Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News
DHF urges caution following shutter door near-fatality

DHF urges caution following shutter door near-fatality

Tamworth-based trade association, the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), has  urged extreme caution following an incident involving an elderly woman whose clothes became caught in a moving roller door shutter resulting in her being lifted several feet into the air.   71-year-old store cleaner, Anne Hughes’s coat became lodged in the

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SymTerra announces Google Cloud partnership to accelerate digital transformation for transport, construction and utilities companies

SymTerra announces Google Cloud partnership to accelerate digital transformation for transport, construction and utilities companies

SymTerra, the digital communication tool built for on-site project teams, has announced its partnership with Google Cloud at this year’s Interchange Annual Conference in Manchester Central. The new integration on Google Cloud Marketplace offers the SymTerra tool to Google Cloud’s construction, utility and transport customers, enabling project data flow across

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Curious about the effects the BSR will have on your project?

Curious about the effects the BSR will have on your project?

The Building Safety Act has been described by government as the ‘Biggest Changes to Building Safety for a Generation’. Arguably, the most impactful change at project level is the implementation of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as the building control authority for all Higher Risk Buildings. We have identified four

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Case study: Embracing the new era of connected safety

Case study: Embracing the new era of connected safety

When your business involves sending hundreds of workers out to disconnected sites where they could be exposed to dangerous gases, safety should be a top priority. But how can real-time insights and actionable data help enable you to offer your workforce enhanced protection? This was the challenge facing Cappagh Browne

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New Carbon Calculator set to change how we approach sustainable engineering

New Carbon Calculator set to change how we approach sustainable engineering

Yesterday, Perega, one of the UK’s leading structural and civil engineering consultancies, launches its innovative CO2 accounting tool: The Carbon Calculator. Affirming its commitment to sustainable construction, this evolutionary platform empowers Perega’s clients to assess the whole carbon footprint of their projects, from inception to completion. Importantly, it enables them to

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A new CPD resource is now available from FACTA

A new CPD resource is now available from FACTA

FACTA has long been recognised as the industry specification for fabricated access covers and they have just launched an excellent new CPD resource. The guide to specifying a fabricated access cover is a much-needed tool for specifiers, manufacturers, and installers. This valuable resource provides expert information that is essential for

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News

The Importance of Early Collaboration when Implementing BREEAM to Retrofitting Schemes

The Importance of Early Collaboration when Implementing BREEAM to Retrofitting Schemes

