Put it down to perfect timing, with the heightened interest in offsite technology, combined with the abundance of outstanding projects and product innovations it is easy to see why the 2018 Structural Timber Awards surpassed all previous events in terms of the calibre of entries and attendance. Construction professionals gathered
When we think of concrete, we might think of its less elegant modern uses: brutalist architecture, bridges and paving slabs. Yet the material has proved itself one of mankind’s most enduring creations, surviving literally and figuratively for thousands of years. It continues to be one of the most popular choices
Dulux has been named the UK’s most innovative brand by BrandZ, the largest global brand equity platform, in its second annual review. The 2018 BrandZ list places the paint brand ahead of names such as Dyson, Brewdog, Innocent and Sky, hailing its innovation in product development, its world leading colour
With a record number of skyscrapers under construction in the UK, Aggregate Industries is reminding contractors that innovative concrete solutions such as Lytag are proving increasingly essential to achieving world-class sustainable building design for high-rise structures. According to the latest report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat,
Wakefield-based manufacturer of steel construction connectors, BPC Building Products Ltd, has joined Vista Engineering, in a move which sees the group strengthen its position in the UK market and significantly enhance the product range offered to its customers. “There is a tremendous amount of synergy between BPC and Vista, and
Builders’ merchant, Buildbase is launching a dedicated plumbing and heating business within 44 branches from September 2018. Plumbingbase will be clearly branded alongside Hirebase, Electricbase and, Kitchen and Bathroom Showrooms in Buildbase branches, completing the merchant’s comprehensive offering of everything a tradesperson needs under one roof. Aimed at builders, plasterers,
When you are choosing a material for your new construction project, it is important that you think about the benefits of the different types. One of the most popular building materials for construction projects recently is steel. This is because steel is a very durable and cost-effective material. In this
BE DESIGN, the multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering practice, has announced four new promotions across its technical team. With 40 years’ combined experience, Dan Edwards, Rhys Bevins, Shawn Loo and Rafail Tsartsaris will now support the senior team directly with project design and client management whilst mentoring and developing the next generation
AluFoldDirect will be proving to the entire construction industry that aluminium glazing can be problem-free by featuring ‘Everything Aluminium Without the Pain’ on the PiGS Product Pavilion at The Build Show, part of UK Construction Week. “The aluminium glazing market is more buoyant than ever which is why it’s crucial
Abtec Building Technologies (Abtec BT) has recently completed a project to install a connected lighting system at a newly constructed brick factory in the East Midlands. Ibstock Brick, an Ibstock PLC company, has built a new factory capable of producing 100 million bricks a year, helping to address the UK’s housing shortage.
Put it down to perfect timing, with the heightened interest in offsite technology, combined with the abundance of outstanding projects and product innovations it is easy to see why the 2018 Structural Timber Awards surpassed all previous events in terms of the calibre of entries and attendance. Construction professionals gathered at this prestigious award ceremony on October 10, at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham – to celebrate the great, the good and the simply outstanding. The Awards were hosted by compere Mark Durden-Smith and as anyone who has attended this event will know – his infectious humour is just one of the reasons this is a fantastic night out. With nearly 250 outstanding submissions, this year’s Structural Timber Award judges had an onerous job of selecting the winners. The big winner on the night was The Macallan Distillery project, which scooped the Winner of Winners plus two other categories. One of the judges commented: “The Macallan Distillery project and the precision installation of the engineered timber gridshell roof should be highlighted as a case study, par excellence, to the entire structural timber sector”. The head of the judging panel and Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association, Andrew Carpenter said of the night: “The depth of expertise across all categories was impressive and the exceptional number of entries clearly demonstrates the upturn in the industry. The Structural Timber Awards is a high-point in the construction industry calendar and it is truly inspiring to see so much activity in the sector.” The full list of award winners are: Architect of the Year: Chadwick Dryer Clarke for The Stephen Perse Foundation Sports & Learning Building Client of the Year: Bloomberg LLP for Bloomberg European HQ Commercial Project of the Year: Heyne Tillett Steel & Studio RHE for The Import Building Contractor of the Year: Balfour Beatty for Abbey Wood Custom & Self-Build Project of the Year: STREIF UK for Skyfall Education Project of the Year: Eckersley O’Callaghan for Freemen’s School Engineer of the Year: Arup for The Macallan Distillery Installer of the Year: