A new publication focussing on collaboration in the design of innovative timber buildings is to be launched at Futurebuild this March. ‘Timber Design Pioneers’ is published by TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) and supported by the timber industry’s campaign, Wood for Good. The launch will take place on Wood
WoodFest comes to Sheffield in February with a focus on health and wellbeing, low carbon, circular economy, building performance, offsite construction and modular design. The month-long event will feature wood in design and construction throughout Sheffield and Yorkshire. The programme includes an exciting line-up of events, seminars, exhibitions and challenges
The leading London timber specialist Fulham Timber has been recruited by independent merchant buying group H&B to its ranks. “We are very excited about the opportunities that H&B membership will bring to Fulham Timber,” said Fulham Timber director Will Dobbs. “We are looking to continue the company’s growth trajectory and
A contract in Salford, Manchester, to design, manufacture and install almost 9,000 square meters of high-quality façade for Two New Bailey Square, Slaford’s latest sustainable office development, has landed in the hands of a European façade contractor – Staticus. Across an area of 8,700 square meters, Staticus will install a combination of
Grown in Britain’s latest pricing data for UK grown hardwood is showing across the board value increases for 2018. News of the price growth has been welcomed by Forestry Commission chairman Sir Harry Studholme as “fantastic news” for woodland owners. “Higher prices justify and encourage woodland management, and this management
Longcliffe Quarries are now supplying LONGFLOOR, a groundbreaking dry powder bulk binder for the manufacture of liquid cement screeds. The LONGFLOOR liquid cement screed system has major advantages over both traditional screeds and anhydrite/gypsum flowing screeds. LONGFLOOR can be laid at ten times the speed of traditional screeds, manual handling
SPSenvirowall, a UK leading supplier of external wall insulation, render and facades, has secured BOPAS (Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme) accreditation for its innovative, rain screen cladding, RendaClad for the new build and offsite construction industry. RendaClad was developed for applying a non-structural and seamless rendered rain screen system to a
Lafarge Cement, part of the Aggregate Industries business, is calling on housebuilders to insist on tighter controls around the use of mortar, following claims that the use of substandard product is causing damage to hundreds of new homes. The report by the BBC focused on the use of weak mortar
Insulation work is to be delivered on a renovation project at Coventry University by Western Thermal Limited. The former BT building in Mile Lane is being refurbished into a new cutting-edge learning hub for its students and faculty. The learning hub will make room for up to 3,000 students and faculties, with features
Construction consultancy KAM Project Consultants is celebrating five years in business. The independent company of project managers and cost consultants focuses on delivering schemes across two primary markets – industrial/distribution and commercial mixed-use. Directors Kevin Sims and Mike Wilcock set up KAM in 2013 after 30 years of working together
A new publication focussing on collaboration in the design of innovative timber buildings is to be launched at Futurebuild this March. ‘Timber Design Pioneers’ is published by TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) and supported by the timber industry’s campaign, Wood for Good. The launch will take place on Wood for Good’s stand at G50 on 6 March at 4.15pm and is a one-off opportunity to get a copy of the publication in print, while stocks last. Pulling together the most successful partnerships in timber design, the publication shares the lessons learned and obstacles overcome by multidisciplinary teams which produced buildings including the award-winning Cowan Court by 6a Architects, the BREEAM excellent-rated Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care and the award-winning Vortex at Bloomberg’s new headquarters. These particular projects will be the focus of three seminars at Futurebuild offering delegates the opportunity to hear each building’s journey from design to completion from the architects, structural engineers, project managers and technical directors. Each case study explores different approaches to problem-solving and how effective collaboration led to innovative designs for timber buildings. ‘Timber Design Pioneers’ covers key themes such as wellbeing, sustainability, interiors, process, and complex briefs. TRADA’s Membership and Marketing Manager, Rupert Scott, says: ‘TRADA is honoured to collaborate with Wood for Good in producing such an indispensable publication. We hope it inspires others to work together in partnership across disciplines, so that as an industry we can continue improving the quality of our timber buildings.’ Christiane Lellig, Wood for Good’s Campaign Director, shares: ‘This project is as much about inspiring new pioneers in timber design as it is about celebrating innovation and driving change in the way projects are approached and delivered; a kaleidoscope of solutions mirroring the different perspectives in multi-disciplinary teams.’ The timber design pioneers case studies will be available for free download following the launch at Futurebuild. For more information, visit trada.co.uk
