Scientists and industry unite to decarbonise construction supply chain and tackle global climate emergency Cement 2 Zero (C2Z), a UK-based demonstrator project to trial the world’s first zero-emissions cement on an industrial scale, was officially launched this week having successfully conducted the first in a series of pilot-scale melts. The
Modern construction is heavily involved in the fight against climate change. Through the use of innovative technologies and modern building materials, buildings can be made more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Sustainable construction in an era of the increasing climate crisis has become a universal obligation and not just a fad.
Merchants and Suppliers from across the building products sector are being urged to engage in meaningful conversations more frequently after a recent survey revealed potential disagreements over perceptions of service level quality. The survey, by National Buying Group (NBG) put questions to 165 of its affiliated Suppliers and 76 of
Doka, one of the world’s leading suppliers of formwork with headquarters in Amstetten, Austria, completed the 100% acquisition of scaffolding manufacturer AT-PAC. Both companies initially partnered in 2020 to provide comprehensive global site solutions. The acquisition positions Doka as a single source for formwork and scaffolding for the global construction
The UK’s first drive-thru concrete, mortar and screed station is set to launch soon in February at Thorncliffe Building Supplies in north Wales. Customers can now collect exactly the right amount, exactly when they need it, with orders as small as 0.25m3 at the push of a button, thanks to
Waddesdon Manor is home to the Rothschild Collections of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, and was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885. Opened to the public in 1959, Waddesdon Manor is managed by the Rothschild Foundation, a family charitable trust, on behalf of the National Trust,
AG, leading paving and building manufacturer, has won EIGHT major industry awards in quick succession across the UK and Ireland. Established over 60 years ago, AG is a 3rd generation family-owned business which now employs more than 230 people at eight locations across the UK and Ireland. The first accolade
Gripple’s innovative Fast Trak pre-fabricated bracket solution has been specified for One Cambridge Square, a new office and retail space within the heart of Cambridge North. Working alongside main contractor Wates and subcontractor PA Collacott & Co, Gripple supplied its innovative rapid fit trapeze system Fast Trak to suspend electrical
Huntsman Building Solutions, a leading manufacturer of spray foam insulation, has launched a brand-new training programme to support surveyors and construction professionals to build their knowledge of the insulation material. Spray foam insulation is growing in popularity in the UK as more homeowners look to home improvements in response to
Global water technology leader Xylem will showcase new technologies and solutions for building services at ISH 2023, a leading trade fair for HVAC and Water taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from 13 to 17 March 2023. The company is seeking long-term partnerships to tackle the world’s most pressing water and
Scientists and industry unite to decarbonise construction supply chain and tackle global climate emergency Cement 2 Zero (C2Z), a UK-based demonstrator project to trial the world’s first zero-emissions cement on an industrial scale, was officially launched this week having successfully conducted the first in a series of pilot-scale melts. The innovative project, which secured £6.5million of Government funding from UKRI as part of the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge, aims to further advance the construction, cement and steel sectors’ decarbonisation journey to net zero industries of the future, to help meet the UK Government’s commitment of achieving Net Zero by 2050. Led by the Materials Processing Institute, supported by the University of Cambridge (UoC), and in collaboration with key players in the supply chain, Cement 2 Zero is the first collaborative trial of its kind, to address the global construction industry’s biggest challenge of decarbonisation, in response to the climate emergency. Concrete is the most widely used material on earth, after water, and it is fundamental to our way of life, our economy and shaping our world. However, the chemical and thermal combustion processes involved in the production of cement are a significant source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – with more than four billion tonnes of cement produced each year, accounting for around seven per cent of global CO2 emissions, according to the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). In the UK, concrete and cement account for 1.5 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions* The Cement 2 Zero project will investigate both the technical and commercial aspects of upscaling Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC) production