In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important focus for any building development, whether a refurbishment or a new build. The introduction of BREEAM quality standards has only enhanced this even further. Having worked on a myriad of construction sites, Pexhurst’s Contracts/Commercial Manager Dan Beadle identifies the importance of early collaboration between architects, the client and our supply chain of sub-contractors. Additionally, he reveals the environmental, social, and economic impacts that retrofitting with BREEAM in mind can have. Although incredibly important during retrofitting projects, where new energy efficient systems are fitted in buildings previously built without them, BREEAM sustainability targets are difficult to achieve, but no doubt a worthwhile endeavour. BREEAM assessments use recognised measures of performance that are set against established benchmarks to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. These measures represent a comprehensive range of categories and criteria, including ecology and energy. Each of these categories focus on the most influential factors, including low impact design, ecological value, reduced carbon emissions, biodiversity protection and adaptation to climate change. Indeed, studies by Holmes and Hudson in 2002 revealed that the objective of achieving an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating can significantly influence the original design of a building and the changes made to the design, including ventilation design, water services, materials and the design of the building itself. With that in mind, working closely with designers, architects and sub-contractors at a very early stage in the retrofitting project is absolutely crucial. Doing so and integrating sustainability measures at this early stage can help to enable increases in asset value, building user experience, risk mitigation, and reduced life cycle costs. Setting objectives and thinking ahead makes a huge difference With BREEAM relatively new to the retrofitting sector, identifying and researching material that will be specifically helpful in meeting and exceeding sustainability targets is crucial. Furthermore, as Mark Farmer[1] once explained, “collaboration prevents itself scaling up, sharing risk more appropriately and creating better business plan certainty.” When it comes to building design and sustainability, two heads are definitely better than one. Indeed, more considerate planning and collaboration is likely to help future building projects deliver holistically sustainable BREEAM buildings. With this in mind, it’s important the industry shifts its mind-set towards incorporating the framework into new projects from the very beginning of the design process. Additionally, collaborative working at the start can also prevent projects incurring further costs, which can often happen when BREEAM is incorporated much later into the project. Similarly, by not commencing any BREEAM requirements at an early stage of the project, there is an increasing likelihood the project won’t finish on time. Increasing the longevity of the building As well as having an improved environmental impact, the successful implementation of BREEAM on a retrofitting project can also enhance the longevity of a building. Often, implementing BREEAM targets can enhance the project quality by reducing defects and enforcing the need for strict commissioning procedures. Compared to the same refurbishment without a similar scheme in place, this provides a better and more valuable property for the client. It also highlights the importance of making collaborative decisions during the design and construction phases and how doing so can have far-reaching impacts on the building’s overall lifespan. This can include anything from resultant emissions through to resource consumption. While studies have revealed that build costs are typically increased by 1% if BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ grades are to be achieved, long-term retrofitting of a building can actually decrease the building’s operating cost. So, while in the short-term it is a more expensive construction process, the longer-term financial benefits typically outweigh this. Additionally, BREEAM does not currently provide a holistic approach to sustainability, nor a full life-cycle assessment, so consideration must be paid to this when working on the design of any building that has sustainability in mind. Operating with the environment in mind The Government’s Carbon Net Zero Guidance Note reveals that around 40% of UK carbon emissions are linked to the built environment. Furthermore, the construction industry generates 32% of all waste sent to landfill. As a result, the environmental assessment of buildings has increasingly become a major focus of the sustainable built environment.   BREEAM evaluates environmental performance across a myriad of different categories, including health and well-being, land use and ecology, energy, management, and pollution. Additionally, BREEAM standards help to provide a meaningful and evolving pathway towards ecological protection, recovery and mitigation. There is also a strong incentivisation to reduce carbon emission, with flexible and achievable benchmarks relating to operational and embodied performance. This is especially important given the fact that embodied carbon, emissions created during the manufacture of building materials and construction practices, accounts for approximately 22% of all emissions in a new development. With these targets in mind, retrofitting projects can typically incorporate measures and focus on building fabric improvements and upgrading services with modern technologies and materials. For example, insulation can be enhanced, carbon-burning appliances can be replaced with air-source heat pumps and energy efficient features such as rainwater harvesting systems, photovoltaic panels, zonal heating and lighting controls and LED lighting can be integrated.   Better occupant health and wellbeing Buildings with BREEAM certification are designed and constructed to high environmental performance standards, meaning they’re likely to have better air quality, use safer materials for human health, and have other features that can boost occupants’ wellbeing. This is supported by a BREEAM survey, which revealed that 59% of respondents reported an ‘improved occupant satisfaction’ as a benefit of having completed a BREEAM assessment during their project.  Additionally, BREEAM certified buildings are designed to use less energy for lighting, heating, and cooling, resulting in lower energy bills for the occupants and significant savings over the long term. In summary Overall, with sustainability demands constantly changing and evolving, the need to outline the plans and methods for meeting the desired BREEAM score into retrofitting projects, ideally before works start, is becoming increasingly more important, as is close collaboration with the project team. As a sustainability-focused company, Pexhurst

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DHF urges caution following shutter door near-fatality