WoodFest comes to Sheffield in February with a focus on health and wellbeing, low carbon, circular economy, building performance, offsite construction and modular design. The month-long event will feature wood in design and construction throughout Sheffield and Yorkshire. The programme includes an exciting line-up of events, seminars, exhibitions and challenges celebrating the versatility and sustainability of building with wood, organised by the UK timber industry’s campaign, Wood for Good. Christiane Lellig, Wood for Good campaign director, said: “WoodFest Sheffield promises to offer a fantastic opportunity to bring all those involved with the built environment to explore what can be achieved when we work together.” “Each event is a chance to learn and share about the use of timber in architecture, particularly around health and wellbeing and offsite construction. It provides a platform to discover what’s happening in the region and to be inspired by timber design.” WoodFest kicks off on 7 February with Small Project / Big Challenge, an evening seminar with sustainability-focused Sheffield architects Paul Testa Architecture and Jon Carr Structural Design along with Sheffield University. They will discuss design and structural challenges with examples including the multi-award-winning Hen House. On 8 and 9 February TRADA will run its annual student challenge at Sheffield University for students of engineering, architecture, architectural technology, quantity surveying and landscape architecture. Judged by high profile engineers, architects and quantity surveyors, multi-disciplinary teams will compete in an intense 48-hour challenge to design an exemplary student accommodation predominantly from timber. On 21 February, Sheffield-based consultancy, Ollio, and experts from the Kollider projects will host a healthy building evening seminar along with a networking and drinks reception. A tour of timber door, window and stair manufacturer JELD-WEN’s production facilities will take place at 10am on 28 February. This will offer the chance to see first-hand how timber doors are made in the company’s Sheffield factory, from the timber arriving on-site through to the finished product leaving for distribution. The tour will include a presentation followed by a drinks reception for all attendees. Managing forests in a sustainable way is vital to protect these important ecosystems, reduce the impact of climate change and to preserve plant and animal species for the future. On 28 February, the PEFC (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) will deliver a lunchtime CPD to explain how to procure sustainable timber and timber from sustainably managed forests. Further events include window-specialist Bereco hosting a CPD session on noise and health in the build environment at their Sheffield showroom. There will be a behind-the-scenes tour with Sheffield timber merchant Arnold Laver including a networking lunch, followed by an afternoon CPD. Visitors will have the opportunity to see their production facilities including roof truss manufacturing and its treatment plant. Striking examples of great architecture and design, such as the Hunt House – featured in The Modern Timber House in the UK book, will offer visits focussed on sustainability and wellbeing within the Sheffield region. This will be followed by an exhibition and further evening event on offsite construction and modular design at The Arts Tower. Keep checking the WoodFest Sheffield web page to book your place, find out more details, confirm dates and see further added events. Partners include: Arnold Laver; Bereco; Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber; Halliday Clark Architects; IstructE; JELD-WEN; Paul Testa Architecture; PEFC UK; Sheffield University and TRADA. Book your place for any of the WoodFest Sheffield events here. www.woodforgood.com
The leading London timber specialist Fulham Timber has been recruited by independent merchant buying group H&B to its ranks. “We are very excited about the opportunities that H&B membership will bring to Fulham Timber,” said Fulham Timber director Will Dobbs. “We are looking to continue the company’s growth trajectory and believe that the competitive buying deals that H&B offers, and its excellent rebate system, will make a real difference to our growth potential as well as our bottom line. Margins are very tight in timber at the moment and being part of H&B’s great deals will offer us the margin protection that will allow us to grow.” A family-owned builders merchant based in Brixton and established in 1984, Fulham Timber turns over more than £12 million per annum. From a branch network in Balham, Brixton, Colliers Wood and Croydon, the company manages to supply a full range of timber and other building materials to local tradesmen, contractors, and the general public. In addition, a thriving saw mill is also being run in Colliers Wood. “We felt we had outgrown our previous buying group and were looking to take the next step. We did a lot of research and after conducting full due diligence, we chose H&B for more than just its great buying; for its flexible and accommodating style. We also believe joining H&B will streamline and improve our buying, especially since we have recently centralised our whole buying process. And we will have access to a broad portfolio of products which will allow us to expand our product offering and improve profitability across a wide range of goods,” added Will. H&B managing director Steve Parkins said that Fulham Timber fitted the profile of the perfect H&B partner – “dynamic, locally strong, and with a real commitment to growth, service, quality, and innovation”. Through its growing membership of independent builders merchants, H&B manages to reach sales of approximately £1 billion a year. It currently has over 75 merchant members, with more than 215 branches, trading in partnership with around 280 suppliers.
