Leeds College of Building is now offering the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship, focusing specifically on the drylining pathway. This is a Level 2 qualification and typically takes two years to complete. Working in partnership with British Gypsum to deliver the course, it includes the supply of materials, training and keeping
Manufacturer’s Dune eVo tiles feature in an agile working programme. Ultra-green ceiling tiles by Armstrong Ceiling Solutions are helping one of Britain’s leading utility companies focus on providing low-carbon, sustainable energy, alongside agile working, within its own offices. In 2014, npower initiated a major programme to introduce agile working across
New building constitutes the third phase of development completed to date at the popular St Modwen Park development in Burton, Staffordshire. GMI Construction Group has announced the completion of a new 103,947 sq ft speculative distribution unit for leading logistics & industrial developer St Modwen in Burton One of the
Recent strong growth has seen TODD Architects, one of the Architects Journal’s UK leading 100 practices, expand its London office with a move to larger premises in Fitzrovia. Explains London office Principal, Katie Parfitt: “Although TODD’s have had a London studio since the 1980s, we needed more space to support
Several factors can cause foundation issues. They include; drainage issues, poor soil preparation, plumbing leaks, absorption of water by tree roots, etc. You should remember that your home is an investment, and it needs your protection. This will help you stay away from any repairing costs. Here are some tips
The casino industry continues to expand rapidly in Asia, with Japan set to be the next major country to enter the sector. With gambling operators enjoying huge success courtesy of lavish resorts in Singapore, Macau and elsewhere, it is no surprise to see significant further investment planned in the region
By Mackenzie Peters, Global Product Group Manager, Industrial HEFH at MSA Safety. MSA Safety is a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of industry-leading safety products and customises its hard hats via its MSA LOGO EXPRESS® service. How we got to where we are Directive 89/686/EEC, introduced in 1989, aimed to
Manufacturer’s parallel opening window vents feature at the Anna Freud Centre. Parallel opening window vents by leading manufacturer of architectural glazing systems Kawneer were specified for a mental health project that is arguably without parallel. Some 88 of Kawneer’s AA®100 SSG parallel opening vents were used as concealed windows, to
A new brick made from domestic plastic waste has been proven to provide 10 times better insulation than traditional bricks made from clay. Dr Karthikeyan Kandan, senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), has created a novel brick made entirely from upcycled plastic waste. Believed to
The achievement of Scotland’s five, geographically located hub , the partnerships set up six years ago to build new community facilities across Scotland, will be in the supporting the third annual Education Buildings Scotland 2019 Exhibition, Conference and Awards Dinner at Edinburgh’s EICC on 27-28 November. To date, the hubs have delivered
Leeds College of Building is now offering the Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship, focusing specifically on the drylining pathway. This is a Level 2 qualification and typically takes two years to complete. Working in partnership with British Gypsum to deliver the course, it includes the supply of materials, training and keeping apprentices up-to-date with product development. If you are interested, get in touch with the Apprenticeship Team on 0113 222 6041 or email wbl@lcb.ac.uk For full details click here. Key facts Where will the apprentice study? Leeds College of Building Funding band: £1400, non-levy employer contribution £700 Apprentices start: Sept 2020, however early demand could bring the first wave forward to February 2020. Apprenticeship Training Costs: If you are an apprenticeship levy-payer you could fund this course through your levy payments, and for non-levy payers you will be required to contribute 5% of the course cost. If you are a non-levy payer and have less than 50 employees and take on a 16-18 year old apprentice the course will be free. Regardless of whether you are a levy/non-levy paying company, you can claim a one-off incentive of £1,000 for taking on a 16-18 year old apprentice. The college will also support apprentices from out of