DHF urges caution following shutter door near-fatality

Tamworth-based trade association, the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), has  urged extreme caution following an incident involving an elderly woman whose clothes became caught in a moving roller door shutter resulting in her being lifted several feet into the air.   71-year-old store cleaner, Anne Hughes’s coat became lodged in the rising shutter outside the Best One off-licence in Pontypridd, South Wales, on Monday.  And despite being quickly rescued by store manager, Amed Akram, 44, Ms Hughes was left dangling upside down in an incident that DHF has described as a shocking and unacceptable ‘near-miss-fatality’.  In addition, a video of the incident, currently being circulated on several social media platforms, has resulted in a reaction of laughter as opposed to concern.  In an article in yesterday’s Mirror, New Reporter Susie Beever states:  “A woman’s embarrassing faux pas with some window shutters has left people in hysterics after the hilarious moment was caught on CCTV.”  “This incident is far from amusing and could very easily have resulted in tragedy had Anne’s coat fabric failed and she fell onto her head ,” explains DHF’s Training and Compliance Officer, Nick Perkins.  “The two glaring issues are that there is a hooking hazard on the door on which Ms Hughes became caught.  Additionally, the door was opening automatically and according to the now 24-year-old standard for roller shutter doors, either the hooking hazard should have been removed, or the door should have been operated from a ‘hold-to-run control’ that would only function within sight of the door, or the door should have been torque limited so that it could not lift more than 20kg.    “There should not have been any hooking hazards on a shutter that would act in this way and questions should be raised as to why the shutter drive (motor) was so overpowered to be able to lift a person as well as the weight of the shutter?  We cannot emphasise enough the seriousness of this situation, and we urge owners and managers, who have a responsibility to all users particularly when on property that is used, accessed or open to the public, to ensure that they are adhering to the legal requirements for these products.”The law relating to placing roller shutter doors on the market in the UK can be referenced here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1597/contents/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1387/introduction/made  Similarly, the law affecting the operation of, the owning and/or managing of roller shutter doors in the UK can be refenced here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/contents/made https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents  “EN 12453 has been published by BSI in the UK since 2001 and describes in detail the safety measures that must be implemented when a roller shutter door is placed on the market and hence should be in place for a door in service,” concludes Nick.  “Further DHF guidance for owners and managers can be found in publication, DHF TS 013-3.” DHF publication DHF TS 013-3 can be downloaded free of charge from the DHF website https://bit.ly/DHFTechnicalSpecifications Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Kingspan reduces scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds in four years

Kingspan reduces scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds in four years

Kingspan, the global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions, today launches its fourth annual ‘Planet Passionate’ sustainability report and announces a 65% absolute reduction in its scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions since 2020.[4],[5] In 2023 alone, the company achieved a further 40% absolute reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions since its base year, accelerated by the introduction of its business-wide internal carbon price in January 2023.[6] The report also shows that 49.6% of all wholly-owned Kingspan sites had solar PV systems installed by year-end, a marked boost to the company’s on-site renewable energy generation capacity. In addition to these operational achievements, in 2023 Kingspan made important headway in its innovation journey to reduce the embodied carbon of its product offering, introducing three lower embodied carbon products – QuadCore LEC insulated panels, RMG600+ raised access floor panels and the Tate Grid LEC structural ceiling solution – to some of its markets. The company also launched its bio-based HemKor range in November 2023, marking the first time a major insulation manufacturer has launched a product made largely of hemp. Other key developments highlighted in the report include: Kingspan’s 10-year Planet Passionate sustainability programme is the driving force behind its efforts to decarbonise its operations, product offering and supply chain, prioritising absolute emissions reductions. The company has committed to challenging science-based targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) covering scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions, including achieving a 90% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within its operations and a 42% absolute reduction in scope 3 GHG emissions from its 2020 base year. These targets are aligned with the IPCC’s goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5⁰C by the end of this century. The programme also features measurable targets to harvest rainwater, eliminate waste to landfill and increase use of recycled PET as a raw material to help tackle three of today’s biggest global challenges: climate change, circularity and protection of the natural world. Bianca Wong, Global Head of Sustainability at Kingspan Group, said: “We are acutely aware that as the climate crisis intensifies, our mission to help accelerate a net-zero emissions built environment has never been more important. To play our part in keeping global temperature rises within the 1.5°C limit, we committed to absolute emissions reductions and focused on making tangible progress in the short- to medium-term through our Planet Passionate programme. In a business like Kingspan, that is only possible with significant structural and time investment and an unwavering dedication to delivering real results. Our global team of more than 100 people has completed over 300 projects across our business since 2020 to help realise our targets. With the majority of Kingspan’s value chain emissions coming from our upstream supply chain, we are working closely with our key supply partners to reduce the carbon intensity of our key raw materials. This work has enabled us to bring new lower embodied carbon products to market in 2023. We still have a lot of work to do and must continue to refocus and respond as the business grows and evolves, but I am incredibly proud of what our team has achieved in just four years and look forward to further progress towards our targets as Planet Passionate enters its fifth year.” The launch of Kingspan’s 2023 Planet Passionate report follows the recent announcement that the company was included on the globally-recognised CDP Climate Change A List, which recognises environmental leadership through transparency and meaningful climate action. Kingspan was one of just 346 companies to make the 2023 CDP Climate Change A List, of the 21,000 companies scored by CDP. In addition, CDP has also named Kingspan as a 2023 Supplier Engagement Leader in recognition of the company’s effectiveness in engaging with suppliers on climate change. Read the full report here: Kingspan Planet Passionate Report 2023 (ipaper.io) Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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SymTerra announces Google Cloud partnership to accelerate digital transformation for transport, construction and utilities companies

