breathing piece of street art actively cleans air. This is something achievable in the office environment through wall materials and artwork within the office, and can be an active reminder to tenants of the benefits provided by a proper air filtration system as well as an interesting angle through to which to market your properties. Brought together, these elements make up the new air filtration picture. With employee health and productivity at risk, it’s an imperative for building owners to get smart about how they want their builds to operate. Planning now will help to ensure a better, more breathable, future.
Citrus Durham has strengthened the agency team at Integra 61, the North East’s largest new logistics and manufacturing park, with the appointment of Colliers International to join existing agent Avison Young. The agency team will jointly market the remaining 1m sq ft of industrial/logistics space and circa 80,000 sq ft of roadside opportunities at the 205 acre site located next to J61 of the A1(M). Following the recent completion of over £20m of major infrastructure works, the £300m mixed-use employment development is now fully operational and has the capability to deliver some 4,000 jobs in total. In addition to being home to Amazon’s new 2m sq ft Fulfilment Centre, one of the UK’s largest logistics buildings, the site has outline planning consent for a further 1m sq ft of employment space with ‘oven-ready’ plots available on a design and build basis which enable occupiers to be operational within a year of deal completion. The pioneering development will also house circa 300 new homes and significant roadside opportunities including drive-thru’s, a 70-bed hotel, family pub/restaurant, nursery, car showrooms and trade counter/retail units. Fronting onto the newly upgraded A688 and Durham Services, Integra 61 is just 4 miles away from the world-renowned University City of Durham with its population of over 40,000. This, in addition to the 740,000 people living within 30 minutes of the scheme offers occupiers access to an excellent local labour pool. Robert Whatmuff, Director, Colliers International said; “Integra 61 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting developments in the North East, with commercial opportunities to suit a full range of businesses and requirements. Certainty of deliverability is crucial in today’s market and the fact that occupiers can be operational on-site within a year of committing to the scheme is fantastic and will ensure smooth transitions for businesses.” Robert Rae, MD, Avison Young commented; “There has been real momentum at Integra 61 with the site now a hub of activity. Potential occupiers can get a sense of what a significant development the Citrus Durham team has created here and we anticipate high levels of demand for the wide range of opportunities at this strategic site.” David Cullingford, Project Lead for Integra 61 and Citrus Durham, said; “We are delighted to welcome Colliers International to our agency team at Integra 61. Their national outreach and expertise within the roadside sector is second to none and combined with Avison Young’s long-standing involvement with the development, we have a great team to take Integra 61 into its next exciting phase.”
Award-winning quantity surveying and commercial management consultancy, Soben, has launched an MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Division, to be led by newly appointed Operations Director for MEP, Matthew Lopacki. Matthew, who has over 40 years’ experience in the MEP Services bidding and estimating environment, was previously an Estimating Director at Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil. Prior to that Matthew spent 12 years as Divisional Estimating Manager at NG Bailey, the UK’s largest specialist MEP contractor. His experience spans numerous market sectors including commercial, residential, healthcare, and pharmaceutical. Soben has already been providing MEP support to selected clients on major office, technology, and data centre projects across Europe. Formally appointing Matthew and launching the new MEP division will allow these services to be rolled out to both Main Contractors and specialist MEP contractors across all of Soben’s market sectors and geographies. Soben’s services include cost planning, procurement, preparing bills of quantities, tender appraisals, bid levelling, post contract commercial management and change management. Commenting on his new role Matthew Lopacki said; “Joining Soben to head up its MEP division is a great opportunity. I’m ready to work alongside our key clients to ensure they benefit from our available MEP services.” Andrew Gallacher, Managing Director of Soben UK and Europe, said; “Launching our MEP division is the next step on our journey at Soben. This new division will allow clients to benefit from a range of services that result in greater cost certainty, reduced costs and reduced risks.” “We’re delighted to have Matthew join us to lead this new and exciting venture for the Soben team.”