L&S Baucon GmbH for The Macallan Distillery Low Energy Project of the Year: Ruth Butler Architects for Hampshire Passivhaus Pioneer Award: Urban Splash for HoUSe Private Housing Project of the Year: Barratt Homes Yorkshire East Division for St Wilfrids Walk Development Product Innovation Award: Moduloft for Chippenham Bungalow Project of the Year: AKT II & Fosters & Partners for Bloomberg European HQ Project or Construction Manager of the Year: Barratt Homes Yorkshire East Division – Mark Greenley, Site Manager Retail & Leisure Project of the Year: METSÄ WOOD for Center Parcs, Elveden Forest Social Housing Project of the Year: CCG & Stora Enso for Ellerslie Road Development Best Use of SIPs: Innovaré Systems for Glasdir School Best Use of Solid Wood: METSÄ WOOD for Center Parcs, Elveden Forest Best Use of Timber Frame: Stewart Milne Timber Systems & Barratt Homes Yorkshire East Division for Barratt’s St Wilfrids Walk Development Winner of Winners: Arup, L&S Baucon GmbH, Robertson, Wiehag GmbH & Rogers Stirk Harbours + Partners for The Macallan Distillery There has already been a large amount of attention focused on next year’s awards, which will be returning October 2019. The Awards once again will reward excellence, celebrate expertise in timber technology and the ways it contributes to an attractive, energy efficient and sustainable built environment. For the hundreds of construction professionals who have attended the Structural Timber Awards, there is no need to explain the promotional opportunities that go hand in hand with this event. The Awards provide one of the most effective platforms to promote brands or companies alongside the best of the best. For details on sponsorship packages and promotional opportunities and to register interest to either sponsor the 2019 Structural Timber Awards or to enter your project into the awards, please contact Amy Pryce – amy.pryce@radar-communications.co.uk Please note that the Submission deadline for entries into the 2019 Structural Timber Awards is 31 May 2019.
When we think of concrete, we might think of its less elegant modern uses: brutalist architecture, bridges and paving slabs. Yet the material has proved itself one of mankind’s most enduring creations, surviving literally and figuratively for thousands of years. It continues to be one of the most popular choices for modern structures, and it’s not going away anytime soon. While concrete still holds the edge in price, though, it is steadily being superseded by more modern building materials. From steel and hempcrete to entirely new composites and materials, developers now have more viable materials to choose from than ever before. Here is a rundown of the benefits and drawbacks of concrete and steel, and the many pretenders to their thrones. Benefits of concrete If a technology can go missing for over a thousand years and still be heralded as revolutionary, it’s clearly doing something right. Concrete was first devised by the Ancient Egyptians and nearly perfected by the Romans, whose finest examples of concrete masonry still stand to this day. The Romans weren’t just the first civilisation to deploy concrete structures en masse around the world, either. They also struck upon a form on concrete that healed and strengthened itself, something that’s only just entering back into modern construction in a cost-effective way. Concrete remains the most widely used building material in the world by weight, and not without reason. The benefits of concrete include: Price Concrete is still seen as the cheapest material for large builds, although this often only accounts for the price of the material, and not the process of installing it. Using concrete can save on property insurance, while its price has always remained stable compared to other materials, whose production tends to fluctuate. This said, there are increasing reports that the sand used in the most popular forms of concrete is running out, making this a more pressing issue. Safety Concrete is seen as a structurally reliable material, with a high tensile strength and natural fire resistant properties. Its weight, mass and strength allow it to resist most impacts, as well as winds of up to 200 mph. Thick concrete casing is routinely used by even the most high cost and safety conscious builds, including the new ‘Freedom Tower’ at 1 World Trade Centre. Design While unadorned and facade-free concrete can be considered an eyesore, it’s also been used in many iconic and beautiful constructions, from the Roman Pantheon to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, concrete can be used in a number of beautiful ways. Part of this is the ability to pour it into all different kinds of shapes, which has led to myriad creative, cascading designs. Benefits of steel Traditionally the preserve of tall buildings and large projects, steel has a reputation as being sturdy but slow when it comes to deployments. This is an increasingly dated attitude, however, and many of the traditional caveats of steel construction have been overcome with newer designs and methods. Some of the chief benefits are: Flexibility This is a literal benefit as well as a metaphorical one. Steel is much more ductile than concrete – in other words, less rigid – making it more appropriate for earthquake-prone and windy regions. It also has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any popular building material, making it the primary choice for high rises as well as long, column-free spans. While it doesn’t