the area by accommodating them free of charge in a city centre hotel whilst they are in college and also help with the travel costs. With around 60,000 Dryliners active in the UK, Drylining must, as a trade be one of the UK’s best kept secrets. Everybody knows what a plasterer or a carpenter is, but you often get blank looks when you talk about drylining. The fact is that drylining is now emerging as one of the key trades in construction. It is encouraging to see leading colleges like Leeds evidencing this by getting behind it. We now have a new Apprenticeship Standard, new providers and the new funding allows real flexibility about age of apprentices. We are also seeing significant increases in the CITB funding available for companies who take on apprentices – this is over and above the funding that you can get to cover the training. This is a huge opportunity to make 2020 the year of the apprentice, for the sector to embrace this standard as a catalyst for change, to revisit how we invest in training and work with colleges and providers to put drylining firmly on the careers map. Iain McIlwee, FIS chief executive
Manufacturer’s Dune eVo tiles feature in an agile working programme. Ultra-green ceiling tiles by Armstrong Ceiling Solutions are helping one of Britain’s leading utility companies focus on providing low-carbon, sustainable energy, alongside agile working, within its own offices. In 2014, npower initiated a major programme to introduce agile working across its estate to benefit the wellbeing of its employees and enable the business to reduce its own energy overheads. Agile working gives employees the freedom to choose where and how they work, be it from home a few days a week, from a client’s office or a café, or moving around different spaces within an office. The added benefit is that workers can save considerable time they would have otherwise spent on commuting into work, and with fewer workers coming into the office that means less power and water use, and fewer cars on the road. As part of this programme, Armstrong’s new Dune eVo mineral ceiling tiles replaced the manufacturer’s traditional Dune tiles as part of a mechanical and electrical upgrade at npower’s office in Princes Way, Solihull, Birmingham (one of its largest offices, with typically around 600 employees on site during normal working hours). Dune eVo was the first ceiling system in the industry to gain Cradle to Cradle™ accreditation. Being 100% recyclable, the range has been designed to provide class-leading visuals and improved acoustic performance through a new surface that is also brighter and smoother. More than 2,000m2 of the old Dune tiles were returned to the company’s production facility in Gateshead for recycling while the new Dune eVo tiles were installed over eight floors (550m2 per floor) in two months by a team of six by main contractor Beacons Business Interiors (Bbi) for principal contractor Mitie. The modern, highly efficient Solihull office, which significantly benefits from solar power, is home to npower’s commercial, sales, finance, human resources, communications and risk departments. It boasts an on-site restaurant, with a contemplation room and a number of quiet study rooms. Bbi’s strategic business development director Paul Westlake said: “The project went very smoothly, with the Armstrong systems performing very well as usual. The fact that we offered a recycling scheme was a big positive as this was a refurbishment project and we diverted the old tiles from landfill.” As one of Britain’s leading energy companies, npower serves around 3.6 million residential and business accounts with electricity and gas. Julian Pugh, head of real estate and workplace at npower, said: “Our business aims to provide good value to its customers, operating in a professional manner, and is very much in the public eye. Our management of the workplace needs to follow a similar value-adding approach to the working experience of our employees. “Since introducing flexible and agile working five years ago, one of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that agility isn’t a property strategy, it’s a people strategy. This has changed the dynamic of project perception, so instead of just looking at redesigning an estate around the most cost-effective use of property, we’ve also looked at it from the perspective of enhancing the experience of employees using it at every point on their work journey.” More information is accessible via the Armstrong Ceiling Solutions website https://www.armstrongceilingsolutions.co.uk.
