With reports for Phase 3 of the UK Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) required by 5 June 2024, a leading testing, inspection and certification expert is advising participants to act now for robust understanding of their energy consumption. The mandatory efficiency assessment and monitoring scheme requires engaged organisations to conduct
By Dr Gareth Davies, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD & Dr Luan Ho, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD – Tunley Environmental Concrete, the most extensively used manmade material worldwide, carries a significant environmental burden, contributing to 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions. With a staggering 30 Gt produced annually, the material consumption is
Business one of only 30 members awarded new standard McLaughlin & Harvey has been awarded Platinum accredited membership via The 5% Club’s 2023-24 Employer Audit Scheme. The award recognises significant contributions made to the development of employees through “earn & learn” schemes such as Apprenticeships, Graduate Schemes and Sponsored Students
The LABC will be hosting its next technical roadshow in 3D later this month – with Actis sharing part of its RIBA-approved Tomorrow’s Insulation Solutions for Future Homes Standards CPD with delegates from across the West of England. The CPD, which covers part L, will be presented by one of
A free-to-access embodied carbon database has been launched by the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) with a rallying cry for the industry to unite behind it. The first data repository of its kind, the Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD) is designed to help drive down carbon emissions by enabling users
This week, the UK’s first ever International Retrofit Conference is taking place as part of BE-ST Fest, a two-day industry summit focused on zero carbon construction and organised by Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). BE-ST Fest is the culmination of a month-long festival for the sustainable built environment, bringing together
November 2023, London: Following on from successful shows in both the UK and the Netherlands this year, Workspace Design Show is pleased to announce the first names to be added to the speaker programme for its London 2024 show. Held from 27-28 February 2024 at the Business Design Centre, Islington,
The Building Centre in London is holding a free workshop with panel debates and talks led by experts across the construction industry on 15 November 2023. With the industry under more scrutiny than ever to make sure that greener practices are followed, it is important that commercial plumbing looks towards
Timber Development UK (TDUK) has just published the first set of its huge new library of Timber Knowledge Sheets – with 50+ now available for download. The new knowledge sheets introduce and answer common questions about every aspect of working with wood, from the difference between hardwood and softwood, through
The Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) is inviting voices from across the industry and public sector to have their say on its draft Transformation Action Plan. The collaboration between Government and industry is urging fellow industry figures and businesses to help shape the future of the sector by taking part in its
With reports for Phase 3 of the UK Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) required by 5 June 2024, a leading testing, inspection and certification expert is advising participants to act now for robust understanding of their energy consumption. The mandatory efficiency assessment and monitoring scheme requires engaged organisations to conduct audits of their buildings, transport and industrial processes with the aim of identifying saving opportunities. Ahead of the compliance deadline, Claire McGeechan, consultant at BM TRADA, is prompting imminent action. “Although the deadline might seem a while away, there is no time to be complacent.” said Claire. “Reports must be ready to submit before the deadline, which relies on access to data from December 2022 and an effective audit strategy. Neither of these aspects are quick wins so ensuring the right processes are in place is key.” Under ESOS, UK organisations with an annual turnover in excess of £44m and annual balance sheet of over £38m, or those that employ at least 250 people in the UK, must submit a report every four years. The specifics of Phase 3 remain unconfirmed, however, Claire believes ISO 50001 certification provides a clear framework for managing energy usage. “Compliance relies on having collated the right data over the required period, through comprehensive understanding of how and where energy is used, as well as the identification, commitment to and implementation of improvement actions. “Although the data collection process should already be underway, it’s worth taking stock to prevent any gaps in processes. Energy management systems certification is therefore an ideal step and can help organisations prepare. Not only that, but it is a valuable way to demonstrate commitment to energy efficiency and the environment to customers, investors, and the wider community.”ISO 50001 is an energy management certification that provides a framework to understand energy usage and improve efficiency while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. It is a means of compliance for ESOS Phase 3. Claire also urges organisations to ensure awarding bodies and auditors have the necessary accreditations. “To use ISO 50001 for ESOS compliance, the issuing certification body must be UKAS