EXPERIENCED home staging expert, property professional and director of Lemon and Lime Interiors Elaine Penhaul has today launched her first book – ‘Sell High, Sell Fast – How to sell your home for the best possible price, in the quickest possible time’. The book, which was written with vendors in mind, equips sellers with the skills and knowledge they need to get their homes ready for sale. It helps them to understand their market, find their ideal buyer and demonstrates how to create a home that will sell quickly, using tried and tested home staging techniques. Elaine said: “This book explains what I have learned about the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of selling a home as quickly as possible for the maximum financial gain. For most of us, selling a home represents far more than simply a bricks and mortar transaction.” Covering topics such as marketing property in the 21st century, the importance of presentation, home staging, decluttering, and decorating – the helpful guide gives well-rounded insight into all the elements of a property sale. The book also includes Elaine’s expertise and knowledge gained since setting up Lemon & Lime Interiors in 2012. Elaine added: “When writing ‘Sell High, Sell Fast’ I aimed to equip vendors with all the skills they need to get their properties ready for sale. There is a common misconception that home staging and interior design are the same – when actually they are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Home stagers are only interested in creating market appeal for a property. In essence, it is a marketing tool and as such can be taught.” During 2018/19, the occupied properties that Lemon and Lime Interiors worked with sold on average four times faster after staging, showing just how effective home staging can be. Elaine continued: “Home staging is essential if you want your home to sell quickly and for the asking price or more. It’s important to create an environment that can resonate with buyers and help them to envision the property as their home. “Buyers don’t want to be greeted by an empty, dormant space when attending a viewing or looking at pictures online – rather they want to see how the space can be lived in and utilised by occupants, should they wish to make the purchase. “If you are selling, planning to sell, or just want a new way to think about how you live in your own home then this is the book for you.” The book launch follows the introduction of Lemon & Lime Interiors’ new app, Stageflow, that launched earlier this month. The app offers estate agents, property developers and home stagers the ability to evidence the benefits and return on investment, when using a home staging service. ‘Sell High, Sell Fast’ is available to purchase here via Amazon. A special offer is also running this week, which will reduce the price of the book’s Kindle edition to 99p and offer each buyer a free video consultation – where they can receive interior design tips or find out how to prepare their home for sale. To access this offer, please visit Lemon and Lime’s website here between 9 – 10 October 2020.
The challenges around our ageing demographic are growing, with additional incidents like COVID-19 putting a magnifying glass on the problems we already have and need to address. Action is required to ensure we can all Age Well without fear of loneliness, isolation, avoidable ill health and poor living conditions. In less than 20 years, it’s estimated that 25% of the population will be over the age of 65. Evidence dictates England needs to improve the quality of housing to be accessible, affordable, safe and comfortable to live in and the environment in which our housing sits is just as essential to support wellbeing. Zero carbon infrastructure and assistive technology will be vital to the effectiveness of housing, supporting people to live well and age well at home. Following the events of Covid-19 in 2020 it is more evident than ever that access to quality open space, to support health and wellbeing and the ability to meet and socialise in places that are attractive, comfortable and safe are essential components in the places we design and create. The accessibility of safe technology to provide virtual interaction, activity and social engagement will be vital to supporting people’s mental health and in preventing loneliness and isolation. The Good Home Inquiry launched data earlier this year showing approximately 10 million people in England spent the coronavirus lockdown in a home that presents a serious threat to their health and safety. With about 1.8 million adults living in damp and/or cold housing and, of these, more than one in ten people are living with health conditions potentially caused or exacerbated by poor housing, causing them to be ‘at greater risk’ of contracting and dying from coronavirus. According to data cited in the report, 4.3 million homes in England are what the government defines as ‘non-decent’ putting the health and wellbeing of their estimated 10 million inhabitants at risk. The report highlights that people who have been identified as most at risk of COVID-19, including older people, those with pre-existing health conditions and Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority groups, are more likely to be living in non-decent homes, along with those on low incomes. The issues a winter lockdown could generate, with increased fuel bills and exacerbated fuel poverty and people spending more time in their homes struggling to keep poorly insulated homes