offer as many opportunities for visual flourishes, it does facilitate a wide variety of flexible designs. Availability We’re running out of concrete. This isn’t scaremongering, just a fact of natural resources. Modern concrete – the kind known as Portland cement – relies on a particularly course kind of sand that’s proving to be in limited supply. Sustaining the world’s demand for concrete has led to widespread destruction of habitats, and that demand is still outstripping supply. While structural steel supplies can fluctuate, there is currently a large surplus, and the material is also recyclable. Efficiency It’s often said that the ‘two day cycle’ of concrete installation makes it the fastest means to build a structure. What this fails to account for is the many contributory factors in a quick build, and the ways in which steel can be deployed. Structural steel framing systems can now be built to spec using CAD software, reducing installation time by as much as 50%. It is also far less labour intensive than concrete, which requires an enormous amount of manpower for larger projects. Application Steel’s versatility renders it indispensable across numerous applications, spanning from residential to commercial and agricultural domains. In the residential sector, steel finds utility in various structural components like beams, columns, and frames. Its robustness ensures structural integrity, providing safety and longevity to buildings. Additionally, steel’s adaptability enables architects and designers to explore innovative construction techniques, resulting in modern and aesthetically pleasing residential structures. Within the realm of commercial establishments, steel serves as a cornerstone for constructing offices, warehouses, and retail spaces. Its inherent strength makes it applicable in vast open spaces without the need for cumbersome support columns, thus maximizing usable floor area. Moreover, steel’s ability to withstand heavy loads and adverse environmental conditions makes it ideal for commercial structures requiring durability and resilience. In agricultural settings, steel plays a crucial role in the construction of barns, storage facilities, and other farm buildings. Steel barns offer several advantages, including ease of assembly, durability, and customizable designs to accommodate various farming needs. Their resilience against harsh weather conditions and pests ensures the protection of valuable livestock, equipment, and produce, contributing to the efficiency and success of agricultural operations. Furthermore, steel’s sustainability credentials make it an environmentally conscious choice across all applications. Its high recyclability reduces carbon footprint and minimizes waste, aligning with modern sustainability goals. Additionally, steel structures can incorporate energy-efficient features, promoting sustainable construction. Alternative materials While concrete and steel continue to form the core of building design, scientists are always looking to augment these materials. New composites and designs can enhance many of the key
Dulux has been named the UK’s most innovative brand by BrandZ, the largest global brand equity platform, in its second annual review. The 2018 BrandZ list places the paint brand ahead of names such as Dyson, Brewdog, Innocent and Sky, hailing its innovation in product development, its world leading colour expertise, its approach to sustainability and its commitment to new technology. Five specific developments were highlighter, including Dulux’s expertise in the art and science of colour, as represented by its annual Colour of the Year and ColourFutures™ 2019. The second was the brand’s pioneering stance on sustainability in moving appliers, specifiers and homeowners away from solvent-based paints by providing proactive education on the benefits of water-based formulas. The third development was Dulux’s commitment to technology to support homeowners, naming the Dulux Visualizer, specifically, for allowing any room to be ‘virtually’ decorated in any Dulux colour in an instant. Fourthly was the success of the Dulux Academy – launched in March 2017 and now in numerous locations UK-wide – in continuing to upskill the trade in new techniques such as spray and urban effects. Finally, the list also praised the brand’s dedication to quality, with the production of Dulux materials in the UK coming from the world’s most advanced and sustainable paint factory in Ashington, Northumberland, which opened in 2017. At the heart of the Dulux brand is our mission to add colour to people’s lives, because we know – when used effectively – it can be absolutely transformative,” said Kathryn Ledson, marketing director of Dulux. “Today’s accolade is testament to a UK-wide team of experts who work everyday to make a meaningful difference, ensuring we are continuously raising the bar when it comes the quality of our products, our leadership in colour and our commitment to cutting-edge consumer solutions. As a result of this tireless dedication to innovate, we ensure that – as a brand – our tools, services and expertise has the power to transform spaces and improve lives,” she added. All these innovations saw the brand value of Dulux, owned by Dutch paints and coatings company AkzoNobel, rise by almost a fifth (18%) year on year in the BrandZ list, which is run by advertising giant WPP, in association with market data group Kantar. This saw it place 50th overall in the list of the UK’s most valuable brands.
