That toll gate, street light and traffic monitoring system all need electricity. Later, roads that deice and charge vehicles at speed will need huge amounts of electricity. For now, electricity for road systems is provided by very expensive infrastructure to the grid except for a few solar/ wind street lights
With little under a month to go until the highly-anticipated 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations come into force, Bureau Veritas is calling on duty holders to step up efforts aimed at reducing the safety risk posed by poor electrics. Due to be published in July, BS 7671 –
Snows Glastonbury DC unveiled their new Biomass Boiler this week. We sell over 1000 products and some require milling to meet product specifications. Our Glastonbury site has the facility to complete this process, which can produce off-cuts of wood. These off-cuts are a valuable fuel and will be used for
Darlington-based waste management company, Total Recycling Services believes in the importance of acquiring accreditations. Rather than just ticking a box, the multi-million-pound organisation strives to go over and above and is urging other businesses to do the same. Since beginning in 2009, Total has earned accreditations from professional bodies such
High-speed rail connecting all of the UK mainland by 2050 would put “rocket fuel in Britain’s economy”, a leading transport think tank has proposed. The move would shrink a long-standing productivity gap with countries such as Germany, Italy and France, Greengauge 21 said. It would also reduce an over-reliance on
GRAHAM’s rail teams worked around the clock over the Bank Holiday weekend to deliver crucial upgrades to South East London’s rail network. The essential bridge replacements and supplementary works took place under abnormal track possessions at Bellenden Road Underbridge (Southwark) and Westdown Road Underbridge (Lewisham). Both projects involved the replacement
There are all sorts of reasons for requiring pallet deliveries to a construction site. It could be for moving large appliances such as air conditioning units ready for installation or smaller items but in large quantities, like floor tiles or anything else. Arranging pallet delivery to a construction site isn’t
When you work a semi-dangerous to a dangerous job like construction, your boss and other leaders are always talking to you about safety. Besides what they have for rules and guidelines to keep you protected, the government agency OSHA also has rules and regulations. For example, to maintain a healthy
Continuing to raise the bar on building standards across the UK, Bureau Veritas building control services proved invaluable during the recent construction of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey. Due to open its doors on 11 June, the new £22.9m gallery and museum will display over 300 treasures
In response to housing challenges and environmental issues in urban areas, extending buildings upwards is a logical solution. As part of an urban development project in Poissy, near Paris, 33 new apartments were constructed on top of existing residential buildings. The apartments were built with prefabricated wooden modules made from
That toll gate, street light and traffic monitoring system all need electricity. Later, roads that deice and charge vehicles at speed will need huge amounts of electricity. For now, electricity for road systems is provided by very expensive infrastructure to the grid except for a few solar/ wind street lights in China and Korea for example. However, as more and more capabilities are added to roads instead of simply covering a country with extra roads, they are starting to make their own electricity, notably as solar road surface but then with added silent wind turbines, photovoltaic verges and barriers and more. There is also highly speculative work in the USA and UK on garnering power from road surface movement using piezoelectrics and electrodynamics and even its heat. China plans to create an intelligent transport system by 2030. The country hopes to build smart roads that will not only be able to charge electric cars as they drive but also monitor temperature, traffic flow and weight load using artificial intelligence. Indeed, like France, the Netherlands and the USA it already has trials of extended lengths of solar road which cost no more than regular roads. In an alternative approach, vehicles go under tunnels of solar panels that also support lighting, light-emitting signage and monitoring equipment using the electricity made where it is needed. See the IDTechEx Research report, “Electrically Smart Roads 2018-2028” for more. Raghu Das, CEO of IDTechEx says, “The spiral vertical axis wind turbines VAWT in Asia rarely rotate because they are too low but much higher versions are planned on large UK roadside vehicle charging centres that should work well. H shaped VAWT is also gaining traction – much slower and quieter than the propeller shape which vibrates and keeps you awake at night in an urban area. The price gap between the ubiquitous polycrystalline silicon solar cell and the much more efficient single crystal silicon is narrowing. That means that road furniture such as bus shelters and smart gantries will likely go for more solar rather than adding wind power in many cases because wind power needs a lot of maintenance and its price is not dropping as rapidly.” The IDTechEx Research report, “Off Grid Electric Vehicle Charging: Zero Emission 2018-2028” analyses that aspect. The prototype of a smart road is already in place on an expressway outside of Jinan, providing better traffic updates as well as more accurate mapping. Verizon’s IoT division has launched a project around intelligent asphalt, which it thinks has the potential to significantly reduce fossil fuel emissions and save time by reducing up to 44% of traffic backups. It has partnered with Sacramento, California, to test this theory. “By embedding sensors into the pavement as well as installing cameras on traffic lights, we will be able to