warm for longer periods are causing real concern to health and social care as the health of those most vulnerable will be negatively impact. The report calls on government to make sure at-risk groups have the support they need now to make their homes warmer, free from damp and mold, and safer. For some this means providing trusted information and advice to signpost them towards those who can help. For others, this will require more direct intervention such as financial support from Government to ensure homes are safe. In the longer term, much more needs to be done to fix the poor state of England’s housing with our existing housing stock amongst the worst in Europe. It will require collaboration of the highest scale across the public and private sectors to address these challenges, as no one organisation or body will have the capacity to meet the demand. Listening and learning from past and recent living experiences of people is essential to creating places fit for the future and innovation is vital to achieving better outcomes. As Henry Ford said, ‘if you always do what you’ve have always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got’, so it’s time for change. History demonstrates that challenging times promote creativity and some of the best new inventions came out of worldwide conflict and deprivation. For example, much of the technology we take for granted today was developed in the 2nd world war and has helped shape the world today and the invention of pressurised cabins to protect health has enabled safer flying, growth of worldwide economies and travel experiences for mankind. We have the next worldwide conflict on the horizon the pandemic which there is no vaccine for ‘Climate Change’ and an opportunity to create a better place and to slow down considerably its impact on the world and its future. It is all our responsibility to act now to prevent the catastrophic impact climate change will have on our future generation’s lives. As well as to address the inequalities and devastating impact of poor housing on today’s society. So, let’s be bold and ambitious like we had to be in the 1st and 2nd world wars and invest in innovative solutions for infrastructure, products and services which hit zero-carbon transitional targets and decentralise services. Localised solutions maximise positive outcomes for community wellbeing. Creating opportunity for effective collaboration bringing together the best ideas, best skills and best production of zero carbon accessible and affordable lifelong solutions, is a challenge we can all embrace if we work together. I am proud to work for ENGIE in a position where I can influence and be part of solutions for a better place and I am excited by the potential of what we can achieve with the support of our customers and partners. Sir Captain Tom Moore is spot on! ‘Tomorrow will be a better day’ if we want it to be and is an example of what good can come out of the simplest idea… Paula Broadbent – Retirement Solutions Director Places & Communities ENGIE UK & Ireland
Why do we want wind energy from the sea Wind energy will play a major role for the world in the future. Because wind energy is a lot better for the environment than Fossil fuel. To arouse wind energy there are few things necessary. First of all you need a lot windmills but first they have to be built that takes a lot of time after that they need to be transported to sea that will also take some time. For a windmill park you need of space and other people or other facilities should not be bother by it. Another good thing for windmills on the sea is that on the sea a lot wind is, how more wind there is how more energy the windmills will make. Wind turbines how they are made? Tower: The tower is made of an steel tube with a inner ladder there in because you can climb via that ladder to top of windmill. There is a cabine with the main system in it. The tower is with pile driving and a pile drive hammer put in the ground. Rotor and rotor blades: The rotor and the rotor blades are very important for the windmills because via these things they generate energy Nacelle with drive train: The nacelle with drive train. Keep the windmill always producing wind energy because the nacelle with drive train take care that windmill will follow the wind for example the wind direction changed from north-west to south-west the drive train will ensure that windmill also change to the new wind direction. Electronic equipment: The windmill consist of a little electric system for the sensors in the windmill because than knows the windmill where the wind is coming from. With these sensors you can also measure the wind speed and the temperature of the wind. Offshore wind farm installation Creating an offshore wind farm can be a challenging job. Few parties have the necessary materials and the experience to install offshore wind farms. Several parties are involved in the installation of an offshore wind farm and they need to work together. Usually XL monopiles are used for the installation of wind farms. In some cases up to 12 meters long. The monopile is the foundation of the offshore wind farm and is a crucial component. The monopiles are placed in the sea and form the foundation of the wind farms. The entire platform rests on these piles. The complexity of the installation means that it is often a multi-year trajectory. Once the installation has been completed, it is possible to work on renewable energy sources that reduce the cost of energy consumption and use renewable energy.