With a record number of skyscrapers under construction in the UK, Aggregate Industries is reminding contractors that innovative concrete solutions such as Lytag are proving increasingly essential to achieving world-class sustainable building design for high-rise structures. According to the latest report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, more high-rise towers are being built in the UK in 2018 than in the previous ten years1, with a record 510 tall towers at more than 20 storeys high, currently planned or under construction in London alone2. With this in mind, Aggregate Industries is advising the industry that using lightweight concrete solutions – often more cost effective and sustainable than standard options – has never been more crucial, particularly for meeting the complex design challenges of the UK’s most high-profile construction projects. Barry Mellor, Lytag commercial manager, comments: “The task for the modern structural engineer or contractor is not an easy one. Given the growing trend for high-rise developments across the UK, the onus is on creating cost-effective and sustainable structures which, at the same time, provide scope for greater design freedom than ever before. “As such, lightweight concrete solutions such as Lytag, a secondary aggregate up to 50% lighter than natural aggregate, can help developers to make the seemingly ‘impossible’ possible by enabling them to achieve remarkable architectural feats. Providing the same level of structural performance as standard weight aggregate used in concrete formulation, Lytag is ideal for reducing the number and size of columns in order to create bigger structures with greater spans, whilst at the same time being able to reduce the total load of their builds. Essentially, it reduces the volume of foundation needed by using less concrete and steel during the construction process.” What’s more, Lytag is made from fly ash generated by coal fired power stations. Being a secondary aggregate means it can drastically improve the green credentials of a build as seen during the construction of the £135m 70 St Mary Axe landmark development – the latest skyscraper set to transform London’s skyline. Lytag was instrumental in helping the tower recently receive an Excellent rating in BREEAM by conforming to clause WST 02 in relation to recycled aggregate. Barry adds: “Pushing boundaries is the cornerstone of pioneering design and, in turn, maintains our status as a world-leading construction company. And at the heart of this is seeking innovation in all areas, including building materials such as concrete, which as the most widely used man-made material in the world, has for far too long been viewed as an everyday, standard construction commodity. “However, since its inception 60 years ago, Lytag has had an incredible track record of helping to create the London skyline – usually on projects considered the first of their kind, which use space wisely, boast impressive aesthetics and keep sustainability at the forefront. “We’d recommend architects, developers and contractors, who haven’t done so already to continue to use Lytag’s unique capabilities to achieve the gold standard in high-end, intelligent and sustainable building design.” For more information on Lytag call 01904 727922 or visit www.lytag.com
Wakefield-based manufacturer of steel construction connectors, BPC Building Products Ltd, has joined Vista Engineering, in a move which sees the group strengthen its position in the UK market and significantly enhance the product range offered to its customers. “There is a tremendous amount of synergy between BPC and Vista, and bringing the two companies closer together will generate additional benefits for both sets of customers,” explains BPC Managing Director, Gareth Simister. “This is great news for customers of both businesses. The acquisition will allow access to a wider range of products together with improved technical support and customer service levels.” “We’re delighted to welcome BPC as part of the expanding Vista group,” adds Vista managing director, Phil Travis. “We have worked together as distribution partners for many years, and look forward to strengthening the relationship we’ve already established. “Vista is a proudly British company which offers high quality products. We combine the best quality raw materials and state-of-the-art technology with over 40 years of experience, and would only ever consider forging a closer relationship with a company like BPC which shares our high standards and aims for the future.” For more details please visit either www.vistaeng.co.uk, email sales@vistaeng.co.uk or call 01663 736700 or www.bpcfixings.com, email sales@bpcfixings.com or call 01924 364794.