to produce 20 tonnes of the world’s first zero emissions cement. The first phase of trial melts is being carried out by the Materials Processing Institute, initially in a 250kg induction furnace, before being scaled up to 6T in an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Once the process has been substantially trialled, developed and de-risked effectively, industrial scale melts will follow in CELSA’s EAF in Cardiff. The two-year industrial trial will test each stage of the production process and brings together the expertise of the Materials Processing Institute, the University of Cambridge and key supply chain partners – Atkins, Balfour Beatty, CELSA, Day Aggregates and Tarmac – before using the innovative product in a live UK construction project. If successful, it could not only further advance the cement, steel and construction industries, but influence how we recycle, construct and maintain our built environment and transport infrastructure, shaping the future of towns and cities, whilst simultaneously boosting economic development, and most importantly, reducing CO2 emissions to help tackle global warming. Chris McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Materials Processing Institute, said: “Cement 2 Zero has the potential to make a significant contribution to achieving a zero-carbon society, secure and increase jobs in the UK cement and steel sectors and challenge conventional production processes, creating high-value materials from demolition waste.” Dr Philippa Horton, University of Cambridge, who created the project consortium, said: “If Cambridge Electric Cement lives up to the promise it has shown in early laboratory trials, when combined with other innovative technologies, it could be a pivotal point in the journey to a zero-emissions society. The Cement 2 Zero project is an invaluable opportunity to collaborate across the entire construction supply chain, to expand CEC from the laboratory to its first commercial application.” This major break-through is a result of Dr Cyrille Dunant and his research team at the University of Cambridge. They invented a new process which brings together two critical industries and construction materials – cement and steel – by combining the production processes, transforming a by-product of steel recycling into a valuable material, in one zero emission process. Dr Dunant, said: “We take the built environment around us for granted, new homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, roads and railways, as well as infrastructure that provides us with clean water, sanitation and energy all require cement which is an essential building material. It’s estimated that annual production equates to more than 500kg of concrete per person on the planet per year, and it is not currently possible to produce the material without creating CO2 emissions. “This breakthrough offers a positive move in cement production and will support the industry response to the UK’s legally binding commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. “ The science behind this breakthrough Known as Cambridge Electric Cement (CEC), three researchers at the University of Cambridge, Dr Cyrille Dunant, Professor Julian Allwood and Dr Philippa Horton, invented a process that converts construction and demolition waste to cement over molten steel, using an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), which is used to recycle scrap steel. The Cement 2 Zero project aims to demonstrate that concrete can be recycled to create a Slag Forming addition which could, when cooled rapidly, replace Portland cement. Dr Dunant discovered that the chemical composition of used cement is virtually identical to that of the lime-flux used in the conventional EAF steel recycling process. Traditional Portland clinker, one of the main ingredients in cement, is produced by firing limestone and other minerals in a kiln at extremely high temperatures (1,450 degrees Celsius), a process which accounts for more than 50 per cent of the cement sectors’ emissions. By contrast, Cement 2 Zero will use recycled cement as the flux in the electric steel recycling process (EAF powered by renewables), the by-product of which, when cooled and ground, produces Portland cement clinker, which is then blended to make ‘zero-emissions’ cement. Therefore, this innovative cement product (CEC) could be made in a virtuous recycling loop, that not only eliminates the significant emissions of cement and steel production, but also saves raw materials, as illustrated in the infographic attached to this press release. Professor Julian Allwood, University of Cambridge and Cambridge Electric Cement, explained: “By combining steel and cement recycling in a single process powered by renewable electricity, we could supplement the global supply of the basic construction materials to support the infrastructure of a