SymTerra announces Google Cloud partnership to accelerate digital transformation for transport, construction and utilities companies

SymTerra, the digital communication tool built for on-site project teams, has announced its partnership with Google Cloud at this year’s Interchange Annual Conference in Manchester Central. The new integration on Google Cloud Marketplace offers the SymTerra tool to Google Cloud’s construction, utility and transport customers, enabling project data flow across supply and labour chains for more effective site and project reporting.  SymTerra’s record-right-first-time site reporting tool captures data at the point of work, to eliminate risk and hidden costs that result from reporting inaccuracies, difficulty accessing historical data, and weak chain of evidence required for commercial defensibility. By putting digital tools in the hands of those on site to capture data at point of work, SymTerra eliminates the industry’s over-reliance on consumer communication tools, to make absent, incomplete, outdated & incorrect data a thing of the past.  In the construction, rail and water industry, effective communication is paramount to enabling data flows across supply and labour chains. The foundation of every project, and fundamental to every business, is robust data; and yet many project teams are forced to rely on consumer messaging tools for site reporting and asset updates because other options are simply not fit for purpose. SymTerra co-founder Sarah Crawley commented; “Data is critical to the commercial resilience and viability of the transport and infrastructure sector, with access to open data standards empowering the entire supply chain; democratising data is one of the foundations on which the future of multi-modal transport will be built. None of this can happen without site teams having direct access to digital tools that capture real time data, updates and reporting from site, which is why this strategic partnership with Google Cloud is such an important catalyst for the integration and digitisation of transport infrastructure. “We’re looking forward to meeting Google Cloud partners at this year’s Interchange Conference, and helping more Google Cloud customers deliver projects with better reporting for future resilience.” “Bringing Symterra to Google Cloud Marketplace will help customers quickly deploy, manage, and grow its digital communications platform on Google Cloud’s trusted, global infrastructure,” said Anne-Marie Lamb, Director, Manufacturing & Industrial, UKI, Google Cloud. “SymTerra can now securely scale and support customers on their digital transformation journeys.” As a Google Cloud partner, SymTerraoffers customers the ability to: The new integration with Google Cloud launched on Wednesday 28 February 2024 at Google Prism, the interactive immersion zone focused on data and AI in transport, where SymTerra is speaking, alongside infrastructure specialist D2 Global, on ‘building the data pipeline for lost assets’. Catch SymTerra on the Google Prism stage on Wednesday 28 February at 10.20am. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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BDA Better With Brick Campaign Celebrates Clay Brick as the Ultimate Contemporary Building Material

BDA Better With Brick Campaign Celebrates Clay Brick as the Ultimate Contemporary Building Material