Builders’ merchant, Buildbase is launching a dedicated plumbing and heating business within 44 branches from September 2018. Plumbingbase will be clearly branded alongside Hirebase, Electricbase and, Kitchen and Bathroom Showrooms in Buildbase branches, completing the merchant’s comprehensive offering of everything a tradesperson needs under one roof. Aimed at builders, plasterers, housing developers, and plumbing and heating contractors, a core range of plumbing and heating products will be stocked across all branches, from boilers to waste pipes. A wider breadth of products will be available at larger sites. Plumbing and heating specialists have been recruited to ensure that all branches can provide knowledgeable advice and support. Lyndon Johnson, Buildbase Commercial Director said: “We understand that time is money for our customers. Plumbingbase will complete our ‘one stop shop’ philosophy, reducing the need for customers to go to several merchants for a project, saving time and making their lives easier. “We don’t just sell products, we have fantastic knowledge about everything we supply as many of our staff are former tradespeople themselves. We can help our customers to find the right product for the job and suggest solutions that they may never have considered. Plumbingbase will be no exception.” The Buildbase estate comprises more than 170 branches throughout the UK. Plumbingbase will be rolled out at further locations in 2019. Plumbingbase is in addition to the standalone Plumbase branches that are also part of Grafton Merchanting. Picture caption: Buildbase Commercial Director, Lyndon Johnson, launches Plumbingbase.
When you are choosing a material for your new construction project, it is important that you think about the benefits of the different types. One of the most popular building materials for construction projects recently is steel. This is because steel is a very durable and cost-effective material. In this article, we are going to discuss the benefits of using steel when designing a building. Make sure to keep reading if you’d like to find out more. Cost Effective Although steel might not be extremely cheap to buy, you will find that it is a very cost-effective way to construct a building in comparison to others. This is often because it is a recycled material and it lasts a long time, so you don’t need to worry about investing in more any time soon. On top of this, steel is lighter than other materials, so it won’t cost as much to transport it and you’ll even save on fuel costs. Durable Steel is a very strong metal and it can last a very long time. The strength of the material also means that it can stay standing when it comes to extreme weather conditions. You don’t need to worry about heavy snow or wind knocking your building down. The steel building company armstrongsteel.com emphasise on their website that they are made to withstand any extreme weather and are also “non-combustible so it’s unlikely they will be destroyed by fire”. Environmentally Friendly Building materials often cause problems when it comes to keeping the environment safe and so it is important to choose a material that is eco-friendly. This is why steel is a great material to use because it is actually often made from recycled metal. Steel is very recyclable so make sure to use it if you are looking for a building material for your project. Adaptable If you are looking for a building material that is adaptable then you should think about using steel on your next project. Steel can be used for many different projects and is often used on large scale projects that need walls to be repositioned or altered. Having an adaptable material is very important so consider this carefully if you are unsure about which route to take. Design The final benefit of using steel as a building material is the fact that steel buildings can be designed to look great. Steel buildings do not need to have columns and so they often have a lot more space to include other great features. This gives designers the freedom to come up with something brand new and so it is a very good material to work with. Final Verdict If you are thinking about choosing a material for your next big construction project, you should think about choosing steel. This is because of the many great benefits such as the fact that it is extremely durable, it is great for creative design and it is very environmentally friendly. Make sure to invest in some steel if you want to create something really amazing on your next project.