New building constitutes the third phase of development completed to date at the popular St Modwen Park development in Burton, Staffordshire. GMI Construction Group has announced the completion of a new 103,947 sq ft speculative distribution unit for leading logistics & industrial developer St Modwen in Burton One of the largest warehouse developments in the Midlands, St. Modwen Park Burton has outline consent for one million sq ft and is now home to a number of established occupiers, including Hellman Worldwide Logistics, Keylite Roof Windows, Supply Technologies and London City Bond. The unit, which includes 10 dock levellers (including 2 euro-docks), a 50m deep yard and Grade A office space, is the latest opportunity for businesses to join the popular scheme, which prominently fronts the A38 to the south of Burton-upon-Trent. The new unit could provide approximately 120 jobs once occupied, in addition to a significant number of construction jobs, which were created during the build by GMI Construction. Speaking about the project GMI Group Managing Director Andy Bruce said: “GMI is proud to have been trusted by St Modwen to deliver this important new building on time, on budget and to the highest possible standards – which is the promise we make on every project and our primary focus going forward. This project is the 4th logistics and industrial project we have been awarded and completed this year and further endorses our growing credentials in this sector”. Also commenting Rob Richardson, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen Industrial & Logistics, said: “St. Modwen Park Burton is one of our key sites and a significant asset for the business. Our third phase of development expands the scheme’s offering, allowing us to meet market demand for quality, well-located space in the region. Our decision to speculatively build the 103,000 sq ft unit demonstrates our confidence both in the attractiveness of the scheme and in the wider industrial and logistics market.” For more information on St. Modwen Park Burton, please visit stmodwenlogistics.co.uk/property/st-modwen-park-burton/
Recent strong growth has seen TODD Architects, one of the Architects Journal’s UK leading 100 practices, expand its London office with a move to larger premises in Fitzrovia. Explains London office Principal, Katie Parfitt: “Although TODD’s have had a London studio since the 1980s, we needed more space to support the growth of our London business. We’ve had considerable success, especially in the last nine months, winning several large, prestigious projects, including the delivery of major residential developments for Ballymore at Goodluck Hope on the River Thames and for Ardmore as part of the continuing Battersea Power Station redevelopment.” Continues Katie: “With a growing portfolio, we needed extra staff, taking onboard a new Part 1 Architect, Aesha Mehta, fresh from Westminster University as well as architect Stephen Duncan transferring from our Belfast office. With this extra talent, as well as plans to recruit additional staff, we needed to find more space.” TODD’s have leased the fourth floor at 18 Wells Street, a new build Grade A office space in the heart of Fitzrovia. With the new space fitted out by Rubicon Commercial, the essentially open plan office uses free standing shelving to break up the area without creating fixed partitions. A private balcony supplements the excellent natural light with views across the vibrant neighbourhood. Concludes Peter Minnis, TODD’s London Director: “We see this new move as the latest step in our expansion in London and the South East. Our involvement with projects like the Royal Wharf development that we recently completed for Ballymore, has given us a strong platform and we’ve been able to keep up that momentum with the Goodluck Hope and Battersea commissions”. Todd Architects’ new office can be found at: 18 Wells Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 3PG (0203 1469555)
Several factors can cause foundation issues. They include; drainage issues, poor soil preparation, plumbing leaks, absorption of water by tree roots, etc. You should remember that your home is an investment, and it needs your protection. This will help you stay away from any repairing costs. Here are some tips to help you out: Inspect your home You should walk around your infrastructure after a few months and check if there is any sign of trouble. In case you spot cracks or holes on your wall, it is essential to fill them. This will help you destroy the infestation of insects, which could ruin your wall. If you have a bean and pier foundation, inspect the crawlspace to see if there is any indication of mildew, dampness, and wood rot. When checking for cracks, you should keenly look at them to see how large they are and also where they are coming from. Stopping the fractures when they are small will help you to prevent further damage on your wall. It is difficult for you to see the movement happening because of the weight of the house sagging down the foundation. In case your home is setting or sinking, you should seek help from a profession to inspect your wall. You can also find more information when you checkout Houston foundation repair. Keep the moisture level consistent Prevent the soil around your structure from becoming extremely dry or wet. This is because the soils around your structure contract and expand as humidity levels change. Therefore, you will have extra work to keep up the moisture levels. The movements created due to contraction and expansion of soil are the source of cracks or holes in your structure. Putting a water control program into action will help you prevent any further damage to your wall. During the warm season, it is crucial to water the base. It is good that you use an underground irrigation system though it is ambiguous on rainy seasons, and it is also expensive to install. The best option for your home is using a soaker pipe or an automatic lawn sprinkler to keep the dirt around your foundation a little bit moist. You can also consider setting up rock beds. These beds will enable the needed moisture to go into the soil hence preventing any cracks on the base of your property. Establish a proper drainage system A lot of water around your structure is not good as also little because it can lead to upheaval (a case when your structure raises above its supposed position). It is also advisable to install some gutters. They should be sufficient enough to dispose of a large mass of water, which can pile up during heavy rains. You can also use downspouts to discharge water from