Modern construction is heavily involved in the fight against climate change. Through the use of innovative technologies and modern building materials, buildings can be made more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Sustainable construction in an era of the increasing climate crisis has become a universal obligation and not just a fad. Modern architecture must take ecological aspects into account, as the principles of sustainability are increasingly being followed by architects as well as investors, contractors and end users. Which specific solutions make modern construction contribute to the fight against climate change? Use of highly insulating building materials One way to combat climate change is to use building materials with high thermal insulation. This enables buildings to maintain an adequate temperature, significantly reducing the energy required for heating and cooling. In addition, such building materials are often made from recycled raw materials, which further contributes to reducing the use of limited natural resources. Aluminium, glass and wood are building materials that are now a cornerstone of green construction. Good-quality timber is safe for the environment and is ideal for the construction of buildings. Its proper processing and impregnation make it a highly durable raw material (also fire-resistant). Glass can be processed almost endlessly by melting and refining. Its production does not consume a large amount of energy. It is completely non-flammable and corrosion-resistant. Aluminium, on the other hand, is the most environmentally friendly metal for the construction industry. It is recyclable without any loss of properties or structural changes and, most importantly, only 5% of the energy required to produce the virgin metal is used in the process. In the UK, the recycling rate of aluminium packaging in 2021 was a record 68%. This was a record result, demonstrating the ever-increasing public awareness of environmental issues and the widespread benefits of aluminium recycling. There is a huge demand for aluminium scrap in the construction industry, which is why initiatives such as the Council for Aluminium in Building’s ‘Closed Loop Recycling’ programme are emerging to continuously improve aluminium’s sustainability credentials. Closed-loop recycling is not yet compulsory in the UK, but all CAB members are welcome to join. In addition to the ecological aspect, aluminium is also a material that ensures appropriate parameters in terms of thermal insulation and resistance to unfavourable environmental conditions. ‘It is safe to say that we not only follow sustainable construction trends, but we pioneer them; we co-create the direction of further development in architecture and construction. Our products, which are manufactured largely from recycled aluminium materials, are used in the most prestigious investments in Europe and around the world’, says Tomasz Grela, President of the Management Board of Aluprof S.A. Aluprof’s development strategy for 2021–2025 includes moving towards climate neutrality, reducing the carbon footprint and increasing the share of recycled aluminium in production. This share is set to be 75%. It was 65% at the end of 2022. Care for the building’s surroundings The ecology of modern buildings is also influenced by concern for their surroundings. Permeable green solutions are used, giving direct access to the soil, so water is effectively filtered, relieving the pressure on the sewage network. Underground retention basins or ponds store rainwater, which can be used for cleaning or irrigation of greenery. Building roofs are also increasingly often covered with greenery. Green façades and living walls creates additional space, which, when covered with vegetation, produces oxygen and also filters the air of harmful particulate matter and carbon dioxide. The layer of greenery present on the building creates shade and absorbs solar radiation, which improves the thermal comfort of the occupants and reduces the need for cooling. The Forge office building in London An example of a modern building that stands out for its responsible and innovative approach to environmental issues is The Forge. It is a modern office building located in the London Borough of Bankside. It is the first commercial building in the UK with zero carbon emissions both during construction and later during operation. The building is BREEAM certified at the Excellent level. The construction method is another innovation of this development – thanks to the use of prefabricated components and repeatable processes, its construction was fast, precise and more environmentally friendly. The result is a structure that uses less material, generates less waste, and achieves a 19.4% reduction in carbon emissions. A unitised curtain wall façade designed by Aluprof in the MB-SE 120 SUM system was used in this innovative, environmentally friendly investment, which can inspire architects and designers from all over the world. One characteristic feature of this system is the vertical fins that act as light breakers. The entire prefabricated façade consisted of 986 parts, the largest of which measured 3 m x 4.76 m. Sara Kulturhus – the world’s tallest wooden building Another world-famous gem of architecture and sustainable building is the Sara Kulturhus, the world’s tallest wood