accredited otherwise certification will be non-compliant under the regulations. UKAS accreditation also provides confidence in the issuing body, and in turn, the competence of the organisation that has been certified.” To find out more information on BM TRADA’s certification services, please visit: https://www.element.com/certification/iso-50001-energy-management-certification Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By Dr Gareth Davies, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD & Dr Luan Ho, Carbon Reduction Scientist, PhD – Tunley Environmental Concrete, the most extensively used manmade material worldwide, carries a significant environmental burden, contributing to 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions. With a staggering 30 Gt produced annually, the material consumption is over 3.5 tonnes of concrete per person annually. The majority of the emissions (88.5%) emanate from cement production, the essential ingredient in concrete. Carbon sequestration in concrete presents a promising avenue to offset these emissions. This process, often referred to as carbonation or mineralisation, essentially reverses the initial cement production steps, where carbon dioxide is detached from calcium carbonate (limestone). Controlled carbonation of cementitious material, although first proposed in the 1970s, is recently garnering increased attention due to its substantial potential to mitigate against the colossal emissions from concrete production. However, carbonation is not without its challenges. Uncontrolled, it can lead to the corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete and the formation of harmful compounds, jeopardising the structural integrity of buildings. Yet, advancements in controlled carbonation methodologies have demonstrated the potential to not only sequester carbon dioxide but also enhance the properties of concrete. One such method involves utilising accelerated carbonation chambers to carbonate pre-cast materials, offering control over essential parameters such as CO2 concentration, humidity, and temperature. This impacts the rate and depth of carbonation, with the formation of calcium carbonate in the exterior pores blocking further carbonation. Emerging techniques explore embedding CO2-rich materials within the concrete mixture. A notable investigation by MIT researchers examined incorporating sodium bicarbonate, which dissolves and releases CO2 during curing. This innovative method not only sequesters carbon but also addresses the detrimental impacts of late-stage carbonation, such as shrinkage and crack formation. Furthermore, the possibility of reusing carbonated Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) from construction and demolition waste, which amounts to around 3 billion tonnes annually, offers an additional layer of environmental benefits. Although using RCA poses challenges such as increased costs and micro-cracking, controlled carbonation mitigates these issues and allows for a decrease in both water absorption and leaching instability. These advances in carbonation technology could potentially sequester 2 Gt of CO2 annually if implemented at scale, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of concrete production. When combined with the predicted 50% reduction from electrification, emissions could be curtailed to just 32.7% of the current levels. However, the journey towards sustainable concrete production is multifaceted and complex. As researchers and engineers continue to explore the potential of carbon sequestration in concrete, the combination of controlled carbonation and the incorporation of CO2-releasing materials represents a leap forward in our quest to mitigate the environmental impact of this ubiquitous material. In conclusion, the path to mitigating the environmental challenges posed by concrete production lies in innovative solutions such as carbon sequestration. By acting as a carbon sink, concrete has the potential to offset a significant portion of the emissions generated during its manufacturing stage. The incorporation of carbonated end-of-life concrete as filler material further underscores the potential of this material to contribute to a more sustainable future. References [1] S. A. Miller and F. C. Moore, “Climate and health damages from global concrete production,” Nat Clim Chang, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 439–443, May 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41558-020-0733-0. [2] A. Petek Gursel, E. Masanet, A. Horvath, and A. Stadel, “Life-cycle inventory analysis of concrete production: A critical review,” Cem Concr Compos, vol. 51, pp. 38–48, 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.03.005. [3] P. C. Aïtcin, “Portland cement,” in Science and Technology of Concrete Admixtures, Elsevier Inc., 2016, pp. 27–51. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100693-1.00003-5. [4] M. Stefanoni, U. Angst, and B. Elsener, “Corrosion rate of carbon steel in carbonated concrete – A critical review,” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 103. Elsevier Ltd, pp. 35–48, Jan. 01, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.10.007. [5] L. Qin, X. Gao, and T. Chen, “Influence of mineral admixtures on carbonation curing of cement paste,” Constr Build Mater, vol. 212, pp. 653–662, Jul. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.04.033. [6] S. Hussain, D. Bhunia, and S. B. Singh, “Comparative study of accelerated carbonation of plain cement and fly-ash concrete,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 10, pp. 26–31, Mar. