Construction has started on the £3.9m renovation of King Edward VI School in Lichfield, with works being led by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson for Staffordshire County Council under the Staffordshire Construction framework. This is the second contract secured by G F Tomlinson through the Staffordshire Construction framework for Staffordshire
Specialist supplier AEI Cables has welcomed the move by the Government to ensure sprinkler systems are mandatory in all new high-rise blocks over 11 metres tall when they come into force. The government announced an amendment to the statutory guidance to building safety regulations, known as Approved Document B, reducing
The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has released a new technical guide to add to its portfolio of online guides available to download. The new guide, The Impact of Controls on the Energy Efficiency of Buildings, focuses on the British and European standard, BS EN 15232-1:2017, which assesses the cumulative impact
Mike Brown heads Bellharbour as Director of Property Management. Mike has worked in the Property Management sector for 33 years and in residential management for the last 22, specialising in managing luxury residential buildings and large mixed-use estates. He brings extensive experience both as a managing agent and on the client
A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from a buyer concerning the survey. The buyer said that the surveyor failed to notify her of the presence of woodworm (active or not). She said that the survey report did not mention evidence of woodworm in the kitchen
A specialist range of LED driving and working lights have been launched to help the construction industry, enabling work to continue safely through the night thanks to their industrial levels of illumination. During this unprecedented time, the construction industry is playing a major role in helping to maintain key infrastructure and
Leading bathroom manufacturer, Geberit, has been announced as a finalist in two categories in the 2020 Builder Merchants Journal (BMJ) Industry Awards. Geberit was one of six manufacturers to make the final cut in the ‘Heating and Plumbing Manufacturer’ category, thanks to innovations in its drainage and piping products including
Acorn’s Rail division has become the first Welsh SME in 2020 to receive a Trackside Principal Contractors Licence from Network Rail. Principal Contractors License is a requirement over and above CDM (Construction, Design Management), and whilst Principal Contractor requirements are specific to Network Rail it is deemed the gold standard
Lindsay has been working in the property sector for the last twenty years, with the last ten years focussed on business development with a variety of clients ranging from top ten housebuilders to freehold investor landlords and resident’s management companies. Developers especially value her input when it comes to supporting
With awareness of climate change on the rise, cities across the world are coming under scrutiny for their large carbon footprints and unsustainable designs. It’s no one’s fault. Modern cities were designed before anyone was aware of the impact they could have on the environment. Now that people know better,
Construction has started on the £3.9m renovation of King Edward VI School in Lichfield, with works being led by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson for Staffordshire County Council under the Staffordshire Construction framework. This is the second contract secured by G F Tomlinson through the Staffordshire Construction framework for Staffordshire County Council, led by Entrust Property Services – the first being the £5.2m Poppyfields Primary School in Cannock, which was successfully completed last summer within a major housing development in the area. The project involves the design and build of an extension to an existing building and the construction of a new modular building to provide much needed replacement teaching and auxiliary spaces at King Edward VI School. Building on a winning partnership from the successful delivery of the Poppyfields Primary school, G F Tomlinson again appointed Arc Partnership to provide architectural and engineering services for the scheme. Phase one of works at the Lichfield co-educational comprehensive for pupils aged 11 to 18, involves the construction of a new three-storey extension on the site of a former swimming pool, which had been closed for over ten years and was demolished as part of preliminary site-wide enabling works by ENTRUST prior to commencement. The extension will provide replacement teaching and auxiliary spaces, as well as an administration area on the lower ground floor, which will be the location of the school’s new student services area. Completion for this phase is expected in spring 2021. Phase two involves the demolition of existing accommodation and obsolete prefabricated buildings, to be replaced with the construction of a brand new standalone modular structure, providing modern and enhanced science laboratory teaching facilities at the school. Ideal Modular, part of G F Tomlinson’s existing supply chain, has been appointed to deliver the modular element of this project. Works for phase two are expected to be completed in winter 2020. During the course of the construction works, G F Tomlinson is looking to engage with both staff and students of the school. The site management team will perform virtual live site tours for the school to report project progress and allow them to