The Brick Development Association (BDA) is commemorating clay brick’s appeal as a building material for the ages with the launch of its Better with Brick campaign. Packed with facts, stats and blogs featuring expert analysis and insights, Better with Brick proves there is more to clay brick than meets the eye. An historic and reliable building material, clay brick’s outstanding credentials make it the ideal building source for the here and now. It is a viable long-term investment, has excellent availability and a lower carbon footprint compared to many alternative materials. Better with Brick provides a comprehensive look at these benefits and more. So, if you thought you knew everything there was to know about the wonders of clay brick, Better with Brick may give you cause to think again. Keith Aldis, CEO of the BDA said: “With Better with Brick, our goal is clear: to reveal the timeless charm and unwavering reliability of clay brick, a material that has long been the cornerstone for builders, architects, and homeowners. This campaign will highlight why clay brick isn’t just a choice, but the best choice for your building needs. So, please join us in celebrating clay brick; a gift of a building resource that keeps on giving.” Giving a Voice to Clay Brick’s Unsung Qualities  Covering topics that verify clay brick’s vital role in fulfilling our current and future building needs, Better with Brick is a chance to discover fascinating insights into this tried, trusted and beloved building material. Clay brick’s strength, reliability, design-friendly qualities and limitless kerb appeal are among its renowned beneficial traits – but what about its sustainable value aside from its inbuilt long-term weather resistance? Also, have you considered how clay brick could be pivotal to decarbonising construction and contributing to the national effort to achieve net zero? And there’s more: did you know that clay brick’s non-combustible performance is hallmarked by its A1 fire-rating? Better with Brick will outline in full each of these crucial underlying benefits in a series of expert blogs that will also reveal how the Brick Makers Quality Charter manages its credibility in respect of clay bricks.  The BDA encourages you to follow them on social media platforms to hear directly from brick manufacturers, architects, and other industry experts about why clay brick is their preferred choice. Search for @brickdevelopmentassociation on your favorite platforms and join the conversation using the hashtag #betterwithbrick. But the campaign doesn’t stop there! Be sure to watch the launch video here and stay tuned for upcoming interviews and videos that will be posted on their social media channels in the coming weeks and months. “Better with Brick” offers a comprehensive and compelling exploration of this timeless material, revealing its surprising relevance and potential in modern construction. Discover more about the benefits of clay brick and the BDA’s campaign here: https://www.brick.org.uk/better-with-brick. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Curious about the effects the BSR will have on your project?

Curious about the effects the BSR will have on your project?

The Building Safety Act has been described by government as the ‘Biggest Changes to Building Safety for a Generation’. Arguably, the most impactful change at project level is the implementation of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as the building control authority for all Higher Risk Buildings. We have identified four key factors that project stakeholders need to understand about how the BSR will operate, and how it might impact on the delivery of projects under their remit. Note: the following information will be most relevant to projects in England. KEY PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS: 1.What is a Higher Risk Building (HRB)? Section 65 of the Building Safety Act 2022 states, with respect to buildings in design and construction: (1) In this Part “higher-risk building” means a building in England that –     (a) is at least 18 metres in height or has at least 7 storeys, and     (b) contains at least 2 residential units. Examples include residential buildings, mixed-use residential, care homes, hospitals, and student accommodation. Excluded are hotels, military barracks, prisons, and other secure residential institutions. Note: the criteria are slightly different for existing buildings. When establishing height, there are some parameters to consider: 2.Level of Scrutiny Although the BSR are focused on fire safety, which they define as spread of fire and structural failures posing a threat to life, they will have full responsibility over compliance with all parts of the building regulations, not just parts A and B. The BSR require several new documents at each of the 3 planning gateways, including construction control and phase plans, several other safety documents, and handover strategies. The BSR will essentially require a complete multi-disciplinary design, aiming for projects with no changes or variations. What this means for design and build contracts is not yet fully understood, but the type of documents the BSR requires will likely drive an increase in PCSAs being used to get to detailed designs. 3.Programme Implications It is clear that more time and effort will be required in the design stages to submit complete applications and secure the BSR’s approval. The BSR will have a 12-week statutory period to review and respond to applications. This means they will operate like other statutory parties such as planning authorities and consultees, who cannot be consulted throughout the design process and will only provide feedback once their full review is concluded. Current understanding is that all applications, clarifications, and re-submissions to the BSR will be subject to the 12-week turnaround. For example, securing approval after one round of feedback and resubmission would take in excess of 24 weeks. It is imperative that project teams account for this lengthy engagement process, making allowance for the likelihood of rejected applications, within their pre-construction programmes. To mitigate this programme (and associated cost) risk, clients/project teams are advised to retain an approved inspector as part of the consultant team to assist the design and review it for compliance prior to submitting a BSR application. It is strongly recommended that only Class 3 registered approved inspectors are engaged, as the BSR has indicated its own inspectors will be Class 3. New guidelines here: Registered building inspectors – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 4.Cost Uncertainties Cost planning through the design stages is likely to be more uncertain because the scope, materiality, and methodology cannot be fully frozen until final approval by the BSR is secured. Typically, the design and costs would undergo an element of value engineering as a project progresses through the stages. Project teams will either need to allow for those exercises at design freeze, prior to BSR application; or run the risk of needing to re-submit and wait a further 12 weeks for subsequent approvals. This new protracted route to design approval, driven by the BSR’s strict application and response process, will manifest a slower and more expensive pre-construction journey. Clients and project owners will need to account for this in business cases and project briefs; and may find that projects on the borderline of viability are harder to justify as a result. Finally, while only a small part of the overall costs of any significant project, there is also inherent uncertainty of the BSR’s fees. There is an up-front £180 to be paid at the time of application, with BSR inspectors then charging £144 per hour spent reviewing applications. Forecasting these fees will be difficult, and only time will tell how the BSR will justify and seek to recover those fees. Watts are currently delivering projects that fall under the BSR’s remit, and we have a good understanding of how to meet the BSR’s needs so that you can plan accordingly.  Please get in touch with our dedicated team at Watts should you need support navigating this new landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Case study: Embracing the new era of connected safety