A contract in Salford, Manchester, to design, manufacture and install almost 9,000 square meters of high-quality façade for Two New Bailey Square, Slaford’s latest sustainable office development, has landed in the hands of a European façade contractor – Staticus. Across an area of 8,700 square meters, Staticus will install a combination of unitised timber and aluminium stick façades, with panels being manufactured in its Lithuania-based factory before being delivered to the site. “An interesting aspect of this project is the external structural steel frame with its visible connections and splices left exposed and protruding from the façade. Whilst this is unique and looks extremely striking, it means that we will need to use special sealing and prefabrication techniques to build the cladding units and overlay the façade panels. It is an extremely complicated installation,” explained Staticus’ UK MD Paulius Gurksnys. Apart from the external structural steel frame, there is another interesting element of the development included in its timber features on the ground and first floor. Staticus will install aluminium façade onto the timber profiles, milling connection joints into the profiles to create an aesthetic, natural view of the timber framing. “Two New Bailey Square is a fantastic project and winning it marks a fitting end to 2018. We have grown our presence in the UK exponentially this year, opening a new office in London and taking on lucrative contracts in the City, Manchester and Liverpool. This positions Staticus strategically for further expansion in the first quarter of 2019, so we are looking forward to what we anticipate will be a very successful year,” added Paulius. Part of the masterplan for Salford Central, the Two New Bailey Square development will deliver 9,500 new jobs and 180,000 square metres of commercial space.
Grown in Britain’s latest pricing data for UK grown hardwood is showing across the board value increases for 2018. News of the price growth has been welcomed by Forestry Commission chairman Sir Harry Studholme as “fantastic news” for woodland owners. “Higher prices justify and encourage woodland management, and this management supports future production of this beautiful raw material,” he said. “More than this, well-managed woodlands help plants and wildlife to flourish and store carbon to help tackle climate change. Grown in Britain are doing an exceptional job to develop the market for hardwood timber and realise these benefits.” The pricing data shows UK grown oak sawn timber rose 30% in price in 2018, with strong demand being experienced. Sawn oak is in strong demand due to the weak pound, China buying up French oak and weaker import availability. Prices for millable round oak are also high. Oak reached record prices at the November hardwood auction in Cirencester. Meanwhile, sweet chestnut log prices are up 15-20% and beech logs up by 5-10%, the latter partly due to export business. Ash and oak firewood prices are up around 20-30% and 10-15% respectively. Harvesting rates are rising on an average of 10%. “Buyers may wince at steadily rising prices such as these we have recorded in our latest pricing tables but demand across the world is set to steadily rise and rise and so increases should be passed up the supply chain as it is an amazing substance and should be valued accordingly,” said Dougal Driver, chief executive of Grown in Britain. Mr Driver said by continuing to encourage woodland owners to relook at their woodlands and forests to see the value of the timber they are growing, this will continue to drive up the supply and demand for British hardwood timber. For more on GiB’s pricing data visit here
Longcliffe Quarries are now supplying LONGFLOOR, a groundbreaking dry powder bulk binder for the manufacture of liquid cement screeds. The LONGFLOOR liquid cement screed system has major advantages over both traditional screeds and anhydrite/gypsum flowing screeds. LONGFLOOR can be laid at ten times the speed of traditional screeds, manual handling is avoided and a denser, more even surface and creamy smooth finish achieved. LONGFLOOR dries at three times the speed of anhydrite/gypsum based flowing screeds. There is no laitance to sand off. Contamination and blistering issues with wet concrete or cement based floor adhesives are totally avoided. This innovative product is not susceptible to cracking, crazing or curling and can be laid in wet areas. Applications include both domestic and commercial and provide good thermal conductivity over underfloor heating. It can be applied down to 25mm thickness in bays of up to 150m2. A single crew can lay 1000m2 in a day. The binder consists of superfine high purity limestone powder plus a suite of dry chemical reagents and admixtures manufactured to BSEN 13813:2002. It is made in a new state of the art factory at the Longcliffe quarry near Matlock then delivered by Longcliffe tanker to a stockist’s silo where sand, cement, water and a liquid admixture are added. Stockists are typically ready mixed concrete plants, mixer or dry leg. Delivery to customer can be from drum mix or volumetric trucks. LONGFLOOR liquid cement screed is discharged or more usually pumped in to the building, then simply dappled before applying LONGCURE, a sprayed proprietary curing agent. Longcliffe Quarries are the UK’s largest independent producer of calcium carbonate, (limestone), powders, a