raise any queries they have. Once government guidelines allow it, the contractor also plans to carry out regular site tours and school assemblies, as well as communicating the project’s progress through meetings with the school. Regular newsletters will also be distributed to the school and local residents. Chris Flint, director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are pleased to be able to commence construction works for our client Staffordshire County Council, particularly in the current climate. The works will maximise space and upgrade the existing buildings at King Edward VI School. These important renovations will optimise teaching spaces and improve the overall educational experience for students and staff. “It has been rewarding to engage with Entrust Property Services again and we look forward to working for them and Staffordshire County Council to deliver this project, whilst continuing to build strong relationships with Arc Partnership and our other local supply chain partners over the course of both phases.” County Councillor Philip White, cabinet member for learning and skills said: “These works are being completed to ensure the site can accommodate an increased demand for pupil places at the school, as a result of new housing in and around the city. Once finished, the work will enable the school to expand by 150 pupils. “We have been planning for this for a while, and construction is taking place over the course of a year to minimise disruption as much as possible. I’m sure pupils and teachers will enjoy using the brand-new accommodation in September 2021.” John Doherty, CEO of Entrust Support Services, said: “We are proud to see works commence at King Edward VI School following ENTRUST’s master planning of a multifaceted brief across a split campus. This is a complex project which we are proudly project managing with our preferred contractor and we look forward to working with G F Tomlinson, Staffordshire County Council and the school to complete it. Once finished, these new teaching spaces will benefit the school and its pupils well into the future.” Jane Rutherford, headteacher at King Edward School said “With additional students joining us each year, this project will provide all our students and staff with access to improved facilities. We are looking forward to seeing the project completed during the coming academic year”. Staffordshire County Council is leading the project, with project management from ENTRUST, G F Tomlinson acting as main contractors, and Arc partnership acting as architect and structural engineer.
Specialist supplier AEI Cables has welcomed the move by the Government to ensure sprinkler systems are mandatory in all new high-rise blocks over 11 metres tall when they come into force. The government announced an amendment to the statutory guidance to building safety regulations, known as Approved Document B, reducing the requirement for sprinkler systems from the current 30 metres to 11 metres. Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI Cables, said: “We believe sprinkler systems at this level will make a real difference to the safety of lives and property – as long as provision is made for the installation of approved cabling for these purposes. “We look forward to working with the industry to make sure this can work in practice.” The Fire Safety Bill, which was introduced to Parliament in April, will also empower fire and rescue services to take enforcement action and hold building owners to account if they do not comply with the law. The Institution of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO) is supporting the call by AEI Cables to ensure that reliable continuous power is provided for sprinkler systems. The tried and tested generation of AEI Cables’ fire performance cabling ensure critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes and often support systems which provide intelligence for the fire and rescue services. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling is the only cable to be independently approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B) Category 3 Control for firefighting systems including sprinkler pumps, fire suppression water mist systems, water spray systems, wet riser pumps, wet riser valve and equipment monitoring under the Code of Practice. All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world.
The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has released a new technical guide to add to its portfolio of online guides available to download. The new guide, The Impact of Controls on the Energy Efficiency of Buildings, focuses on the British and European standard, BS EN 15232-1:2017, which assesses the cumulative impact of building automation and controls – commonly referred to as BACS – on the energy efficiency of buildings. Terry Sharp, President of the BCIA, said: “It is a well-documented fact that buildings account for over 40% of global energy consumption, and buildings rarely perform as well as their designers calculated. BCIA member companies use the BS EN 15232 Standard as a guiding light for control system design and operation, so we have released this Technical Guide to help manufacturers and systems integrators understand the Standard better and improve the performance of the buildings they work on.” The BCIA’s technical guides are designed to help members and those in the building controls and BEMS industry work more effectively. All technical guides can be downloaded from the ‘resources’ section of the BCIA website.