Case study: Embracing the new era of connected safety

When your business involves sending hundreds of workers out to disconnected sites where they could be exposed to dangerous gases, safety should be a top priority. But how can real-time insights and actionable data help enable you to offer your workforce enhanced protection? This was the challenge facing Cappagh Browne Utilities Limited, a company specialising in repairing and maintaining wastewater networks across the southeast of England. Learn more about their experience. As managing director of Cappagh Browne, Jeff Birtwhistle plays a key role in helping to keep the sewers of south-east England flowing. With over 30 years’ experience in heavy civil construction, nuclear energy, and utilities, he’s always looking for innovative solutions to help the company improve the service it offers customers – and protect its workforce. So when we introduced our latest generation connected gas connector, the ALTAIR io™ 4 Connected Gas Detector, Jeff was keen for Cappagh Browne to be able to reap the benefits. “When it comes to innovation and new technology, MSA Safety is one of our key and invaluable partners,” he says. The gas detector that is redefining safety management Cappagh Browne was already using a previous generation connected gas detector from MSA Safety that provided certain data for remote monitoring to help protect workers and respond to emergencies.  After experiencing those benefits, he wanted to enhance them even further with real-time data. The ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector does this, helping to give Cappagh Browne the chance to leverage new MSA Safety technology, improve overall business efficiency and response times, and significantly improve safety for workers. Offering immediate, on-site connectivity The power of the  ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector lies in its combination of built-in cutting-edge, CAT-M LTE cellular connectivity and integration with the MSA Grid. Part of MSA Safety’s Connected Work Platform, the ALTAIR io4 Connected Gas Detector can be deployed in seconds, right out of the box. What’s more, no IT is required for updates because they are delivered securely from our cloud to your fleet. When the device is in its dock, it knows when it needs a bump test or calibration to be compliant and immediately starts to run the relevant test. And with industry-leading XCELL® sensors it can stand up to tough use in challenging conditions, resistance to extreme temperatures, the ability to withstand a 25-foot drop and a dust and waterproof IP68 rating. Real-time insights Matt Reid, Head of Fleet for Cappagh Browne, says they are already experiencing the benefits of upgrading to the ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector. “We have over 350 employees working across various remote sites in potentially hazardous environments. So real-time safety monitoring is important,” he explains. “Now, with the ALTAIR io 4, we’re able to use real-time data to establish who to use on a particular job because we can see what exposure they’ve had over the last week.” “We can send one person out to a job and then, if they need help, we can send another person out with an ID tag to ‘fob on’ to the same device. We can then track both people safely within the seven-day period to make sure they don’t exceed their exposure limit.” Keeping workers safe throughout the day Managing Director Jeff Birtwhistle adds that it’s the ability to get immediate feedback when a worker’s exposure limit to dangerous gases has been reached that is taking the company’s safety management to new levels. “Being able to intervene on a worker’s behalf and pull them out of a job to protect them is fantastic. It means we can keep our most valuable asset –our people – safe,” he says. Improving compliance The real-time data and actionable insights offered by the ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector are also helping to simplify regulatory compliance for Cappagh Browne and enabling supervisors to identify behaviors that don’t meet safety standards, which can help make workers more accountable. Since introducing the solution, the company has experienced zero safety alarms. However, as Matt Reid explains, a worker was able to use the inbuilt alarm to call for help in an unusual situation. “We had an instance where a guy became physically locked out of his vehicle and didn’t have his phone on him. He pushed the alarm button to call for help and we were able to get a second set of keys over to him to unlock the vehicle and get him on the road again.” The partnership with MSA Safety continues Both Jeff and Matt know that at some point in the future they will inevitably be looking for new safety enhancements that they cannot envisage right now. But they are confident that when that time comes, MSA Safety will be there, just as it has been for real-time gas detection monitoring. For now, they are enjoying the enhanced safety that the ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector offers their workforce. Fleet manager Matt Reid sums up the benefits. “Using ALTAIR io 4 means we can send our employees home safely to their families every night and that Cappagh Browne can see them again every morning when they turn up for another day’s work.” Keen to see what this technology can do for safety management at your business too? Watch our case study video and find out more about how the ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector is redefining safety. Watch the video to find out more about Cappa Browne’s experience using MSA Safety’s ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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New Carbon Calculator set to change how we approach sustainable engineering