your structure. If your area has sandy soil which quickly absorbs water, you can discharge water at 3” from the foundation. In case water is standing around your structure and drainage is an issue, it is advisable to install surface drainage. If smaller dampness is a problem, you can install a French drain to prevent your house from smaller but extremely destructive amounts of humidity. The drainage system and drainage collection will help you to solve your issues. Protect your house from large trees For trees to live, they need a lot of moisture, and their large roots will absorb water from the soil surrounding your structure. This might cause damage to the base of your house. When planting trees, make sure you plant them some distance away from your house. This depends on the kind of trees you want to plant. Consult your nurseryman to learn more about the moisture needed and the expected root size of the tress you wish to plant on your landscape. Yearly inspection of your home plumbing Plumbing leaks mainly under slab leaks are the biggest causes of foundation damage. The holes take place in sprinkle irrigation systems, freshwater, and any other part of your plumbing system. In case there is a plumbing leak, call a licensed plumber to conduct hydrostatic testing to enable him to detect invisible leaks. Installation of a root barrier Suppose you already have planted large trees around your house. The best thing to do is to install a root barrier. The wall is implanted in the ground. It is made of metal, plastic, or any other materials. It will help to prevent tree roots from getting to your foundation. They direct roots away and down from your structure. Construct your structure on a proper slope It is essential to have good grading to enable water to drain away from your structure. The ground surrounding your building should be sloping away from it. In case it is not, you can install a moisture barrier approximately 5” deep around your house. Protectection against cracks When a house is lifted, there will be a formation of a significant break. Cracks can cause severe problems in areas of metroplex. Seasonal weather conditions cause various foundation issues. In case you spot such issues, contact a foundation constructor. You can also repair the cracks if need be. This will prevent further damage to your wall. Have a contractor examine your foundation issue In case you spot a foundation problem, consult a reputable contractor. Through inspection, he or she can tell the difference between cracks, which shows foundation problems, and those that indicate there were some movements. They will stop by your home to inspect the extent of the damage and advise accordingly. They can also help you to fix the issue. Click here to see more tips. Conclusion The tips will enable you to protect your house foundation. They will also help you reduce costly repairs. As a homeowner, it is crucial to be careful and prepared for any issue which may destroy your home foundation and property. It is best if you avoided any foundation repairs. Early detection of foundation issues will save you money and time.
The casino industry continues to expand rapidly in Asia, with Japan set to be the next major country to enter the sector. With gambling operators enjoying huge success courtesy of lavish resorts in Singapore, Macau and elsewhere, it is no surprise to see significant further investment planned in the region over the next few years. The rapid growth of online casinos in Japan sparked a clamour amongst consumers for brick and mortar venues to be allowed to open across the country. The Japanese government subsequently reacted to the calls by agreeing to allow new casinos to be constructed at up to three different locations. Tokyo, Hokkaido, Chiba, Yokohama and Nagoya are amongst the cities vying to host what could be the most stunning casino resorts on the continent. There have been some truly staggering venues built in Asia over the past few years and Japan can be expected to follow suit when construction begins. Read on as we look at the latest state of play regarding major casino developments across the Asian continent. Iconic Singapore venue set for huge expansion Owned by the Las Vegas Sands organisation, the Marina Bay Sands resort is undoubtedly one of the most iconic properties in Asia. The three-tower design, which was inspired by decks of cards, originally cost $5.5 billion to build but its owners are not resting on their laurels. The operator is planning to add an impressive arena, exhibition halls and a new luxury hotel tower that will take the total number of rooms to more than 3,600. Las Vegas Sands believe that the $3.3bn investment will keep the resort at the pinnacle of the gambling industry over the coming years. While the casino is a hugely important part of Marina Bay Sands, experts believe that the provision of other facilities will ensure it remains a successful venture for years to come. Operators plan massive investment in Macau Having generated Gross Gaming Revenues of nearly $38bn in 2018, Macau is firmly established as one of the most important gambling destinations in the world. Many of the main operators there are planning major new developments over the next few years, with a view to ensuring that the government issues new licenses to them when they expire in 2022. Galaxy Entertainment is leading the way with plans to expand the stunning Galaxy Macau over the next couple of years at a projected cost of HK$45bn. SJM Holdings are also planning major investment in Macau, with the Grand Lisboa Palace scheduled to open during the second half of 2020 at a cost of HK$36bn. MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts and Melco Resorts & Entertainment have also confirmed ambitious expansion plans in the region. NagaCorp ready to cash in on monopoly in Cambodia NagaCorp Ltd’s position of dominance in Cambodia is set to continue with another expansion of its superb NagaWorld casino resort in Phnom Penh. Naga 3 will feature a theme park with the latest digital rides and attractions, plus world class shopping, restaurants and much more. The venue will be the largest resort in Cambodia, further cementing NagaCorp’s status as one of the biggest casino operators in the world. The company currently has a 41-year gaming monopoly within a 200-kilometre radius of the Cambodian capital that runs through until 2035. Their gaming license runs for a further 30 years after that, and their latest multi-billion dollar investment in the area highlights their ongoing commitment to remain at the forefront of the industry in the region.