and aluminium building, located in northern Sweden. The building is made mainly of timber, aluminium and glass. The Scandinavian traditional wood building has been combined with modern engineering solutions, making the building a benchmark for sustainable design and green construction. The lower part of the building, which houses a community centre, was made of prefabricated CLT elements reinforced with concrete panels. The glazed façades were made using the Aluprof MB-SR50 HI+ system, specially adapted for this development, which offers incredible panoramic views from inside the building. The system has an A+ certificate from the PHI Darmstadt Institute, which means that it is recommended for the construction of passive buildings. The external façade of the building’s upper floors was made from an Aluprof aluminium system specially designed for this development, which was certified by BVB and rated GOLD/BREEAM SE. The triple-glazed internal aluminium windows and doors were made in the Aluprof MB-86 SI system, which is characterised by high strength and good thermal insulation. As a whole, it provides the facility with high energy efficiency and structural durability. Let’s build a better future Implementing energy-efficient solutions in modern construction is
Merchants and Suppliers from across the building products sector are being urged to engage in meaningful conversations more frequently after a recent survey revealed potential disagreements over perceptions of service level quality. The survey, by National Buying Group (NBG) put questions to 165 of its affiliated Suppliers and 76 of the group’s Partners to identify key priorities and concerns among its members in the run-up to its annual Conference. With the theme of the event being ‘A Changing Landscape,’ the organisation wished to see how the industry had been impacted in the three-year COVID-induced delay since its 2019 Conference. As part of the survey, NBG asked Partners and Suppliers to rate the service they provided to merchants out of 10, with the former’s 5.0 result greatly contrasting with the latter’s 8.3. According to NBG Managing Director Nick Oates, this marked difference demonstrates a disconnect in perception between what constitutes good service, which must be addressed to ensure relationships and sales do not suffer. “We’re always keen to keep our finger on the industry’s pulse at NBG, and our hope was that this survey would generate healthy discussion and debate at our Conference and beyond about business changes and challenges,” he explains. “In that regard, we definitely haven’t been disappointed, as a clear dip in service levels has been identified by our Partners in comparison to pre-COVID times. “Yet what’s interesting here is that it hasn’t been mirrored in Supplier perceptions. We understand why this might have happened – as our survey later underlines, the increasing cost of raw materials and energy means these organisations are likely to have focused internally to mitigate these potential impacts. However, with a recession on the horizon, many material costs falling and demand slowing, more joined-up thinking and communication is required. This is especially the case for independent merchants, where sales are reliant on support in the form of training, product information and competitive pricing from Suppliers.” NBG’s survey also identified an opportunity between Suppliers and Partners on the development of sustainable products. Specifically, 66% of Suppliers said sustainable products initiatives had improved, compared to 30% of the group’s Partners. According to Nick, while this figure is undoubtedly encouraging, it underlines the need for Suppliers to provide better sales focus and product communications to merchants on the steps they are taking to improve the sustainability of their products. “The shift towards more sustainable practices has clearly been a success story for the sector post-COVID, and is definitely welcome news,” Nick concludes. “Though short-term concerns around the energy crisis and supply chain has undoubtedly dominated the news agenda, we cannot as an industry lose sight of long-term environmental goals. As such, being able to pass good news down the supply chain, from Supplier to Partner, and from merchant to customer, will be key to continuing a virtuous circle of increasingly greener practices.” For more information on National Buying Group, including how to join the premier buying group for independent merchants, visit https://www.nationalbuyinggroup.com/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Doka, one of the world’s leading suppliers of formwork with headquarters in Amstetten, Austria, completed the 100% acquisition of scaffolding manufacturer AT-PAC. Both companies initially partnered in 2020 to provide comprehensive global site solutions. The acquisition positions Doka as a single source for formwork and scaffolding for the global construction industry and strengthens the company’s new global business segment, “Industrial Scaffolding”. For AT-PAC this means full access to a global market. The potential for cooperation