Mike Brown heads Bellharbour as Director of Property Management. Mike has worked in the Property Management sector for 33 years and in residential management for the last 22, specialising in managing luxury residential buildings and large mixed-use estates. He brings extensive experience both as a managing agent and on the client side, dealing with everything from small RMCs to large developers. Bellharbour was created out of an identified need to meet specific requirements to high-end developments within the property sector. By bringing together some of the UK’s elite property sector specialists, the company provides over 55 years of combined experience in management of the prime sector. The aim is to provide a truly high-end bespoke service to clients: Lower ratio of development staff to properties than our competitors Maintaining higher standards of presentation of your property More in-depth knowledge of prime developments Strong management training of any staff hired to work onsite An extensive suite of supporting services from the companies within the group Bellharbour expects to grow quickly, with a number of clients already on board even before launch, and some preparing to switch. The central location is ideal for attracting high-end developers in and around Canary Wharf, as well as for recruiting the best talent in the industry. About the Fexco Property Services group Bellharbour is a trading company of Crabtree PM Limited, and part of the Fexco Property Services group, founded in 2015 by the Irish multi-national company Fexco to provide nationally focused management and professional services to the built environment. The group currently consists of Bellharbour, Crabtree PM Limited, Remus Management and Ellis Sloane & Co. Backed by Fexco which has been investing in the UK since 1983 and involved in block management since 1999, successfully growing the largest residential management group in Australia; Prudential Investment Company of Australia Pty Limited (PICA) who currently have 280,000 homes under their management. Together the combined experience of the group amounts to the largest service provider in the UK.
A case that The Property Ombudsman was asked to review came from a buyer concerning the survey. The buyer said that the surveyor failed to notify her of the presence of woodworm (active or not). She said that the survey report did not mention evidence of woodworm in the kitchen or hall floorings even though those areas were not carpeted at the time of the survey. She explained that if she had been alerted to this, she could have had any necessary treatment carried out before moving into the property. Instead, this had to be done after, requiring her to vacate the property for three days. The surveyor said that at the initial inspection, the timber floor was exposed in the hall and kitchen and appeared generally free of defect. There was damp staining in the kitchen and the area was tested with a damp meter which showed the area was dry. In the absence of any further visible defect, they concluded that there was no significant problem to the floor. The surveyor commented on treatment carried out on behalf of the buyer by a woodworm specialist company. They thought that there was a lack of evidence from the contractor’s inspection as the photographs of floorboards showed visible holes on the underside of the floorboards only. They said these would not have been noticeable without the floor being lifted, something the survey report clearly stated would not be done. In addition, the work was carried nine months after their inspection, and they said that conditions could have changed during this time. OMBUDSMAN’S FINDINGS The buyer had commissioned a Level 3 RICS Building Survey Report. The survey stated that the surveyor would use their best endeavours to identify the risk of potential or hidden defects and to see as much as is physically accessible. With specific regard to the floors, the survey explained that surfaces of exposed floors were visually inspected and, where covered, the corners of loose carpets and other floor coverings would be lifted where practicable and with the permission of the owner and/or occupier. The floor was exposed in both the kitchen and hall. The surveyor should have noted any obvious signs of woodworm; the report did not indicate there were any signs. The survey explained that recommendations for further investigations should be included only when the surveyor felt unable to reach necessary conclusions with reasonable confidence. There was no suggestion that, in this case, the surveyor was unable to reach their conclusions about the condition of the floor with confidence. The Ombudsman did not consider that there was anything to put the surveyor on notice that there was a potential infestation; no holes were evident at the time the survey was completed and the surveyor reported that the floors were generally free of defect. While appreciating the inconvenience caused to the buyer as a result of having treatment carried out once she had moved into the property, there was no evidence to indicate that woodworm should have been noted on the survey. Outcome The complaint was not supported.