By Mackenzie Peters, Global Product Group Manager, Industrial HEFH at MSA Safety. MSA Safety is a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of industry-leading safety products and customises its hard hats via its MSA LOGO EXPRESS® service. How we got to where we are Directive 89/686/EEC, introduced in 1989, aimed to ensure the free movement of personal protective equipment (PPE) within the EU by completely harmonising the essential safety requirements to which it must conform. In 2016, this was updated to Regulation (EU) 2016/425. This regulation of safety standards across the EU will have no doubt prevented countless severe head injuries and even deaths. Work remains to be done 2016 statistics from Eurostat, however, reported that 4,409 people across the European Union’s 28 member states were incapacitated long-term due to head injuries at work; 759 workers tragically died. In the UK specifically, these numbers were 254 and 39 respectively. The statistics are sobering, which is why any positive development or product innovation that contributes to better head protection products and compliance can only be positive. Especially so for those that work in the construction industry as construction work can be a particularly high-risk activity. Accidents can occur and head injuries are, unfortunately, a relatively frequent occurrence. They can occur due to a variety of reasons, including falling objects; striking fixed objects, such as unprotected ends of scaffolding poles or other projections; or from restricted headroom. Combatting the challenge of busy construction sites In the UK, in a bid to make construction sites safer, Build UK – the leading representative organisation for the UK construction industry – has developed a harmonised hard hat colour standard for contractors. This was an important step. Colour-coding helps to improve safety by providing consistency in identifying people’s roles on site. Different experience levels, or visitors, are also easier to distinguish. On a construction site with dozens, or even hundreds, of workers, hard hat customisation is absolutely necessary. Customisation, including the printing of companies’ logos, doesn’t just help site managers differentiate workers’ varying roles and responsibilities; it’s also an invaluable marketing tool, enabling smaller and bigger companies alike to stand out from the crowd in an increasingly competitive industry. Customisation can also help to unify workforces and foster a greater sense of collective teamwork and pride. Who’s who? Managing multiple sub-contractors on a busy, multi-faceted project can be challenging and it’s important to remember that sub-contractors may be relative strangers to the workplace and therefore unfamiliar with an organisation’s procedures and rules. Customised hard hats provide a useful reminder of who’s who and what workers’ positions and responsibilities are. In addition, personalisation can also increase the value of a worker’s safety equipment, thus increasing the likelihood that, first and foremost, it will be worn, but also well looked after. Other more fundamental safety features can also be added on, including retro-reflective stickers that enhance the visibility and safety of workers, day and night, and the promotion of potentially life-saving safety messages and reminders. The inclusion of badge holders to hard hats can also add another layer of identification and safety. Compliance can only be positive. It is important to note that the different types of hard hats available currently on the market are not only to produce aesthetically pleasing gears which were meant to function solely for protection but the added features give a wider level of protection. There’s no excuse… Hard hats have come a long way since 1989. Product innovation and technological advancements mean that quality manufacturers provide hard hats that are comfortable, lightweight and durable against the harshest applications. There’s no excuse not to wear them. And now – given increasingly lucrative projects and busy construction sites – the evolution of the hard hat has taken its next logical step: customisation. Knowing who’s who and what they do on site is now an essential safety consideration. Don’t get left behind. For more information, please visit https://gb.msasafety.com/customhardhats