study and analyze the flow of traffic. Then, we will take all of that data and use it to optimize the timing of lights so that traffic flows easier and travel times are shorter,” explains Sean Harrington, vice president of Verizon Smart Communities. Colorado’s Department of Transportation has recently announced its intention to be the first state to pilot smart roads by striking a five-year deal with a smart road company to test the technology. Like planned auto-deicing roads elsewhere, the aim of this project is, first and foremost, to save lives. The technology will detect when a car suddenly leaves a road and send emergency assistance to the area. The IDTechEx Research report “Electrically Smart Roads 2018-2028” describes how others work on real time structural monitoring of roads and embedded interactive lighting and road surface signage. “Smart pavement can make that determination and send that information directly into a vehicle,” Peter Kozinski, director of CDOT’s RoadX division, tells the Denver Post. “Data is the new asphalt of transportation.” Sensors, processors and other technology are embedded in the Colorado road to extend capability beyond accidents and reach into better road maintenance. Fast adoption relies on the ability to rapidly install sensor-laden pavement or lay concrete slabs. Attention therefore turns to fast adaptation of existing roads. Indeed, even for the heavy coil arrays used for dynamic vehicle charging, in Israel there are machines that can retrofit into the road surface at a remarkable two kilometres of cut and insert in a day. “It’s hard to imagine that these things are inexpensive, with all the electronics in them,” Charles Schwartz, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maryland, tells the Denver Post concerning the vehicle sensing project, “but CDOT is a fairly sophisticated agency, and this is an interesting pilot project. We can learn a lot, even if the test is only partially successful.” On 19-21 June IDTechEx are hosting the Business & Technology Insight Forums in Cambridge, UK. These detailed but concise sessions hosted by experts will give the latest insights on Off-Grid Electricity Generation, New Off Grid Energy Harvesting Technologies and more. Learn more and register at www.IDTechEx.com/Cambridge.
With little under a month to go until the highly-anticipated 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations come into force, Bureau Veritas is calling on duty holders to step up efforts aimed at reducing the safety risk posed by poor electrics. Due to be published in July, BS 7671 – IET Wiring Regulations 18th edition will apply to all new and rewired installations designed after January 2019. The legislation is set to include a number of significant changes in relation to protection against fire, protection against overvoltages and clarity on special location installations, in a bid to optimise safety in domestic, industrial and commercial locations. The more stringent standards will look to address the risks presented by faulty electrical installations and wiring systems, after estimates show that electricity is the leading cause of over 20,000 accidental fires in the UK each year1. In the run up to implementation, global certification firm Bureau Veritas is urging all duty holders to review their existing electrical safety standards and intensify their ‘safety first’ approach to compliance. Nathan Cliff, electrical principal engineer for electrical systems at Bureau Veritas, said: “With poor electrical installations still responsible for five accidents in the UK every single day, it’s no surprise the 18th Edition will force us as an industry to place a greater emphasis on the protection of people. “For duty holders, our advice is clear – do not wait until the regulations take hold to take action. Instead, start by reviewing existing electrical safety protocols to ensure they take a ‘safety first’ approach to protecting employees, students and residents so that best practice is achieved every step of the way.” According to Bureau Veritas, one important aspect for duty holders to consider is that the 18th edition puts a greater onus on a risk assessment when it comes to protection against transient overvoltage (e.g. lightning) required for buildings to protect against the risk of fires and loss of supply. In addition, protection must be provided for high risk and sensitive locations, such as medical locations, heritage buildings, banks, IT centres etc. Nathan adds: “For many, these new regulations will no doubt be hard to decipher and put into practice. However, it’s literally a matter of life and death for duty holders to get to grips with these reforms as soon as they can as achieving compliance now ahead of the January 2019 deadline will, ultimately, help to save lives.” To find out more about Bureau Veritas please call 0345 600 1828 or email info@uk.bureauveritas.com. Alternatively, please visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
Snows Glastonbury DC unveiled their new Biomass Boiler this week. We sell over 1000 products and some require milling to meet product specifications. Our Glastonbury site has the facility to complete this process, which can produce off-cuts of wood. These off-cuts are a valuable fuel and will be used for the new renewable energy source. The system provides a whole range of benefits including; Reducing Carbon Emissions: The Biomass boiler produces a fraction of carbon emissions that fossil fuels make, and releases contemporary carbons back into the environment meaning carbon levels are consistent and sustainable. Improving efficiency This modern technology operates at 90% efficiency which is vastly higher than conventional boilers. Producing a renewable energy The energy created by the boiler will be re-distributed back into the site and used for power & lighting. Financial benefit The boiler presents key financial benefits, including a £12,000 government payback scheme, which will be re-invested into the site to improve efficiencies even further.