between the formwork expert and the US headquartered scaffolding specialist was already impressively demonstrated at bauma 2022 in Munich and generated significant interest from customers worldwide. Doka and AT-PAC highlighted their strong partnership and successful collaboration with a dual-branded stand that was visited by over 100,000 visitors. The impressive 30m-high Ringlock scaffolding landmark tower was climbed by 7,000 selfie-takers to enjoy the spectacular views of the show grounds from the 20m viewing platform. The opportunities presented by combining the world’s leading formwork company with the global scaffolding specialist are enormous. Opportunities for customers & employees Robert Hauser, CEO of Doka, says: “I am very enthusiastic about the opportunities that will be offered to existing and future customers, providing them with a wealth of knowledge, integrated products and turnkey solutions for formwork, shoring and scaffolding from a single source. This will allow us to continue to expand together and further strengthen our market position”. Josh Dundon, previously COO, has been announced as the new CEO of AT-PAC. Commenting on the acquisition, Dundon said: “It is an exciting milestone for AT-PAC to become 100% part of the Doka and thus the Umdasch Group family. It further strengthens and demonstrates the success of our partnership since its inception 3 years ago. The combination of Doka’s industry-leading formwork solutions and extensive global sales network with AT-PAC’s high quality products, services and talent will create incredible value for our customers and opportunities for our employees worldwide.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s first drive-thru concrete, mortar and screed station is set to launch soon in February at Thorncliffe Building Supplies in north Wales. Customers can now collect exactly the right amount, exactly when they need it, with orders as small as 0.25m3 at the push of a button, thanks to the fully automated, self-service batching plant. The Fibo Collect machine, made by Danish supplier Fibo Intercon, aims to save customers time and money and have a positive impact on the environment. The concept addresses issues faced by smaller builders, landscapers and DIYers who need small to medium loads of concrete, mortar, or screed. They can receive it by mixing on site, collection from a ready-mix plant, or delivery by volumetric trucks. The Fibo Collect machine allows customers to choose their recipe, amount, time and payment method. The fully automated mini batching plant will have customers follow 4 steps to receive their concrete, mortar or screed. The dynamic mix options include various recipes and automated mixing technology for high-quality and consistent results. The solution also releases less carbon emissions and offers a new revenue stream for the merchant. The batching plant can produce 10 to 40m3 of concrete per hour, store 60 concrete mixes and change from one mix to another with a click. The quality of the machine matches ready-mix plants and conforms to BS 8500, EN 206. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Waddesdon Manor is home to the Rothschild Collections of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts, and was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885. Opened to the public in 1959, Waddesdon Manor is managed by the Rothschild Foundation, a family charitable trust, on behalf of the National Trust, who took over ownership in 1957. They needed an access control system that could not only secure storerooms and valuable artwork and assets, but also keep members of the public away from restricted areas. Keys in the existing locking system were badly worn, and the security and facilities management wanted to upgrade to a proven state of the art solution that provided control of key management and more information such as audit trails. Mid-Beds Locksmiths Ltd – who have been responsible for the heritage and modern locks and ironmongery at the site for over 20 years – and the security team at Waddesdon conducted a survey of the site to identify the locks that most urgently needed replacing in stage one of the upgrade. Mid-Beds Locksmiths Ltd suggested the eCLIQ solution from Abloy would be the ideal retrofit option. The security team were aware of Abloy’s strong reputation in the security industry as a trusted brand, with many Abloy products fitted in heritage sites and museums across the UK. As Abloy is known for its premium high quality high security products, this would also fulfil insurance criteria. By switching to eCLIQ, staff would retain their own key with individual permissions, rather than having to share keys from the previous mechanical master key system. This meant Waddesdon could implement a fully traceable electromechanical key hierarchy system, with each department given different access rights based on their requirements. What’s more, the solution required no wiring, making the installation simple and maintaining the original appearance. Abloy and Mid-Beds Locksmiths Ltd specified a new bespoke solution, issuing around 20 keys