Manufacturer’s parallel opening window vents feature at the Anna Freud Centre. Parallel opening window vents by leading manufacturer of architectural glazing systems Kawneer were specified for a mental health project that is arguably without parallel. Some 88 of Kawneer’s AA®100 SSG parallel opening vents were used as concealed windows, to maintain the same aesthetic as the façade, within AA®100 mullion-drained curtain walling and AA®720 doors on the new £40 million London headquarters of the world-famous Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. The Kawneer systems were specified by architects Penoyre & Prasad as they were a “cost-effective” solution to their needs and enabled them to use the same systems for all areas of curtain walling and rooflights. Architect Sam Frankland said: “We had an aspiration to create a very clean, paired-down façade that would give clear cohesion to the various buildings. Having scissor-action windows helped emphasise the planar quality when the windows are open.” The project has enabled the relocation of the mental healthcare charity to bring together its global expertise in practice, research and policy under one roof from its residential properties in Hampstead to a purpose-built facility near King’s Cross. This comprises a six-storey new-build and the refurbishment of a century-old former chocolate factory and warehouse. All of the Kawneer glazing systems feature a diagonal frit on the glass, with the Kawneer curtain walling featuring on the ground to top floors and the AA®100 SSG parallel-opening vents on all but the ground floor. The AA®720 doors feature on the main entrance and top floor which also features a roof terrace. Sam Frankland added: “We wanted to create spaces filled with light and views out over London so we opted for fully-glazed panels with a simple frit to give an element of privacy and a degree of visual interest to the façade.” The aluminium Kawneer systems were installed over eight months by a team of six from approved specialist sub-contractor/dealer JPJ Installations for main contractor Willmott Dixon. The charity that today bears the name of Sigmund Freud’s sixth and youngest child was first established almost 70 years ago and its approach, that every child and its family should be at the heart of the care they receive, working in partnership with professionals, has been reflected in Penoyre & Prasad’s design. This needed to be striking to reflect the charity’s aspirations to reflect its status as a world-renowned organisation working with eminent academic institutions as University College London and Yale. This itself presented a challenge, bringing together the multiple needs of the individual users of the building, from children and their families in need of support, to researchers, clinicians and internationally-renowned visiting academics attending symposia. At the front, in the space made vacant by the excavation of a former courtyard, is the new six-storey building housing shared conference facilities and the Pears Family School which is sponsored by the Anna Freud Centre. This caters for up to 48 youngsters who have been excluded from school or alternative education provision and helps them return to mainstream education. Penoyre & Prasad worked from the outset with the diagonal motif on the glazing on both the front and rear facades to inform both the transparent elevation and the precast cheeks of the building which they could do very little with as they were both party walls but which nevertheless replicate the diagonal fritting. The five-storey chocolate factory, parts of which had been used as offices since the 1990s, was converted into a combination of head office facilities and therapy, post-graduate teaching and research (part of which had been based at University College London) and break-out spaces for the Anna Freud Centre. Although not listed, heritage officers at Islington Council had still been anxious about how it would be developed. “The client was very keen to have as environmentally friendly a building as possible so aluminium seemed like the natural choice for the curtain wall system which has been used extensively to the east and west facades and as a large rooflight,” said Sam Frankland. Based on the established Kawneer AA®100 SSG POV system, the parallel opening design benefits from excellent ventilation characteristics combined with thermal performance. Increased air flow around the full perimeter of the window enables highly efficient natural ventilation while greatly reducing draughts as fresh air is drawn in the bottom of the window while warm, stale air is expelled via the top, creating full air circulation within a room. This efficient exchange of air can assist with Approved Document F compliance and can enable the window to meet the ventilation requirements of even the most demanding project.