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2017.02.001. [7] B. Šavija and M. Luković, “Carbonation of cement paste: Understanding, challenges, and opportunities,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 117. Elsevier Ltd, pp. 285–301, Aug. 01, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.04.138. [8] N. Lippiatt, T. C. Ling, and S. Y. Pan, “Towards carbon-neutral construction materials: Carbonation of cement-based materials and the future perspective,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 28. Elsevier Ltd, Mar. 01, 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2019.101062. [9] Z. Xu et al., “Effects of temperature, humidity and CO2 concentration on carbonation of cement-based materials: A review,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 346. Elsevier Ltd, Sep. 05, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128399. [10] J. Liu et al., “Carbonated concrete brick capturing carbon dioxide from cement kiln exhaust gas,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 17, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01474. [11] Z. Li, Z. He, and X. Chen, “The performance of carbonation-cured concrete,” Materials, vol. 12, no. 22, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.3390/ma12223729. [12] D. Stefaniuk, M. Hajduczek, J. C. Weaver, F. J. Ulm, and A. Masic, “Cementing CO2 into C-S-H: A step toward concrete carbon neutrality,” PNAS Nexus, vol. 2, no. 3, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad052. [13] Y. Pu et al., “Accelerated carbonation technology for enhanced treatment of recycled concrete aggregates: A state-of-the-art review,” Constr Build Mater, vol. 282, May 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122671. [14] D. Xuan, B. Zhan, and C. S. Poon, “Assessment of mechanical properties of concrete incorporating carbonated recycled concrete aggregates,” Cem Concr Compos, vol. 65, pp. 67–74, Jan. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2015.10.018. [15] T. Kikuchi and Y. Kuroda, “Carbon Dioxide Uptake in Demolished and Crushed Concrete,” 2011. [16] Z. Guo, A. Tu, C. Chen, and D. E. Lehman, “Mechanical properties, durability, and life-cycle assessment of concrete building blocks incorporating recycled concrete aggregates,” J Clean Prod, vol. 199, pp. 136–149, Oct. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.069. https://www.tunley-environmental.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Business one of only 30 members awarded new standard McLaughlin & Harvey has been awarded Platinum accredited membership via The 5% Club’s 2023-24 Employer Audit Scheme. The award recognises significant contributions made to the development of employees through “earn & learn” schemes such as Apprenticeships, Graduate Schemes and Sponsored Students Course Placements. Launched to mark their 10th Anniversary, The 5% Club’s new top tier of Platinum Membership is awarded to those who have attained Gold Membership for three consecutive years, with the third year consisting of 10% or more staff members “earning and learning”. McLaughlin & Harvey is one of only 30 employers who have met the Platinum standard, putting them in the top 3% of members. Alison Reilly, Group HR Director, commented: “We have supported the 5% Club for a number of years as we believe investing in talent development creates a sustainable pipeline of skilled and motivated employees. Earn and learn employees currently make up 11.5% of McLaughlin and Harvey’s workforce. The initiative promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace, addresses the skills gap and demonstrates our commitment to social responsibility and investing in long-term success and sustainability.” Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club, said: “Our Employer Audit scheme recognises the efforts of all those employers who invest in their workforce through a broad range of workplace learning schemes. It is fantastic that in these challenging times so many are able to commit to the Employer Audit and to gain the credit for their efforts, and that the majority are striving to expand their schemes over the coming years. Their efforts and achievements are to be applauded. Even more impressive is the 3% percent who have achieved Platinum level membership – they represent the very best of our movement and of employers offering ‘earn and learn’ opportunities.” Gill Cronin, Director of Operations at The 5% Club added: “Having seen The Club grow to more than 900 members, I am always impressed at the commitment, drive and energy our members channel into offering “earn and learn” skills opportunities. To now see 20% of these members gain Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum accredited membership of The Club is inspiring and demonstrates how these companies are all contributing to the future of skills in our economy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The LABC will be hosting its next technical roadshow in 3D later this month – with Actis sharing part of its RIBA-approved Tomorrow’s Insulation Solutions for Future Homes Standards CPD with delegates from across the West of England. The CPD, which covers part L, will be presented by one of the Actis regional specification team at the monthly LABC technical seminar on Wednesday November 22. Delegates and presenters can meet face-to-face at the free event, which takes place at The Players Golf Club in Bristol – and may even get to eat cupcakes, used to illustrate key points in the CPD. This is the sixth year in a row in which Actis is working with LABC as a CPD partner. The club, which like many of its ilk acts as a conference centre and wedding