Darlington-based waste management company, Total Recycling Services believes in the importance of acquiring accreditations. Rather than just ticking a box, the multi-million-pound organisation strives to go over and above and is urging other businesses to do the same. Since beginning in 2009, Total has earned accreditations from professional bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization, British Standards Institution, and the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme amongst others. Andy Dobson, Operations Director at Total Recycling Services knows accreditations inside out and with the help of a dedicated Integrated Systems Manager, he has guided the company throughout its growth from a few contacts and members of staff, to a £15m turnover and over 97 staff operating from its Darlington site. To help bring some clarity, Andy, explains why accreditations are of top priority at Total Recycling Services and why they should be for any businesses who are wanting to grow. He said: “The simplest way to put it, is that accreditations give us a route into a lot of our customers. “There are a lot of customers that won’t even entertain us if us don’t have the relevant documentation. These customers are the big blue-chip companies that place a lot confidence in the people they choose to work with and without the evidence to show you are a credible company, they won’t even give you a second glance. “What these customers ideally want is for their systems to align with yours and be of a similar standard and as ISO is the internationally recognised accreditation it means there are more doors open to us as a company. “So, if you share the same qualification, your customer will be happy and confident that you have the same things in place. “ Total Recycling Services works with number of large companies including Akzo Nobel, Nissan, Hitachi and Caterpillar. Andy, continued: “The companies that we chase, the ones we want to work with. We wouldn’t get through the tendering process without the accreditations we have. “Most of the big companies now have tender packs that are sent out and we have to provide to them the relevant documentation before we even try to tender. “It’s not just a case of meeting with them and having a cup of tea and some biscuits, we have to show we have BSEN ISO 9001:2015; BSEN ISO14001:2015; OHSAS 18001:2007 as a first step, as well having the documentation available to show how this was achieved “Pretty much, if you can’t tick that box you have no chance with the tender. “At Total Recycling Services, we’ve held ISO accreditations since the first year that we opened in 2009, working to their principles. Having them has certainly helped us to work alongside a lot of the larger companies in the region. “However, for us it’s not about passing something on an annual basis, they’re about continually working at them and driving improvement all year round as well as giving a solid foundation for legal compliance, particularly with Health, Safety and Environmental matters, which are critical in our industry. ‘All systems need to be audited on a regular basis, allowing ongoing opportunities for improvement and being able to demonstrate that you’ve done it as well, year on year. “Sharing good practice with our customers through this process has also helped. If a customer has developed a good working method or safety system for example, and we can adopt that too – it gives them the additional confidence that we share similar goals. A real working partnership can develop this way. “It’s absolutely beneficial to all companies to seek out these accreditations. For Total Recycling Services its helped us take that step to where we want to be with our customers and our business. We wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work with them and we are proud to say we work with the big firms.” Andy’s advises other companies must do the same too if they’re looking to go for different tenders. He said: “I cannot emphasise the importance, that no matter how small a company you are, if you’re wanting to work with bigger organisations you must look at the relevant accreditations. “It can be a lengthy process but it’s definitely worth it. One new contract can totally take your business to the next level. “There are a million accreditations out there, but you must look at the ones which are relevant for your business. Most recently we became members of RoSPA and worked to receive our bronze award in health and safety.”
High-speed rail connecting all of the UK mainland by 2050 would put “rocket fuel in Britain’s economy”, a leading transport think tank has proposed. The move would shrink a long-standing productivity gap with countries such as Germany, Italy and France, Greengauge 21 said. It would also reduce an over-reliance on London by lowering journey times and allowing other cities to flourish, it added. A new connection in the West Midlands would see HS2 trains speed to cities such as Bristol, Cardiff, Newcastle and Edinburgh, reducing the need for environmentally harmful cars, the group suggested. HS2 is a planned high-speed rail network, with trains holding more than 1,000 commuters travelling up to 250 mph, from London to Birmingham and to Manchester and Leeds. Services on the London-Birmingham phase of the £56 billion network are predicted to open from 2026. Greengauge 21 director Jim Steer said: “Britain lacks a long-term national railway strategy beyond HS2. “We need a plan to put rocket fuel into our economic productivity and today’s report sets out proposals to do so. “It is vital for the future of the country that no region is left behind, and the national railway strategy needs to reach all parts of the country.” The report, titled Beyond HS2, said boosting national productivity should be the guiding priority for re-designing the rail network.