A specialist range of LED driving and working lights have been launched to help the construction industry, enabling work to continue safely through the night thanks to their industrial levels of illumination. During this unprecedented time, the construction industry is playing a major role in helping to maintain key infrastructure and with several health and safety risks on site, it is important that work can take place safely and securely with efficient visibility, 24/7. Launched by automotive OE lighting specialist, OSRAM, the LEDriving® driving and working lights range offers a variety of performances, shapes and beam patterns, with various illumination profiles including spot, wide and combo. There are four series to choose from: Multifunctional, Functional, Slim and Value, with three LEDriving® working lights available within the Multifunctional series, which have been specially designed for off-road applications, allowing work to continue into the night. The LEDriving CUBE MX85-SP and -WD versions combine two LED lighting performances: a working light and a stylish ‘X’ shape light. The CUBE MX85 is available in a Spot (SP) version, which offers a far-field illumination beam of up to 110 metres with a 13.5° beam angle. There is also a wide-beam pattern (WD) version, which is specialised for near-field illumination with a light beam of up to 55 metres and a particularly wide-beam angle of 43.5°. These two products only work with 12V applications. LEDriving LIGHTBAR MX140-WD can be used with 12V and 24V applications and offers wide beam patterns, producing a powerful far field illumination up to 60 metres. The product has a robust and compact design with a long lifetime of up to 5000 hours. The LED light provides an extremely high optic efficiency, homogeneous light distribution and reduced glare to improve visibility, even during compromised daylight. All OSRAM LEDriving® driving and working lights are rigorously tested under the most extreme environmental conditions to ensure premium quality light for any situation. This includes testing for competence in the field of environmental simulation according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025; fully adhering to ECE regulations; light measurement to ensure high performance; vibration and shock testing to check for mechanical robustness; water resistance testing, achieving the highest IP protection class, IP4X; dust resistance testing, classifying as IP5X and IP6X; and salt spray testing to prevent chemical corrosion. All the products in the range come with a five-year OSRAM guarantee, providing customers with complete reassurance. For more information on OSRAM’s range of LEDriving® lights, visit www.osram.co.uk/ledriving-lights.
Leading bathroom manufacturer, Geberit, has been announced as a finalist in two categories in the 2020 Builder Merchants Journal (BMJ) Industry Awards. Geberit was one of six manufacturers to make the final cut in the ‘Heating and Plumbing Manufacturer’ category, thanks to innovations in its drainage and piping products including its Mapress, Mepla and SuperTube systems. In addition, Geberit’s Twyford brand, part of Geberit Group since 2015, is also among the finalists in the ‘Bathroom Manufacturer’category. The BMJ Industry Awards is voted for by the industry. Now in its third year, the awards recognise the very best merchants and manufacturers operating in the industry today. Purdie Proudman, marketing manager for merchant and contractor at Geberit, said: “These awards are judged by industry experts so to be among the finalists in two categories is a huge achievement. It demonstrates our commitment to customer service and our innovations in behind-the-wall and ceramic bathroom solutions.”
Acorn’s Rail division has become the first Welsh SME in 2020 to receive a Trackside Principal Contractors Licence from Network Rail. Principal Contractors License is a requirement over and above CDM (Construction, Design Management), and whilst Principal Contractor requirements are specific to Network Rail it is deemed the gold standard within the rail industry, and it recognises Acorn Rail’s ability to discharge Principal Contractor duties during construction work carried out on behalf of Network Rail. It also permits Acorn to tender for all maintenance, labour or contract work issued by the national body. The licence provides assurance that Acorn Rail, as a Principal Contractor, has appropriate and robust HSQE management systems to effectively discharge its duties under official construction regulations and meet all additional requirements of Network Rail. The licence is issued in accordance with the Network Rail Principal Contractor Licensing Scheme NR/L2/INI/CP0070. Kevin Morris, Director of Rail at Acorn Rail, said: “Our new status as a Principal Contractor for Network Rail is testament to the continued commitment that this highly successful division of Acorn has shown in operating responsibly, and to the highest of standards required by the UK rail industry today. Acorn Rail works with a broad range of clients to undertake rail projects across the UK including civil engineering, track renewals, signalling, power & telecoms, tunnelling, and mechanical and engineering. “Our Rail Division is supported by an experienced in-house quality management and compliance team, which has proven its robustness time and time again through ongoing audits. This Principal Contract Licence is a logical next step in our continued progression as a highly effective and well-respected supplier to the rail and civil engineering industries. Furthermore, we are now in a fantastic position to support our clients’ and our own visions of delivering the drivers of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, support sustainability and help create a thriving Wales. Acorn