destination, as well as offering fishing, will provide an excellent location in which builders, specifiers, architects and building control officers can benefit from three and a half hours of CPD training. Actis, along with LABC’s other CPD partners, will each offer insight into a specific technical issue and a proposed solution designed to educate and inform. Actis’ contribution will focus on insulation to meet the new tighter Building Regulations Part L requirements, while other experts will talk on issues such as warranty defects. Doors open at 8am and close at 11.30am. Reserve your place here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A free-to-access embodied carbon database has been launched by the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) with a rallying cry for the industry to unite behind it. The first data repository of its kind, the Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD) is designed to help drive down carbon emissions by enabling users to both submit data to, and download data from it, to facilitate consistent carbon estimating and benchmarking. It has been funded and developed by BCIS in collaboration with a range of leading organisations and professional bodies from across the built environment over the last three years. BCIS CEO James Fiske, who chairs the BECD steering group said: “The built environment industry has a moral and ethical responsibility to take action. “In the absence of the government taking a lead and mandating carbon assessments, it’s really up to us as an industry to drive this forward. “About 40% of global greenhouse emissions come from the built environment and, if we don’t do anything about it, that’s predicted to double by 2050. “We have to ensure that, regardless of what job we’re fulfilling in the industry, we all influence the reduction of carbon emissions in one way, shape or form.” During the live launch of the BECD, a webinar with an audience of almost 800 people, representing the breadth of the construction industry, attendees were polled on their perceptions of and current practices around carbon measurement and reporting. Encouragingly, 76% said they, or their organisation, would not scale back their own approach to carbon reduction in light of the government’s recent change of net zero strategy, though 19% said they didn’t know if they would. Most attendees (84%) said they did not support the government’s new strategy. The majority of respondents said whole-life carbon assessments should either already be mandatory for all UK construction projects (44%) or be made mandatory within 12 months (20%). The lack of decreed reporting in the industry is apparent in current practice, especially where there is inconsistency in methodology and varying levels of commitment to reducing emissions, from clients and investors, among other stakeholders. Out of 436 respondents for whom it was relevant to their role, only 27% said they always report on embodied carbon, while 42% said they occasionally do, if asked. One-quarter said they never do, but would like to. When asked if they felt adequately trained and supported to be able to calculate and report carbon emissions, 41% said ‘somewhat, but could use some help’ and 30% said ‘yes, but I wish it was easier’. Only 16% said yes confidently, and 14% said ‘no, it’s all too confusing’. With many attendees reporting less than sufficient training and support, having a skilled workforce able to carry out the work is crucial, a is the need for an agreed set of rules, provided by the recently updated RICS Professional Standard on Whole Life Carbon Assessment, and compliant software that can work alongside the BECD. Fiske added: “There are dozens and dozens of carbon calculators out there in the industry, all working in different ways, some including and excluding things that others aren’t. These are great to start making the right decisions, but they won’t get us all the way there. Some aren’t compliant with the RICS Standard, which makes it much more difficult to compare outputs and learn from each other. “The BECD is step one. It’s an opportunity to make the industry consistent, but it’s use it or lose it. We desperately need to reduce emissions in the built environment and the BECD is our best chance at sharing our experiences for everyone’s benefit. I implore everyone to use it and not to let it become another footnote in the history of things we could have done to combat climate change, but let the opportunity pass us by.” The BECD consists of two databases for carbon assessments, for assets – at a building or project level – and products, typically from EPDs (environmental product declarations). Projects can be added, with either full visibility to other users or anonymously, with different assessments covering the stages from design through to operation. The BECD is being launched with more than 34,000 data entries from EPDs, with users urged to add data from their own projects. Find out more about the BECD at www.becd.co.uk As the BECD grows, BCIS is also launching a free Carbon Newsletter, which will keep subscribers informed about new developments and provide commentary on the latest carbon news in the built environment. For more information about BCIS, visit the website at www.bcis.