New Carbon Calculator set to change how we approach sustainable engineering

Yesterday, Perega, one of the UK’s leading structural and civil engineering consultancies, launches its innovative CO2 accounting tool: The Carbon Calculator. Affirming its commitment to sustainable construction, this evolutionary platform empowers Perega’s clients to assess the whole carbon footprint of their projects, from inception to completion. Importantly, it enables them to make greener material choices to faster, and better, achieve a more sustainable built environment. The calculator has been developed by the firm’s dedicated, in-house Net Zero Carbon Group and uses a sophisticated algorithmic framework, analysing material emissions data to achieve lower-carbon outcomes. Harnessing the power of the latest digital technology, the calculator seamlessly integrates within the Revit model, offering a comprehensive carbon impact assessment. Key features of the Perega Carbon Calculator include: Commenting on the impact and efficacy of the tool, Perega’s Digital Engineering Lead, James Washbourne, says, “With the built environment responsible for 40% of global emissions, the imperative for lower-emission practices has shifted from optional to essential. Our Carbon Calculator makes another step towards achieving more sustainable projects. Moving away from manually crunching static spreadsheets to a predominantly automated process means better pinpointing of carbon hotspots and empowering our clients to make correct material substitutions during the design phase, without compromising on quality. “Ensuring user-friendliness was crucial, our clients are incredibly busy and need to be able to read and understand the data quickly to make informed decisions. As such, we developed the calculator to deliver clear and simple comparisons for effective decision-making”. For further information about Perega and its groundbreaking carbon accounting tool, please click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Major event for public sector construction suppliers to tackle UK’s decarbonisation challenges

Major event for public sector construction suppliers to tackle UK’s decarbonisation challenges