Rail is seeking to follow in the successful footsteps of its parent company Acorn Recruitment, which has a lengthy track record of organic growth, working with hundreds of UK and international businesses and supporting UK job seekers through its specialist teams and a network of more than 30 branches nationwide. Acorn places some 6,000 people every week into temporary roles and more than 1,700 people into permanent roles every year. Acorn’s Group Managing Director, Matt Southall said: “The Principal Contractors Licence that our specialist rail team has been awarded is a good reflection of the whole Acorn group, and our commitment to quality, safety and compliance in everything we do. “We are delighted for all those working within the rail division who support and help maintain such a vital part of the UK transport infrastructure, and we look forward to fulfilling this role even more effectively as a result of this new status we have been given by Network Rail.” For more information visit www.acornpeople.com
Lindsay has been working in the property sector for the last twenty years, with the last ten years focussed on business development with a variety of clients ranging from top ten housebuilders to freehold investor landlords and resident’s management companies. Developers especially value her input when it comes to supporting site office teams launching new developments. Lindsay brings a real understanding of clients and potential purchasers’ needs, from initial site set up through launch, to handover and operational management. Vastly experienced in the property industry, Lindsay has worked on developments ranging from large scale consortium developments of upwards of 3,000 units, to high-end mixed-use city centre developments and listed building conversions. With a down to earth approach to building and retaining client relationships, Lindsay is a great asset to not just the Remus Management team, but the Fexco Property Services group as a whole.
With awareness of climate change on the rise, cities across the world are coming under scrutiny for their large carbon footprints and unsustainable designs. It’s no one’s fault. Modern cities were designed before anyone was aware of the impact they could have on the environment. Now that people know better, civil engineers are working to resolve the underlying problems by improving infrastructure and making cities more sustainable, more resilient, and more enjoyable for their residents. Read on to find out how. Reducing Building Emissions Traditional urban skyscrapers and other large-scale buildings generate more greenhouse gas emissions than many property owners and consumers would think. There are two ways that commercial engineering services are working with property owners, government officials, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders to resolve this problem. They are finding ways to refurbish and retrofit existing buildings to meet more exacting modern standards for environmental sustainability and helping property owners navigate the switch to more resilient designs and more sustainable materials. Improving Infrastructure By 2050, over 65% of all people will likely be living in cities. The influx of new residents will create new challenges, but civil engineers can help by improving public infrastructures such as roads, utilities, and public spaces. When working with other stakeholders to improve public infrastructure, civil engineers must consider not just the city’s current needs but also those of future generations. In some cases, that means installing new drainage systems that protect sensitive watersheds. In others, it will require completely rethinking neighborhood designs to reduce traffic flow and ensure the more equitable distribution of resources. Each city, and each neighborhood within the city, is different, so each one has different social, environmental, and economic needs that must be met. That means civil engineers must respect the fact that sustainability and resiliency interventions are not out-of-the-box solutions. Each problem must be given its due consideration and potential solutions must consider all three pillars of sustainability. It’s the only way to make cities more livable for future generations. Leveraging of Technology to Implement Positive Change Modern civil engineers have a whole arsenal of technological tools at their disposal that can help them understand unique problems and come up with effective interventions. Artificial intelligence can be used to collect and analyze data, which civil engineers can then use to better understand the social, environmental, and economic repercussions. Predictive modeling can confirm or dispel their conceptions of how new utilities, roads, or buildings will impact the local ecosystem. New, technologically advanced building methods and materials can reduce cities’ carbon footprints, and renewable methods for generating electricity could change the way that consumers and city officials think about using and providing power. All of these technological advancements can only be put to good use by trained and experienced civil engineers who understand not just the range of solutions now available, but also the context for successful implementation. The Bottom Line Creating more sustainable, resilient, and livable cities requires the collaboration of government officials, environmental experts, residents, and many other stakeholders, but it is civil engineers who have the skills required to take theoretical needs and turn them into practical realities. Sustainability isn’t just about reducing negative environmental impacts. It also requires careful consideration of social and economic repercussions. Creating better cities for future generations will require a lot of work, but civil engineers are up to the task.