Building workers are around a hundred times more likely to die from a disease caused or exacerbated by their workplace than through a construction accident. That’s the shocking news the Health and Safety Executive is sharing during a month-long campaign to raise awareness of lung diseases caused by workplace dust. The Dustbuster campaign will see HSE officials checking up on construction firms across the country to help protect workers from the dangers of dust caused by certain materials and working practices. Using power tools, sweeping and working with products such as gypsum and wood are among activities which can be extremely harmful, without protection, say HSE experts. The initiative is aimed at helping businesses find ways to minimise dust production. Insulation specialist Actis says one change which could help is to switch from using traditional, solid insulation products which create dust when cut to those which generate no irritants or dust whatsoever. Indeed, users of Actis’ flexible honeycomb insulation Hybris and insulating vapour control and breather membranes H Control Hybrid, Boost R Hybrid and Boost R Hybrid Roof say their cleanliness and complete absence of dust is precisely one of the reasons they use them. Tony Byron-Cooper, site manager at PCR Projects’ recently completed 43-home development in Kent says he will be using Actis products on all his future developments. “Most importantly, health and safety wise for our installers, it is light, easy to handle and there’s no dust to contend with,” he said. Derek Dawson, MD at timber frame specialist Scandia-Hus said: “The Hybrid range doesn’t produce irritant and messy dust when installing.” And Canterbury builder Simon Day said: “There are no fibres and no dust is created when you cut it, which means I didn’t need a respiratory mask or any special clothes.” Avoiding dust has health as well as cleanliness implications, which is one of the reasons so many customers choose Actis. The fact that there’s no need for specialist PPE or masks and it only requires a saw or a hand operated cutter to trim it are some of the reasons builders return to Actis again and again. The HSE campaign, which launched on Monday (October 5) focuses on respiratory risks and occupational lung disease and looks at the measures businesses can take to protect their workers’ lungs from certain materials. HSE’s chief inspector of construction, Sarah Jardine, said: “Around a hundred times as many workers die from diseases caused or made worse by their work than are actually killed in construction accidents. “We want businesses and their workers to avoid creating dust by working in different ways to keep dust down and wear the right mask and clothing.”
As per expert projections, by 2030, the power consumption will rise 70% over today’s levels. On the other hand, energy efficiency systems will contribute to 57% of the decrease in GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. The energy used in building facilities, all residential, commercial, and industrial facilities, is the largest creator of GHGs, and electric power makes up about 50% of emissions attributed to commercial and residential buildings. Buildings can tackle this issue by producing more energy than they consume. Recent regulations reflect this objective. For instance, the EU’s EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) stipulates that all new buildings should achieve zero-energy by 2020. But, most building facilities are far off from meeting this objective. To achieve CO2 and energy efficiency goals, effective energy management measures starting with efficient energy consumption measurement needs to be implemented on an enormous scale. Monitoring and electrical meterings are the vital measurement tools and the building blocks for competent energy management. Efficient monitoring and electrical metering offer building operators and owners the critical data they require to enhance their building’s energy performance. In an owner-occupied, single operator office building, a quality monitoring and electrical metering solution can produce instant energy savings of about 10%. In the long term, facilities can achieve improved energy use control, and monitoring can save up to 30% in energy utilization. Continual automatic metering solutions utilize dynamic energy dashboards to display building energy consumption and operation data. Images, tables, and graphs illustrate energy information clearly, so sound decisions can be made. For instance, an energy use dashboard may indicate that the building’s ventilation system utilizes more energy than usual. This alert can make the operator decrease motor speed by a few Hz, which will lower consumption without affecting performance. Continuous automatic electrical metering also offers building occupants, operators, and owners access to the needed data to optimize existing power supply contracts and negotiate new, more cost-efficient ones. Multisite building operators and facility managers can aggregate loads to discuss bulk utility contracts. Further, users can utilize precise shadow bills to identify billing mistakes and determine if suppliers are