and 35 cylinders for stage one, with a view to expanding the system with further upgrades in the future. The eCLIQ cylinders are suitable for doors of any thickness, making them the ideal solution for heritage doors as there are no cables or drilling required, plus the cylinders do not damage the original lock. Ornate cylinders were specified where required, fitting in with the building’s aesthetics and maintaining the appearance of historic locks. The Waddesdon security team explained: “The eCLIQ system is the perfect solution for the heritage sector, as it allows access control in a historic property where you normally wouldn’t be able to get it without considerable impact on infrastructure. “All of our access is now controlled by the admin onsite, and no one can give the wrong access to the wrong person – it just can’t happen. It’s a busy environment so this has saved significant admin time handing out keys. “Instead of having to collect a bunch of 30 keys, staff have just one. Now people come to work in the morning, enter their key and are automatically given their access rights for 24 hours. “Permissions are deleted after a period of time, so we don’t need to worry about lost or stolen keys. If someone lost a key previously, we would have to change 50-60 locks, but that’s not an issue anymore. Plus, the system offers tracking and audit trails for us to keep an eye on who is accessing which areas and when. “We can change batteries so they won’t wear out, which offers another cost saving, and the locks are more robust for multiple use, so I’m confident it’ll be a more flexible and beneficial system long term.” View the video case study video…. For further information on products and services for the heritage sector available from Abloy, visit https://bit.ly/3wosdX5, call 01902 364 500, or email info@abloy.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
AG, leading paving and building manufacturer, has won EIGHT major industry awards in quick succession across the UK and Ireland. Established over 60 years ago, AG is a 3rd generation family-owned business which now employs more than 230 people at eight locations across the UK and Ireland. The first accolade was being Highly Commended in both the Manufacturer of the Year and Best Family Business categories at the Business Eye awards. The awards showcase the success of companies across specialist categories and sectors. The company was recognised at the ceremony for its best-in-class walling, paving and facing brick products. The third award – from The Plant and Civil Engineering Awards for R&D Innovation of the Year– provided positive proof of AG’s ground-breaking work within the sector. AG was also recognised at the prestigious RoSPA awards where they were rewarded for their ongoing commitment to health and safety in the workforce. These best-in-class awards recognise companies that are going above and beyond to ensure their workplace is safe. Their commitment and dedication of all AG employees and contractors to safety within the company was further recognised at the NISG (Northern Ireland Safety Group) Safety Awards for 2022 where AG received a Distinction Award. The next award was for Sustainability and Quality Engineer Catherine Campbell who picked up the Future Leader award at the Innovate UK KTP Awards ceremony. The Future Leader Award is given to associates who have shown “exceptional skills in driving and delivering innovation strategy, demonstrating great teamwork and outstanding leadership potential”. As well as this AG won the Best Branding and Positioning Campaign for AG’s launch of its latest ground-breaking product, Enduur Led by Head of Marketing Ross Telford, the team launched an integrated campaign across digital and traditional media including innovative, sharply focused content aimed to showcase the unique benefits of Enduur. AG’s dedication to introducing sustainable practices into their processes saw them win their eight award of the season in the Business in the Community Benchmarking Survey. This survey scores, recognises, and rewards organisations that are going above and beyond their legal environmental requirements. AG already has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry and this award highlights their commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its operations to an absolute minimum. Stephen Acheson, CEO at AG, said winning the eight major awards was fitting recognition of the outstanding work everyone at AG has been doing. “We are extremely proud to receive these eight prestigious awards. The past year has seen continued growth within challenging market conditions, and it is truly amazing to be able to share these awards with everyone at AG as we recognise their hard work and commitment to doing and being better.” “Since we first opened over 60 years ago, we have held family values at the core of our business operations and are committed to making construction, better, faster and safer. Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and we plan to continue our focus in these areas while maintaining our community work and investment in the training and development of our staff.” To find out more about AG, visit their website – www.ag.uk.