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This week, the UK’s first ever International Retrofit Conference is taking place as part of BE-ST Fest, a two-day industry summit focused on zero carbon construction and organised by Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). BE-ST Fest is the culmination of a month-long festival for the sustainable built environment, bringing together hundreds of professionals in construction and related sectors to showcase best practice and highlight emerging opportunities. In this interview with BE-ST, UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)’s CEO Smith Mordak digs into some pressing questions to set the scene ahead of their keynote address. What is the role of individuals, industry, and government in shifting mentalities to bring about change? We all have a role to play. We each have valid perspectives, agency, and responsibility to use whatever skills, power, and tactics we can. We also each form the context for each other. We all contribute to the wider sense of possibility. Industry can demonstrate to individuals and governments that we have the capacity and appetite for more ambitious regulation. Individuals can collectively show governments that action on the climate and biodiversity emergencies is electorally popular. Governments can show leadership both with legislation and the way they steward the public estate. This positive feedback loop can be broken when trust is broken through fragmented or stop-start legislation, or when uncertainty and scarcity make long-term thinking difficult. As with all relationships, a commitment to ongoing, honest, and transparent communication can help repair and maintain trust between us all. We can all do our part to uphold communication and trust. You’ve previously been critical of international forums and events like COP. But why do you think it’s important to continue to come to events like BE-ST Fest and the Retrofit Conference to speak? Despite some controversial noises this year, COP remains a unique gathering when our two key audiences – governments and businesses – get together to make decisions and build momentum for decarbonisation. Apparently, this is from the tv show the ‘West Wing’, but I think it holds up that “Decisions are made by those that show up”. This is why we’ll be at COP28 and BE-ST Fest and other national and international events. How do we make sure these events are focussed on progress, solutions, and acceleration, rather than barriers? We need to get into the uncomfortable conversations, to find the points where there isn’t yet consensus. We may broadly agree as a civilisation that climate change is real and needs tackling, but how this should be done, and how big the changes are that we need to see, are still far from agreed upon. We all need to show up with curiosity and willingness to approach the difficult and confronting decisions with kindness and openness, both as individuals and institutions. What is your call to action for the audience at the International Retrofit Conference? At UKGBC we are launching a major campaign, Upgrading Britain’s Homes, focused on persuading political parties to step up the investment we need to fix leaky, draughty homes across the UK. With an election around the corner, we’ll be championing the opportunities of a national retrofit campaign not just to net zero but to regeneration, the housing crisis, and health and wellbeing. I’m hoping to open a conversation about how we tackle the retrofit crisis directly, not simply through economic tools that we assume will work. In my keynote address, I’m using an analogy about how experiments attempting to detect life on earth from space have failed to demonstrate the existence of organic life, only evidence of technology. I wonder whether this is to do with the detecting equipment used and whether we’re suffering similar biases with the retrofit challenge. It will be an interesting conversation! Smith will be exploring their perspective on the retrofit challenge further during their keynote speech at the International Retrofit Summit alongside other speakers including BE-ST’s Head of Retrofit, Caitriona Jordan, Rachel Owens, Co-Director of the National Retrofit Hub and Robert Deegan, Principal Officer for Residential Energy Efficiency, Government of Ireland, among others. Find out more: http://www.be-stfest.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
November 2023, London: Following on from successful shows in both the UK and the Netherlands this year, Workspace Design Show is pleased to announce the first names to be added to the speaker programme for its London 2024 show. Held from 27-28 February 2024 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, the event will feature an impressive mix of senior professionals from architects and designers to developers and end users, who will come together to discuss the most pressing issues facing the workplace design community now and into the future. Confirmed speakers so far include Helen Berresford, Head of ID:SR, Sheppard Robson, Golnaz Ighany, Sustainability Director, BDP, Collin Burry, Design Principal, Gensler and Oliver Hall, Partner – Architecture and Sustainability at Make Architects. Representatives from occupiers include Louise Sheppard, UK Head of Workplace Services & Social Sustainability, Zurich and Sue Glew, Programme Director, The Better Workplace Programme, British Telecom, and Neil Usher, VP Places, Sage, with other highly-experienced industry professionals including Guzman de Yurza, Global Head of Workplace Strategy Capability, JLL and Sally Marshall, Director, Turner & Townsend. The speaker programme will delve into the most urgent topics confronting the sector. These include The Holy Trinity of Culture, Space & Opportunity; Exploring the reality of neurodiversity, inclusivity and equality; AI or die? Using AI in workplace design to enhance creative output and generate innovative ideas; and Designing a workplace that meets cross generational