A new brick made from domestic plastic waste has been proven to provide 10 times better insulation than traditional bricks made from clay. Dr Karthikeyan Kandan, senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), has created a novel brick made entirely from upcycled plastic waste. Believed to be the first of its kind, the brick is constructed using 3D printing and lattice architecture technologies, which involves criss-crossing strips of the plastic materials to form a grid or weave. The design is inspired by nature, after Dr Kandan examined the structure of the Baya weaver bird’s nest; renowned for its elaborately woven construction. “The Baya weaver bird’s nest’s ingenious construction gives it excellent thermal insulation and mechanical properties for inhabitation,” explained Dr Kandan. “Inside there is a central nesting chamber, which makes it the ideal micro-climate for inhabitation. By replicating this structure, we have manufactured a brick that improves energy efficiency of modern buildings and therefore can reduce carbon foot print.” Saad Alqahtani, a first-year PhD student at DMU, carried out controlled experiments on the plastic bricks, under joint supervision from Dr Kandan and Dr Farukh – also a senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the university. To test its thermal insulation characteristics, Saad placed the brick in a hot-box calorimeter – a piece of equipment used to measure the U-value of an object, which can be set up to simulate the regulatory standard for buildings. U-value is a measure of the flow of heat through an insulating or building material: the lower the U-value, the better the insulating ability. The results showed the new design delivered an impressive U-value of 0.25 Watts per Metre Kelvin (W/m²K). This is 10 times more effective than a clay brick, which delivers an average of 2.94 W/m²K. Traditionally, a range of building blocks are required to achieve the regulatory standard U-value, however, the newly designed plastic brick can achieve this on its own. “Our brick, made from all kinds of domestic plastic waste – from coffee cup lids to plastic bottles – exhibits a tremendous thermal envelope over conventional building materials,” said Dr Kandan. A building envelope refers to the exterior elements that protect the property and its inhabitants from the elements and also contributes to keeping the building structurally sound. “This provides significant potential to not only improve the energy efficiency of modern building, but also to conserve space and reduce dead-weight in multi-story buildings,” added Dr Kandan. Saad, who received a PhD scholarship from DMU to complete this work with Dr Kandan and Dr Farukh, said their brick could lead to a new era of energy-efficient construction while tackling the issue of plastic pollution at the same time. “Our work has demonstrated that 3D printed bricks made from household plastic waste are thermally far superior than the existing bricks made in the market,” he explained. “This breakthrough can literally help us build the future.” This project marks the second time this year that Dr Kandan has been recognised for his work to repurpose plastic waste. In August he made headlines when he created a prosthetic limb socket made from recycled plastic water bottles for amputee patients. Saad, who also completed his MSc at DMU, was invited to showcase their work at the prestigious 39th International Workshop on Computational Mechanics of Materials in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in September. “It was a great opportunity to meet industry experts and tell people about our work,” he said. “The next step is to get the brick into commercial production, which we hope to do by the end of the year.” Dr Kandan added: “It is fantastic to see one of our own PhD students taking the lead on this project and sharing our results on an international platform. “There is a constant drive for energy efficient building materials so it is very exciting to know that our brick can outperform the thermal insulation of standard building materials by an order of magnitude.”
The achievement of Scotland’s five, geographically located hub , the partnerships set up six years ago to build new community facilities across Scotland, will be in the supporting the third annual Education Buildings Scotland 2019 Exhibition, Conference and Awards Dinner at Edinburgh’s EICC on 27-28 November. To date, the hubs have delivered 115 education sector projects across the country with a value of £1.45 billion. The event, which brings together Scottish educational built environment and policy professionals, many of whom will be looking at adding new buildings, considering refurbishing existing buildings or wishing to know more about ongoing maintenance, will be able to meet all the hub CEOs and their colleagues who will be in attendance over the course of the two days. Scotland’s hubs are engaged currently on-site with educational projects £358m is a further £675m of projects in development across the country. John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, who will be speaking at the conference has said: “This year’s theme for the 2019 Education Buildings Scotland conference is Scotland’s Learning Estate – Connecting People, Places and Learning and building on the success of previous events. “It is an opportunity for everyone involved in education to come together with those directly engaged in creating great buildings to discuss how the built environment can support the best possible educational outcomes for our children, young people wider communities.” Key figures from all hub will be in attendance from the start of the conference on Wednesday morning at stand F2 at the EICC. They will include the Chief Executive of hub West, Iain Marley, Chief Executive of hub South West, Michael McBrearty, Chief Executive of hub East Central, Gary Bushnell, and Chief Executive of hub South East and Executive Chairman of hub North, Paul McGirk. A series of hub projects have been nominated for awards, the winners of which will be announced at the Wednesday night Dinner. The Scottish Government is the Event’s Partner and its official supporters are Morrison Construction, Portakabin, hub Scotland, Velux, RIAS, Architecture Design Scotland, the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) and the Scottish Futures Trust. Attendance at the conference is complimentary for those directly employed in years, schools, colleges, universities, national and local government other public services in Scotland. Delegate rates will apply for everyone else wishing to attend.