Public sector construction suppliers are being invited to attend a major industry event that will discuss broad perspectives from across the sector on retrofitting at scale to decarbonise the UK’s existing built environment and deliver a net zero future. Scheduled for 28 February in Birmingham, the Retrofit for a Net Zero Future Conference promises to be a gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and experts, all committed to paving the way for a sustainable future. The conference is being spearheaded by LHC Procurement Group (LHC), a not-for-profit built environment, compliance and consultancy framework provider delivering exclusively to the public sector. Among the distinguished speakers announced for the event are Euan Durston, Regional Director at ECD Architects, and Luke Smith, Managing Director at Build Test Solutions. Durston brings with him a wealth of experience from ECD Architects, renowned for delivering retrofit projects at scale across the UK. He will present case studies showcasing successful retrofitting at scale for a net zero future, offering practical examples and lessons learned. Smith, on the other hand, will delve into the critical role of measurement and analysis to ensure that the desired outcomes for building performance and quality are met. Other speakers at the event include Karen Ashley-Seaman, Product Manager at Vaillant, who will be delving into the importance of collaboration with stakeholders in achieving net zero through retrofit initiatives. Matt Hickman, Bid Director at VINCI Facilities, will provide insights from the responsible main contractor perspective, shedding light on the intricacies of delivering net zero projects. Simon Kemp, Director of Growth and Innovation at Warmworks, will speak on simplifying procurement of large-scale retrofit projects. LHC will also lead several discussions at the event, including one by Chris Ferguson, Technical Manager, Energy Efficiency at LHC, who will address the knowledge gap challenges facing the sector in achieving net zero and discuss strategies for overcoming these hurdles. At the heart of the discussions will be LHC’s latest Decarbonisation and Retrofit (N9) framework. Developed in response to extensive market engagement, this framework is poised to assist public sector organisations in overcoming the hurdles of decarbonisation. Dean Fazackerley, Head of Technical Procurement at LHC, said the market had shown a positive response during the framework’s development phase, and explained the Group’s commitment to addressing the sector’s challenges. Dean Fazackerley said: “The conference will explore the urgent challenge of decarbonising the UK’s built environment, and the practical ways that public sector organisations can improve their buildings, such as enhancing building insulation, optimising heating systems and integrating renewable energy solutions. “Participants can look forward to discussions facilitating broad industry perspectives on areas such as control and management systems, electrical servicing, and multi-disciplinary works among other measures aimed at resolving the challenges towards a net zero future. “Collaboration is paramount in meeting this challenge, and by exchanging data, sharing best practices, and fostering innovation, we can drive meaningful change and usher in a new era of sustainability in the construction sector.” Designed to facilitate a transition to net zero, the N9 framework will offer a suite of energy efficiency and decarbonisation solutions, including consultancy services. Anticipated to launch in mid-2024, N9 holds significant importance in the journey towards achieving net carbon zero. Dean added: “This is an area of increased importance as we all strive to improve building stock, reduce operating costs, and deliver positive outcomes for occupants.” It is the most important net zero framework in development since LHC became a CLG last year and will be available nationwide through the Group’s five business units: London and South East (LSE); Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC); South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA); Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA); and Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA). The Retrofit for a Net Zero Future event promises attendees access to invaluable insights, best practices, and experiences in delivering retrofit and decarbonisation programs. With partners including Build Test Solutions, ECD Architects, Vaillant, Vinci Facilities, and Warmworks, the event is expected to catalyse meaningful discussions and collaborations within the sector. It will take place on 28 February at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Birmingham. To secure your place and be a part of shaping the future of construction, visit the LHC website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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A new CPD resource is now available from FACTA

A new CPD resource is now available from FACTA

FACTA has long been recognised as the industry specification for fabricated access covers and they have just launched an excellent new CPD resource. The guide to specifying a fabricated access cover is a much-needed tool for specifiers, manufacturers, and installers. This valuable resource provides expert information that is essential for navigating the complexities of the process. Don’t miss out on this FREE opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and gain valuable insight into specifying fabricated access covers. Visit www.facta.org.uk for this indispensable resource! FACTA members, who are industry experts, collectively provide up-to-date news and updates on standards relevant to the industry, as well as improved guidance notes and position papers. The FACTA specification is well recognised and used extensively in the construction industry by contractors, builders’ merchants, leading utility companies, and importantly, by specifiers including architects and consulting engineers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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