needs. Workspace Design Show 2024 will again feature four different talks programmes, featuring 120 speakers. The Workspace Design Talks will be exploring the latest trends and insights in workplace design, strategy and culture, while the Sustainability Works programme will also return for next year’s edition. This stream of discussion will again bring together a selection of key figures behind the workplace market’s leading sustainable initiatives, projects and product developments. The FIS Conference, a not-for-profit representative body for the £10 billion finishes and interiors sector in the UK, will once again take place at Workspace Design Show, providing a platform for the latest industry thinking from the finishes and interiors sector. The Occupiers Forum, meanwhile, will provide ‘The View from HQ’, giving that crucial perspective from the occupier side of the workplace design equation, as well as providing insights into what employers are doing to create an engaging workplace experience. Once again, Workspace Design Show will gather together leading architects, designers, real estate professionals, tenants and other industry experts to exchange their insights around the world of workplace design. Workspace Design Show 2024, 27-28 February 2024, Business Design Centre, 52 Upper St, London N1 0QH workspaceshow.co.uk For further information contact Nova Joseph, nova@workspaceshow.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Building Centre in London is holding a free workshop with panel debates and talks led by experts across the construction industry on 15 November 2023. With the industry under more scrutiny than ever to make sure that greener practices are followed, it is important that commercial plumbing looks towards the future to find efficient and productive ways of reducing its carbon footprint. Potential methods of which include the use of bio-based polymers and new pipework materials. Visitors to the event, titled ‘The Future of Sustainable Plumbing’, will be able to network and discuss ways that the industry can continue to strive for a sustainable future. Alongside this, expert speakers will be discussing many of the current hot topics that are currently important within the space. These expert speakers will be covering a wide array of topics, including Laing O’Rourke’s Jim Jaffa and Christos Pavlou highlighting the latest design trends in piping installations that are striving to make products more efficient. Franz Huelle from REHAU will be discussing the latest innovations in pipework solutions in the industry, whilst Andreas Frank from Borealis will present about renewable feedstock for polymers, which sees vegetable oils being used as a bio-based polymers feedstock. Alongside this, Julia Torrubia and Margarita Kobrina from Atelier Ten will be talking about the impact of plumbing on the whole life cycle of carbon, an important part of the wider picture of sustainability. Other speakers at the event include Lucy Sherburn from Fairheat, who will give an overview of the new technical requirements set to be introduced under upcoming heat network regulations and Hydrotec’s Amar Lakhani will discuss the chemical-free disinfection of plumbing pipework. Located within the Building Centre in Central London, REHAU’s hub will play host to the event, with a variety of products and solutions on show. There will be an opportunity to experience some of these solutions for today’s challenges being faced in the commercial plumbing industry right now. The event is completely free to attend and looks set to be an insightful meeting of many key industry people and companies, who can look to come together to help guide the commercial plumbing industry into the future. To register for the event, CLICK HERE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Timber Development UK (TDUK) has just published the first set of its huge new library of Timber Knowledge Sheets – with 50+ now available for download. The new knowledge sheets introduce and answer common questions about every aspect of working with wood, from the difference between hardwood and softwood, through to acoustic regulations, Eurocode 5 principles, embodied carbon, and sourcing timber sustainably. Developed with experts from Edinburgh Napier University, and TDUK’s unrivalled membership network of supply, manufacture and design professionals, these 50+ knowledge sheets are the first batch of a planned 140 to help support the industry to build better with wood. TDUK chief executive, David Hopkins says: “Following the merger between the Timber Trade Federation and TRADA last year, we promised to connect the timber supply chain, lead best practice, and accelerate a low-carbon future. “Our Timber Knowledge Sheets are another example of us doing exactly that – and represent a big step towards our vision of the UK as a country where timber is the number one material choice for all construction projects. “Amidst a climate emergency, changing how we build is crucial – as it represents a major portion of our carbon footprint. The material and design choices we make today will shape the future we have tomorrow. “Timber is an existing, proven solution to how we construct a low-carbon future, with independent studies showing that methods such as timber frame have up to 20% lower embodied carbon than traditional masonry.