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Gripple’s innovative Fast Trak pre-fabricated bracket solution has been specified for One Cambridge Square, a new office and retail space within the heart of Cambridge North. Working alongside main contractor Wates and subcontractor PA Collacott & Co, Gripple supplied its innovative rapid fit trapeze system Fast Trak to suspend electrical containment throughout each floor of the 94,000 sq ft building. Fast Trak was chosen as it offers speed, flexibility and efficient use of space and is renowned for being six times faster to install than traditional methods. Gripple’s Fast Trak also enabled PA Collacott & Co to overcome challenges on the site, including the fact that the cable baskets and trays had to navigate through different heights and levels on each floor, whilst retaining an uncluttered appearance and not compromising safety. Fast Trak was the ideal solution as it benefits from tool-free easy adjustment capability, where the bracket can be quickly moved up and down the track in 10mm increments, before being locked securely back into place. This meant that if the baskets needed to be raised slightly to run underneath or through a steel beam, then this could be done quickly and easily. An electrical supervisor from PA Collacott & Co said: “Fast Trak has definitely helped us to deliver this project much more quickly. We had some tricky steel beams to get through which Fast Trak helped overcome, with its quick adjustment mechanism – which would have been difficult and time consuming with traditional methods. A whole floor took two installers four days to complete – the same space using traditional methods would have taken at least three weeks, saving a great deal of time and labour!” As One Cambridge Square is BREEAM Excellent rated, it was an added bonus that Fast Trak offers carbon savings over traditional methods. Fast Trak helped to save 4,464 kg of embodied carbon on-site – this is equivalent to driving 15,338 miles. An MEP Site Manager from Wates said: “The fact that Fast Trak is pre-formed and arrives on site ready to go means we’ve seen no wastage at all. In the past we have used wedge anchors, threaded rod and channel on a project like this. Fast Trak by comparison is a lot quicker and has eliminated the need for hot works and permits The tracks can be bent easily in the bracket. We have had some great feedback from the installers, who carried out the project really quickly. We’ve also seen no real waste on-site. It has been fantastic.” With fire safety in buildings becoming more important following the recent update to Approved Document B of Building Regulations, Gripple has secured independent test data for Fast Trak, which confirms that the entire system meets the fire performance requirements associated with BS EN 1363-1:2020. Gripple’s Area Sales Manager Josh Bloomfield, explains: “The fact that Fast Trak achieves F120 accreditation was essential on this project. It made a big difference to health and safety on-site and also reduced labour by 17 weeks.” Fast Trak is a pre-fabricated, trapeze bracket, which enables efficient, flexible and safe installation of electrical containment, ductwork, pipework and other mechanical services. Fast Trak comprises metal tracks, from 200mm to 1,500mm in length, accompanied by mounting brackets, from 170mm to 1,470mm wide and is designed to suit a wide range of installations from high-rise office blocks, hotels, hospitals, open retail spaces, residential buildings, or transportation hubs. Fast Trak is extremely versatile as the four-sided bracket provides suspension points on each face. Thanks to its ‘channel style’ return, Fast Trak can be used with standard channel nut fixings along with Gripple’s range of fixings and accessories. All Fast Trak pre-fabricated tracks and brackets are organised in user friendly packaging, with a handle, making it easy to carry on-site. The system can also be moved onto and around site easily and stacked tidily on-site to reduce storage requirements. Instructions for Fast Trak are included on the packaging, with a QR code link, which removes the need for further paper usage. Gripple is committed to providing customers with greener solutions that reduce carbon and maximise use of recycled materials. For contractors and developers, use of Fast Trak offers minimal waste due to the fact that 95% of packaging is FSC cardboard, which is recyclable. For more information about the Fast Trak™ system visit the websitehttps://www.gripple.com/fast-trak Please see the below video on the YouTube channel… Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Huntsman Building Solutions, a leading manufacturer of spray foam insulation, has launched a brand-new training programme to support surveyors and construction professionals to build their knowledge of the insulation material. Spray foam insulation is growing in popularity in the UK as more homeowners look to home improvements in response to the ongoing energy crisis. According