meeting the contract terms. How to Start the Energy Management Procedure? To make sure that auditing and electrical metering plans meet regulatory and user requirements, you need to measure performance against relevant metrics. For instance, the standard metrics in office buildings are kWh/occupant and kWh/m². In hotels, kWh/overnight or kWh/occupancy rate are important metrics, while kWh/production rate is a crucial metric for industrial buildings. You should also correlate the data with cooling and heating degree days to compare the building’s existing consumption with past years and with facilities in other places. To start, organizations need to pinpoint user requirements and decide the scope of energy monitoring solutions developed for the future. Next, they should determine the performance data and metrics to be gauged to connect building activities and energy consumption. Afterward, the relevant project team needs to decide the metering places (type of electrical meter + location) that will permit operators to control and monitor the building according to their goals and ensure the collected information facilitates the desired assessment. Lastly, electrical meters should be chosen based on the energy objectives of the business. If currently used primary meters have the ability to read energy information, they can be reused for that purpose. Otherwise, new energy and electrical meters need to be installed. You should pick additional meters based on building operation goals and metering points standards. The Final Word As a recommendation, we suggest before you make any decisions regarding electrical works and procedures, you must consult a reliable provider or licensed professionals who can help determine your unique requirements and find the ideal electrical and energy solutions for your needs. Hiring an expert service your electrical systems ensures peace of mind in terms of safety, appropriate installation, and prevention of unwarranted incidents
In April 2020, the Office for National Statistics reported that almost half the UK population (46.6 percent) had been working from home and 86 percent of them did so as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Does that mean the end of the office, as we know it? Changing patterns of work Now, as workplaces gradually reopen in the ‘new normal’, employees are returning to discover a ‘reimagined workplace’ that’s very different from the one they left behind. Pre-Covid the office was open plan with shared spaces and facilities for face-to-face meetings. And, working from home was an option. Instead, employees find themselves in a hybrid workplace where more than half of employees may be working remotely. In fact, a Gartner survey indicated that remote working may become a permanent feature for many employees. The survey indicated that 74 percent of respondents intended to move at least 5 percent of their on-site workforce to permanently remote positions post-COVID 19 and nearly 25 percent said they will move at least 20 percent of employees. Focus on safety That’s a major shift in the way people work and the workplace is being reinvented to reflect that. As well as catering for a fluctuating workforce, the changes are providing an opportunity to create a smarter workplace that could improve productivity and efficiency. The challenge for the industry is how to reopen the workplace as a safe, secure environment for those employees that want to return — and many do. Gensler Research, for example, found that only 12 percent of US workers want to work from home full time. Most want to return to the workplace, but with critical changes. The survey found that employees still value personal interaction over virtual collaboration and ‘people-focused’ reasons were top of the list for their preference to return. What employees miss most about the office are the people, according to 74 percent of respondents. Employees looking for reassurance However, research also indicates a continuing lack of confidence among employees — they want concrete evidence that employers are taking actions to protect them. A survey by Traction Guest in June 2020 found that 84 percent of employees are concerned about going to their workplace for the remainder of 2020 and 85 percent stated that health and safety in the workplace is now a greater consideration than before the pandemic. Short-term social distancing measures are enabling a limited return, but to encourage more employees back, employers and industry professionals have to go further. That means reinventing the workplace by adapting existing buildings to recreate a safe environment for the critical social and human aspects of work that were absent during lockdown. Technology is playing a critical role and creating an integrated digital network will be critical to provide services that keep employees and visitors safe. Coronavirus cleaning specialists at Metro Cleaning explain, “Deep cleaning should be carried out daily, or as often as possible. If COVID-19 has been confirmed in your office, the amount of virus living on surfaces will reduce significantly after 72 hours, so if possible, wait until this time has