GRAHAM’s rail teams worked around the clock over the Bank Holiday weekend to deliver crucial upgrades to South East London’s rail network. The essential bridge replacements and supplementary works took place under abnormal track possessions at Bellenden Road Underbridge (Southwark) and Westdown Road Underbridge (Lewisham). Both projects involved the replacement and reinstatement of two underbridges within a restricted 72-hour rail possession. The railway closures began at 01:20 on Saturday 26th May and finished at 04:00 on Tuesday 29th May. The bridges carry National Rail, London Overground and Thameslink commuter services, as well as providing a busy thoroughfare for railway freight services. The works were part of Network Rail’s overall £78m investment in key asset maintenance and upgrades to more than 600 infrastructure schemes throughout the country. Successful completion Commenting on the successful completion of the bridge projects, Leo Martin, GRAHAM’s Managing Director – Civil Engineering, stated: “Both schemes underline the technical expertise of our staff and supply chain, and their ability to deliver complex rail projects safely and to the highest standards within possession constraints. “When working in these challenging rail conditions, safe and timely project delivery is only possible through close collaboration between ourselves, Network Rail, our supply chain partners and stakeholders. This was a real team effort and everyone pulled together to ensure the successful completion of these projects.” Works As part of the Bellenden Road Underbridge upgrade, the GRAHAM team replaced the existing 12m single span deck with two new Network Rail standard U decks, which were 66t each. The Westdown Road Underbridge project also centred on the replacement of the existing 12.5m bridge with two new Network Rail standard U decks, which were 74t each. It included the replacement of new station platforms. Both projects featured propping to restrain the existing abutments from potential overturning, the removal of tracks and ballast, the demolition of the existing bridge and the installation of the new superstructure decks. New pre-cast concrete cill slabs were placed at each location. Additionally, the reinstatement and re-tamping of the tracks were completed before reopening to rail traffic. Complexity The works involved setting up heavy lift cranes, including a 350t crawler crane and a 500t mobile crane, on the roadways below each bridge location in advance of the railway closures. The complexity of the works was made even more challenging by the severe weather conditions over the bank holiday weekend, with heavy thunder and lightning hampering crane lifts at critical times, and the team having to resolve a number of unforeseen issues as the project progressed. At its peak, over 100 people were on site to deliver each respective project. Meticulous planning GRAHAM’s rail experts have been meticulously preparing for the works over recent months in conjunction with a specialist supply chain, stakeholders, TOCs / FOCs and Network Rail. GRAHAM’s Rail Director, Jonny Kerr, believes this advanced planning and teamwork was the key to the success of both projects. “These complex bridge replacements were completed by our teams through their meticulous planning and technical expertise. The team worked closely with our various supply chain partners, stakeholders and Network Rail and their partners to ensure that there was minimal disruption to the rail network,” said Jonny. “There was a tremendous amount of planning done in advance, which allowed us to progress each project smoothly even with the challenges presented. Additional factors, such as operational High Voltage and S&T cable routes, required support and protection during the works.“ “It’s a tremendous achievement and I’m very grateful to everyone who rose to the challenge. “We would like to thank the public for their patience during the closures.” Rail expertise GRAHAM has completed a broad portfolio of award-winning work within the rail sector. Examples of GRAHAM’s expertise in delivering complex construction within an operational railway include the “Live Launch” of a 55m span, 515t bridge structure over ten railways lines in South London, slope stabilisation works in South Wales and the construction of a new railway station in the Midlands.