company with a 90 year history of quarrying and grinding high purity Derbyshire limestone. As a result of a unique manufacturing process LONGFLOOR has a certified 95% recycled content. Andy Littler, LONGFLOOR Director said: “We are very excited about this pioneering easy to use screed product. For many years the concrete industry has tried to develop a cement based liquid screed which flows well, dries quickly and is not prone to cracking. We have now achieved this. The screed industry is witnessing a sea change in favour of cement based liquid screeds and we intend to make LONGFLOOR the market leader and top performing benchmark standard”. LONGFLOOR screed is currently available to screed contractors in the North West, Midlands, South East, London, South West, Humberside and Scotland. LONGFLOOR screed is being supplied on a daily basis in these areas with contracts up to 600m3 secured. We would welcome enquiries from additional stockists who would receive full technical and commercial support from the highly experienced Longfloor team. For further information please go to www.longfloor.co.uk or phone the LONGFLOOR sales office on 01629 540284.
SPSenvirowall, a UK leading supplier of external wall insulation, render and facades, has secured BOPAS (Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme) accreditation for its innovative, rain screen cladding, RendaClad for the new build and offsite construction industry. RendaClad was developed for applying a non-structural and seamless rendered rain screen system to a timber-framed substrate. It replaces the need to build a structural masonry outer leaf that is finished with low-performance cementitious renders. RendaClad is a full façade system made up of many carefully selected components which have been rigorously tested and as an entire system makes up one of a very few BBA approved systems of its type which provides the reassurance that it will perform over the long term. The system ensures a fully ventilated and drained cavity is maintained within the wall structure, meeting the requirements of the NHBC and TRADA. The system can be applied to any wall structure, lightweight steel frame or masonry construction. SPSenvirowall is delighted that RendaClad is the first and currently only proprietary solution which has undergone the rigorous BOPAS accreditation process designed to give lenders and surveyors the assurance of the building materials utilised within a development. This has provided confidence to the market that the innovative concept has a minimum life expectancy of 60-years. This accreditation will allow SPSenvirowall to deliver its RendaClad system to offsite and modular developments, enabling the supply of a greater range of projects while providing the assurance required to satisfy mortgage lenders and their surveyors, meaning that the RendaClad system will last for a minimum of two mortgage cycles With the challenges brought by the government to build 250,000 homes per year, the demand for innovative or non-traditional methods of construction to replace poor quality and conventionally constructed homes has never been greater. BOPAS accreditation assures lenders, funders, valuers and purchasers that homes built from non-traditional means will be durable and deliver the quality required by the industry. About SPSenvirowall SPSenvirowall is a leading UK supplier of external wall insulation systems to the construction industry for new build and refurbishment applications. Supplying insulation systems, high-quality decorative renders, façades and rain screen cladding solutions, SPSenvirowall offers a value-added and integrated service to any construction project. To find out more about SPSenvirowall, visit www.spsenvirowall.co.uk or call 01535 661633. Media enquiries to Natasha Ives or Sarah Wason at SPSenvirowall on 0845 644 7081 or email natasha.ives@spsenvirowall or sarah.wason@spsenvirowall.co.uk
Lafarge Cement, part of the Aggregate Industries business, is calling on housebuilders to insist on tighter controls around the use of mortar, following claims that the use of substandard product is causing damage to hundreds of new homes. The report by the BBC focused on the use of weak mortar – not meeting required industry standards – leading to crumbling found in properties across 13 estates in the UK[1]. The news has caused widespread concern amongst residents and across the construction industry. Jeremy Lee, Commercial Director at Lafarge Cement, comments: “This latest report is concerning, especially as it has been identified as a potential industry-wide problem affecting hundreds of homes. As acknowledged by the BBC, mortar performance is a complex issue, with a myriad of factors including weather and correct specification and application having a potential detrimental impact. “However, this is why it’s critical that all building products, including mortar, meet required industry standards – which according to the NHBC should be one part cement to 5.5 parts sand for most of the UK but for areas that experience extreme weather conditions such as Scotland, it’s recommended that a higher proportion of cement is used to increase durability. “Building standards are in place for a reason and tighter controls are needed to ensure that the correct products are specified, as well as being mixed and applied properly on-site. From housebuilders to the wider