passed before cleaning. Then, make sure to wear disposable or washing-up gloves and aprons when cleaning – this is the minimum personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary according to the current PHE guidance.” Protecting the employee journey The ‘employee journey’ in a multi-floor building provides a useful framework for identifying where technology can help. On a typical day, an employee leaves home, taking public transport or driving to the company car park and accesses the building with a temperature check at reception. After taking the lift to the office, the employee might go upstairs to a conference room then return to the office or go to a cafeteria. Later, there might be an informal meeting in a huddle room or visits to other departments before exiting the building at the end of the day. That type of journey takes in many critical contact points where touchless technology, surveillance and digital wayfinding systems can play a key role in reducing risk and creating a safe working environment. Of course, though touchless technology will play an important role in the future, this doesn’t take away the fact that offices and employers need to be vigilant with cleanliness and hygiene. Metro Cleaning reports Keeping employees informed Up-to-date information is essential during periods of uncertainty and digital signage is proving to be a valuable channel of communication. Video walls and other forms of digital display provide a flexible, dynamic channel for company notifications, status updates, location information and alerts of changes in procedures or urgent safety instructions. Higher levels of automation Automation is an important element of the reinvented workplace, helping to eliminate unnecessary contact and ensure critical tasks, such as hygiene or environmental checks, are completed automatically in line with pre-set procedures. Integrating automation with touchless technologies helps to minimize the risk of transferring the virus through contact with any of the frequently used surfaces in a building. Critical, heavily used surfaces might include door handles, access keypads, elevator buttons, display controls and reception logins. Actions associated with those surfaces can be automated, using technologies such as RFID to create a touchless process. And, smartphone apps can also be used to automate many of the processes, particularly those tasks where employees must validate their identity to gain access at reception or secure areas, for example. An integrated approach All of these services can be integrated with track and trace and building management systems to bring HVAC, lighting and other environmental services into a single solution, rather than a collection of ad-hoc installations. Surveillance systems will also be important to monitor spaces where social distancing could be difficult to maintain. By using information from monitoring systems, facilities management teams can redirect people via digital wayfinding systems to reduce the risk of overcrowding. Delivering a solution like this will require a multidisciplinary approach involving an ecosystem of dedicated partners, including architects, facility planners and managers, interior designers, furniture manufacturers, contractors,
Offsite manufacturers looking to boost the profile of MMC in the public sector are wanted for a new four-year framework to supply schools, hospitals and community buildings. The Modular Buildings (MB2) framework from LHC is for the design, supply, installation and hire of permanent, temporary, and refurbished modular buildings for the public sector. It primarily covers education, healthcare, emergency services, offices and community related amenities such as sport facilities and theatres, but it can also be used for residential projects that are part of a mixed-use development or for student accommodation. Suppliers that want to be part of the framework need to offer a full turnkey solution, providing all services required to deliver a full project from design through to handover. Mij Rahman, director of procurement at LHC, said: “We’ve seen the public sector’s appetite for offsite construction increase over recent years, with contracting authorities procuring £100million of work through our previous MB1 framework. “This framework needs enthusiastic, innovative suppliers that want to work with us and continue to raise standards within the MMC market and can also provide local authorities with high quality services that deliver long term value.” The framework is split into four workstreams with eight lots that bidders can apply for. For more information on how to apply for the MB2 framework, contact your regional hub: www.lhc.gov.uk/contact-us/ Lot 1: Workstream 1a – permanent modular buildings (up to £750,000) Lot 2: Workstream 1b – permanent modular buildings (£500,000-£3 million) Lot 3: Workstream 1c – permanent modular buildings (over £3 million) Lot 4: Workstream 2a – permanent healthcare buildings (up to £3 million) Lot 5: Workstream 2b – permanent healthcare buildings (over £3 million) Lot 6: Workstream 3 – hire of temporary buildings Lot 7: Workstream 4 – refurbished buildings