There are all sorts of reasons for requiring pallet deliveries to a construction site. It could be for moving large appliances such as air conditioning units ready for installation or smaller items but in large quantities, like floor tiles or anything else. Arranging pallet delivery to a construction site isn’t as simple as ordering an item from Amazon though, there are extra considerations you must take to ensure the whole process runs smoothly. When you’re ordering pallets to be sent to a construction site, these are some of the main things to think about. Time Pallet deliveries are large and sometimes awkward, delivered on lorries that may struggle to get to certain locations. Of course, they should be arranged depending on the working hours of the construction site so there’s someone there to let them in. Yet also you need to make sure there are enough people present to help unload and move any pallets, which is why organising delivery too early or late in the day is inadvisable. Plus, during rush hour these vehicles may find it harder to deliver so more towards the middle of the day could be best. Weight Depending on the delivery service you use, they will likely charge based on the size and weight of your pallet deliveries. This means it can be more cost effective in some cases to arrange for more items to be delivered together or order in bulk. On the other hand, if you only need a small amount then it can be worth looking at options for a smaller pallet or crate to save on delivery costs. Access One of the main ways deliveries can get held up is by getting stuck on route or being unable to access the construction site. There are many stories of lorry drivers following sat-navs and getting lost or stuck. If your construction site is hard to access or surrounded by narrow, country lanes, inform the delivery company of this before they set off to avoid such issues. Price Finally, price will be a major factor in deciding what pallet delivery company to use. Depending on what you are getting delivered and where from, it may even be tempting to collect yourself if it’s fairly local. Otherwise, be sure to compare all the options available and maybe even negotiate to secure the best possible deal. Before you arrange pallet delivery to your construction site make sure you’ve checked off all of these important considerations for a successful experience.
When you work a semi-dangerous to a dangerous job like construction, your boss and other leaders are always talking to you about safety. Besides what they have for rules and guidelines to keep you protected, the government agency OSHA also has rules and regulations. For example, to maintain a healthy and safe work environment, OSHA requires employees in various industries to participate in workplace safety training. According to the people at 360training.com, these strict rules and regulations by OSHA “…have helped workers in every state have strong protections against a wide variety of specified and general hazards in the workplace…” Without a doubt, you want to go home at the end of every day the same way you got there. Make sure that it happens with these five essential pieces of gear. Work Boots You are going to be on your feet for the majority of the day, so you want to be sure to have the best work boots that money can buy. Some of the essential factors that you should be looking for include the composition of the boot. Depending on your particular area of construction work, you may need something that is steel-toe. At any given time, something could fall on your foot. You don’t want it getting crushed because of an inadequate boot. You also want to make sure that your boots are comfortable. It isn’t easy lacing up your shoes to go to work every single day as it is. By having footwear that doesn’t cause you any pain or discomfort, it’s going to be a little bit easier to head out in the morning. Hard Hats As mentioned before, at any time something on the job site can come tumbling down. Worse than landing on your foot would be that piece of debris hitting you in the head. Even a small item falling from a far enough distance up is going to do some damage to an uncovered head. That’s why you want to have a hard hat with a reinforced top. The good ones also have rain gutter sides and are comfortable. Don’t just grab the first one you see. Try them all on and find one that fits you properly. Hearing Protection You might not think about your construction site being loud when you first get there, but it will get that way. When people start firing up power tools and hammering away on things, you’re going to want to have your hearing protected. You can wear earmuffs if you prefer, but they can be kind of bulky and challenging to put on with your helmet. Earplugs work well because they’re small and discreet. On top of that, they’re cheap, and you can buy them in bulk. Hand Protection The most significant tool in any kind of construction work is your hands. You’re going to be beating them up on a daily basis. Get yourself a good pair of gloves that can protect them, but not ones that are so bulky that you can’t do your job correctly. A good set is going to cost you a bit. You’ll find It’s worth the investment. Eye Protection Prevent dust and other debris from getting in your eyes with good goggles or a face shield. You’re going to prevent a ton of injuries this way. You can also keep liquids from splashing into your eyes. They may not be a requirement to wear all the time, but when working on something that is going to kick up materials, you’re going to want to put them on.