industry, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that adequate and suitable products are used, through a robust specification process and due diligence during all stages of the construction process.” As part of Aggregate Industries, Lafarge Cement offers a solutions-based packed cement portfolio, underpinned by robust technical knowledge and the latest product innovation. Through continual research and development with builders and builders’ merchants deployed by a highly skilled team, Lafarge Cement has an unrivalled track record for customer-focused innovation in cement products. The range includes the premixed and ready to use Mortar Mixed product, which is made up of a selected blend of cement, lime and aggregates and is suitable for laying all types of brick and block. For further information, please call 01285 646900, email packedcement@aggregate.com or visit www.aggregate.com [1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46454844
Insulation work is to be delivered on a renovation project at Coventry University by Western Thermal Limited. The former BT building in Mile Lane is being refurbished into a new cutting-edge learning hub for its students and faculty. The learning hub will make room for up to 3,000 students and faculties, with features including teaching rooms, IT suites, engineering and science labs, as well a café and extensive breakout areas for more social learning. “We are delighted to be working with Coventry University on what promises to be an exciting project. The university has a long and proud tradition of delivering first-class education and experiences to its students and local community, and we are happy to play a small part in helping them in uplifting their service to the students and the wider academic community,” said Phil Jones, Executive Director – Operations at Western Thermal about the prestigious project. Thermal insulation will be provided to the pipework and ductwork services from Western Thermal under a £180,000 contract. “Western Thermal Limited is a leader in the sector and continues to find ways to emphasise its expertise and experience through a number of exciting, high quality projects. It is our specialism which has enabled this company to deliver successful results on a consistent basis and has made us out a stand our performer in the market,” said Phil. “The project is certainly an exciting one and we are confident that it will prove to be a success. We are aware of the expectations placed on us and are know that our thermal insulation and pipework will contribute to providing the new campus with high quality heating and ventilation,” he added. The scheme will be delivered by Wilmott Dixon, which will work alongside NG Bailey to complete the work. Building work is expected to be complete in February 2019, with the facility opening the following month.
Construction consultancy KAM Project Consultants is celebrating five years in business. The independent company of project managers and cost consultants focuses on delivering schemes across two primary markets – industrial/distribution and commercial mixed-use. Directors Kevin Sims and Mike Wilcock set up KAM in 2013 after 30 years of working together on a range of high-profile clients at an international consultancy. Since then they have been joined by seven directors to take the business forward on to the next stage of its growth cycle. The company now has a 34-strong team across its offices in Milton Keynes and Leicester and an impressive array of clients including GLP Gazeley, Bericote, Panattoni, Sainsbury’s and DHL. Sticking to its company mission statement – ‘One Team Delivering Excellence’ and working with the wider project team, KAM team members always strive to deliver exceptional results for clients. This ethos combined with the diverse calibre of expertise in the KAM team, is the reason KAM has experienced significant expansion and the company was listed in the top three of the 150 fastest growing companies in Building magazine with 64% growth and a 40% increase in staff in just the last year. The company is continuing its expansion plans and its current recruitment drive is focusing on cost managers for both of its UK offices. Projects in mainland Europe are also a possibility in 2019. Kevin said: “Five years ago Mike and I set up our new venture with a lot of hard work and hope. Our vision was to build a project manager/quantity surveyor (PM/QS) business that puts customers at the forefront of everything it does. “Since then, along with many other dedicated and talented individuals, KAM has grown into the company it is today – the premier PM/QS business in the industrial and logistics sector. “Our success is derived from exceptional hard work across the team and delivering high quality recruits. We pride ourselves on developing long lasting relationships and ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the delivery of every project. “All of our team are empowered to forge and maintain relationships with both clients and other consultants and we take every pride in each client project that we take on, from the first meeting to completion.” Significant schemes that KAM is currently working on include multiple sites for Panattoni, Bericote’s Littlebrook development, Clipper Logistics’ new warehouse in Crick for Halfords, and a multi storey distribution centre in central London for GLP Gazeley.