[1] “Fundamentally, trees absorb carbon, and when turned into long term construction products, can store it for decades if not millennia. Most other materials you find on building sites do the exact opposite – spewing tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. “Taking on climate change requires collective action, so a big part of TDUK’s mission is to make sure that everyone in the timber supply chain has the opportunity, the tools, and the knowledge to succeed. “These sheets, released today, add considerable depth to our online library, which is already the largest, most comprehensive source of timber knowledge in the UK. This will support all to build better with wood.” These new Knowledge Sheets touch on all topics timber, so whether you are an architect, engineer, designer, builder, installer, contractor, or merchant, or any other member of the timber supply chain, you’ll find a wealth of information packed within. Between pages, you will find introductions to all kinds of timber components and methods of timber construction – all described in an accessible and easy to understand fashion – from Lightweight Timber Frame Construction to Modern Methods and Offsite Timber Construction. The Knowledge Sheets also contain plenty of regulatory guidance, ‘best practice’ information for working on site, as well as practical introductions to working with timber in challenging contexts such as flood-prone areas. Everything from the day-to-day (such as Loft Conversions or Timber Flooring) to the more specialised (Upgrading Doors for Fire Resistance) is covered, along with all aspects of sustainability – from Carbon Cycle and Storage through to Trees and Timber. These Timber Knowledge Sheets follow hot on the heels of the recently published Span Tables for C16 and C24 timber, which have already proven incredibly popular. TDUK members have access to our entire Knowledge Library, which along with these 50+ Timber Knowledge Sheets, includes briefs, case studies, research summaries and more. A further 90 Timber Knowledge Sheets are to be published imminently. While most Timber Knowledge Sheets are members only, anyone can access and download Timber Sizes & Tolerances, Timber and Embodied Carbon, or Construction Site Timber Best Practice with a free user account (register here) To get started on your new timber journey, simply go to www.timberdevelopment.uk, whether you are just beginning or a seasoned expert. If you work with wood, you already belong. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) is inviting voices from across the industry and public sector to have their say on its draft Transformation Action Plan. The collaboration between Government and industry is urging fellow industry figures and businesses to help shape the future of the sector by taking part in its consultation on the new plan. The CLF says the feedback will help them define action to deliver in key areas where transformation is needed most – including digital technology, net zero, modern methods of construction, fair work and procurement reform. Richard Lochhead, Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade, said: “This Plan will accelerate change and drive continuous improvement across Scotland’s construction sector, which is at the forefront of our move to net zero. “It has been co-developed by industry and public sector representatives who have set ambitious goals in areas such as skills, fair work and procurement, while working towards the wider aims of growing the green economy. “My thanks to all partners for their work on the Plan. I encourage industry to engage with the consultation and have their say on shaping this vital sector for the future.” Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Robertson Group and member of the CLF, said: “In addition to be being a vital contributor to the economy, the construction industry has always embraced new ways of working and adopted innovation as a way to increase and sustain productivity and efficiency. “For the industry to continue to evolve and meet the transition to net zero and a wellbeing economy, it is widely recognised that further progression is required. The Transformation Action Plan is a result of the work undertaken by the working sub groups within the CLF, and I would encourage all leaders across our sector to take the opportunity to have their say in defining what transformation looks like for them. There is great value to be added to the plan by those in our sector who are working hard to deliver transformation. “The consultation on the plan provides a great starting point for discussion and the combined participation of the public and private sectors in the process can result in a document that unites us to deliver real sustainable transformation across our complex and diverse industry.” Morag Angus, Head of Property and Construction and Chief Surveyor at Scottish Government and co-chair of the CLF’s Transformation Board, added: “Partnership and collaboration have been at the core of developing this Plan. 48 businesses and 39 public sector bodies have already contributed to its development. We want to be sure that we have robust plan that reflects the needs of industry and that is why this consultation is so important. The challenges we face require all of us to work together for the good of our industry and our country.” The Transformation Action Plan will deliver the commitments at the heart of the CLF’s Scottish Construction Accord, which was launched in October 2022 and is a shared vision between the industry and the public sector to create a thriving and high-performing construction sector. Once finalised, the Plan will be published on CLF’s website, with the programme project managed by the Scottish Futures Trust. The draft Transformation Action Plan can be viewed in full here with feedback to be provided by Friday 17 November. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