to government figures which state that 54% of UK homes have an energy efficiency rating below C1, millions of homes in the UK could benefit from improved insulation, helping to save occupants money on their heating bills and making homes more energy efficient. A key driving force behind the upcoming ECO+ scheme, improving energy efficiency will help to curb growing emissions from the UK’s housing stock. While more people are turning to spray foam insulation, research carried out by Huntsman Building Solutions found that more than half of UK surveyors are unfamiliar with spray foam insulation and have a limited understanding of this product. As well as limiting their ability to properly assess homes with spray foam insulation installed, this lack of understanding is compounding the reluctance of mortgage lenders to finance homes which have improved their performance with spray foam. The research, which sought the opinions of a cross-section of UK-based surveyors*, found that 41% of surveyors possess limited knowledge of spray foam and 17% know nothing at all about this insulation solution. Simon Baker, President of Huntsman Building Solutions (HBS), says: “While the performance of spray foam insulation is proven with BBA certification, we recognise the urgent need to support professionals to strengthen their knowledge of the material. In turn, we can correct the misconceptions around the insulation material and enable more UK homes to benefit from its performance. “Our brand-new training modules represent our starting point on this journey. Designed specifically for surveyors, our technical department will help surveyors in understanding how to assess an installation, identify the differences between correctly installed and poorly installed spray foam, and its benefits in comparison to traditional insulation methods. Equipped with a rounded understanding of the material, professionals can make more informed decisions, in turn supporting homeowners to maximise the performance of their homes – safe in the knowledge they’re doing so for the long-term.” For UK homeowners looking to improve energy efficiency through a properly insulation loft space, Huntsman Building Solutions recommends the use of open-cell spray foam insulation and states the product should only be installed by trusted and trained professionals. HBS Authorised Installer Network provides a way to source qualified contractors, ensuring safe, correct and fully documented installations. Training modules on spray foam insulation will run throughout the year, with the first session taking place on Friday 3rd February. The training is free to attend, and tickets can be reserved here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hbs-university-virtual-training-uk-surveyor-training-tickets-492919173517 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global water technology leader Xylem will showcase new technologies and solutions for building services at ISH 2023, a leading trade fair for HVAC and Water taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from 13 to 17 March 2023. The company is seeking long-term partnerships to tackle the world’s most pressing water and energy challenges – particularly within the building sector which is one of the EU’s major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. “The rate at which we decarbonize the building sector will have a crucial impact on whether we achieve our climate goals” said Victor Ferre, Senior Director, Business Development & Vertical Marketing Building Services at Xylem. “Whether you are a facility manager, a heat pump manufacturer or an HVAC installer, Xylem can help reduce the carbon footprint. Our intelligent pumps, monitoring software, reliable heat meter, and accurate water meters are already saving 50,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year – that’s the equivalent to taking 20,000 cars off the streets.” The race to zero has started and Xylem sees building sustainable partnerships as the foundation for long-term success. The company is looking for like-minded partners that lead the energy transition in the building services sector: consultants, OEMs, contractors, installers and operators. At ISH 2023, Xylem will showcase its latest product innovations to accelerate its customers’ digital transformation, including: pump management solution hydrovar nexusTM; cloud-based plant monitoring Avensor; new high efficiency OEM circulator range eco2 designed for optimized integration in all kinds of HVAC applications; and DomoJet water meters – compliant with the European Energy Efficiency Directive. Visit Xylem’s booth B81 in hall 9.0 to explore potential new partnerships and to learn about the latest Xylem and Manchester City campaign that will be launched during ISH 2023. In addition, Xylem will be hosting an initiative through the company’s social responsibility program Watermark. For each participant that pledges to take an impactful water-related action, Xylem will donate to projects supporting UNICEF’s global WASH and education efforts. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