Continuing to raise the bar on building standards across the UK, Bureau Veritas building control services proved invaluable during the recent construction of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey. Due to open its doors on 11 June, the new £22.9m gallery and museum will display over 300 treasures charting the Abbey’s thousand-year history. It has been built in the medieval triforium – a 50ft stretch of gallery previously hidden from the public – which offers spectacular views of the Palace of Westminster and across Parliament Square. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries will be accessed via the newly-built Weston Tower – the first major addition to the Abbey Church since 1745 – which includes an intricately designed staircase and lift. During the construction, a key challenge for Abbey staff, heritage architects, the fire service and the main contractor was to preserve the historic building’s Grade I-listed features while maintaining the highest fire safety standards for the public gallery’s vast collection of artefacts and exhibits. As such Bureau Veritas, a global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC), was called upon to provide Approved Inspector Building Control Services to the project. Using its extensive experience in fire safety, the firm’s dedicated team was able to provide sound regulatory and legislative advice, which proved instrumental in developing a robust fire safety solution essential to meeting the Abbey’s complex design needs. Core to this was taking a holistic approach to fire safety, where Bureau Veritas assessed travel distance aspects, reviewed complex evacuation modelling, as well as reviewing lighting, exit signage and fire alarms so that they met safety regulations while being in keeping with the surroundings. For instance, during the construction of Weston Tower, the team work tirelessly to confirm that the tower’s lift was well equipped with firefighting measures such as a dry riser, without compromising the building’s historic façade. Throughout the project, Bureau Veritas also held numerous workshops for the client, designers, architects and other contractors in order to help manage risk throughout the building lifecycle and subsequently reduce costs. From early involvement during the design stages through to site inspections and final certification, the company was able to give designers confidence that the project will comply with Building Regulations and all relevant legislation. As a result, the team succeeded in making sure The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries met its building control obligations in time for opening. Andy Lowe, director of building control at Bureau Veritas, comments: “We are absolutely delighted to have delivered a solution that not only ensures Westminster Abbey maintains the highest standards in accordance with building regulations for the two million people who visit the iconic church each year, but one that is also in keeping with the building’s magnificent historic features.” Ptolemy Dean, Surveyor of the Fabric at Westminster Abbey, said: “We were incredibly impressed by Bureau Veritas’ building control services during this project. The firm worked meticulously with the Abbey team, contractors and the fire service to certify the striking new tower and museum achieved building compliance. We’d like to pass on our thanks to Bureau Veritas for the invaluable part they played in helping to achieve our vision for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries.” For further information, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
In response to housing challenges and environmental issues in urban areas, extending buildings upwards is a logical solution. As part of an urban development project in Poissy, near Paris, 33 new apartments were constructed on top of existing residential buildings. The apartments were built with prefabricated wooden modules made from fast, light and green Kerto® LVL products. Thanks to the prefabrication and light wooden structures, the construction took only six months to complete. Prefabrication and use of wooden structures make building extensions fast and economical. Metsä Wood’s Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber) is an ideal material for designing and constructing additional floors in urban environments. Wooden modules are light to transport and lift. Prefabrication ensures quick installation. The construction work for the wooden extensions in the Beauregard neighbourhood of Poissy began in September 2016. The building renovation project was managed by the property owner Vilogia and the Parisian architectural agency Virtuel Architecture. The 33 new apartments, each with 2–3 bedrooms, were constructed on the rooftops of three buildings, with a reinforced structural design. The modular housing units were installed at a rate of roughly one to three apartments per day. The construction project also included installation of three elevators and extension to the staircases. “What’s interesting about the solution for vertical urban development is the prefabrication”, declares Laurent Pillaud, architect at Virtuel Architecture. “Each house is made up of three or four modules and one roof; the production of the modules took one month. Then the modules were delivered and each was installed directly on the rooftop in one day.” The joints between the modules were carefully planned. The wooden modules could be lifted directly to the right place and quickly connected to other modules and to roof structures. Well-thought of design minimised the amount of work and hassle at the construction site. A company CMB assembled the wooden modules at their production hall in Mauléon. CMB is renowned for its exceptional expertise in modular construction. Prefabrication guaranteed the quality at all levels: interior paintwork, toilet facilities, flooring, internal and external woodwork, etc. Building upwards with wooden modules Today, the hyper-urbanisation of cities is a multifaceted problem, posing social issues as well as issues concerning respect for the environment and health. Building vertical extensions using wooden modules is a logical and appropriate solution to the housing crisis in urban areas. Between 1990 and 2011, over 1,200 vertical developments were authorised in the city of Paris alone, whilst over 31,000 planning permission files were submitted, along with over 65,000 planning permission requests. These figures stand as proof of the growing interest in vertical urban development. Open Source Wood initiative Metsä Wood believes that construction using wood and modular building extensions are the most practical and environmentally sound solutions to addressing rapid global urbanisation and climate change. However, not nearly enough knowledge about modular wood design and building is shared, so wood construction remains a limited sector of the construction industry. That’s why Metsä Wood launched Open Source Wood – a pioneering open innovation project aimed at facilitating knowledge sharing and growth in modular wood construction. Read more and join the initiative at opensourcewood.com