BE DESIGN, the multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering practice, has announced four new promotions across its technical team. With 40 years’ combined experience, Dan Edwards, Rhys Bevins, Shawn Loo and Rafail Tsartsaris will now support the senior team directly with project design and client management whilst mentoring and developing the next generation of engineers and architects at BE Design. Shawn is looking forward to helping to develop junior members of the team and enhancing client satisfaction as BE Design’s newly appointed associate. Dan has been part of the BE Design family for almost five years and has now been promoted to senior engineering coordinator and, during which time he worked on transforming a car park used during the London 2012 Olympic Games into an impressive structure. Rhys studied at Nottingham Trent University and, following a placement year at BE Design, returned to work there full time four years ago and is now the practice’s newest senior architectural technologist. Rafail is experienced in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Revit and Building Information Modelling (BIM) and is proud to see his work influencing others within BE Design in his new role as senior engineering BIM coordinator. “We’re a close family at BE Design – and one which supports one another and rewards hard work and dedication,” said Stephen Oakden, director at BE Design. “Dan, Rhys, Shawn and Rafail have all worked incredibly hard to get to where they are – showing enthusiasm, passion and technical expertise across every project they’ve designed and delivered. I’m proud to announce their promotions and wish them all the best of luck in their new roles,” continued Stephen. BE Design celebrated its fifth anniversary this year and works across numerous sectors – from retail and leisure to residential and industrial – designing projects across the UK and Europe. Find out more about BE Design at www.bedesign.co.uk or join the conversation on Twitter @B_E_Design.
AluFoldDirect will be proving to the entire construction industry that aluminium glazing can be problem-free by featuring ‘Everything Aluminium Without the Pain’ on the PiGS Product Pavilion at The Build Show, part of UK Construction Week. “The aluminium glazing market is more buoyant than ever which is why it’s crucial to offer installers Everything Aluminium without the pain, so that installers can take advantage of the sector. By going to The Build Show, we can show more people in the construction industry how we have perfected our manufacturing processes to deliver aluminium glazing right first time, every time,” said Craig Miller, Managing Director at AluFoldDirect. “The range of visitors to The Build Show also means that we can talk to local builders, specifiers and architects about our range, fast delivery times of 1 week for unglazed and 2 weeks for glazed, Aluminium Glazing Design Centre and the new AluFoldDirect Aluminium Installer Training Academy,” he added. AluFoldDirect is one of ten companies featuring on the PiGS Product Pavilion, which is sponsored by Balls2 Marketing. The PIGS Product Pavilion at the Windows, Doors and Glass Show has been created after feedback from visitors to The Build Show 2017 saw lots of requests to see more glazing products. AluFoldDirect is the perfect company to feature on the pavilion, to show visitors how they can get ‘Everything Aluminium Without the Pain’ and make the most of the ever-growing aluminium glazing market. Visitors can find AluFoldDirect and learn about its Everything Aluminium range of products on Stand B515 in Hall 10 at The NEC between Tuesday 9 October and Thursday 11 October 2018.
Abtec Building Technologies (Abtec BT) has recently completed a project to install a connected lighting system at a newly constructed brick factory in the East Midlands. Ibstock Brick, an Ibstock PLC company, has built a new factory capable of producing 100 million bricks a year, helping to address the UK’s housing shortage. With lighting such a fundamental part of any manufacturing facility, the company wanted to install the latest technologies to help save on costs, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Ibstock Brick is the UK’s market leader in brick manufacture with 20 factories across the country and a total annual capacity in excess of 750 million bricks. In addition, the firm employs almost 1400 people, with a substantial number in the local Ibstock and Ellistown areas in Leicestershire. Despite the impressive output figures, the UK as a whole is suffering from a housing shortage that is not helped by a lack of bricks. To address the shortfall, it is estimated that a further 400 million bricks will be required annually; a demand that is currently met by imports from continental Europe. In response, Ibstock Brick is increasing its output by constructing one of the most modern brick factories in the world. In fact, the company estimates that the new £54 million facility will increase its production capacity by a further 100 million bricks per annum. Total connectivity All modern factories call for connectivity, and this includes services such as lighting, for which the company was keen to ensure the latest technologies were utilised. “We were introduced to the project by Siemens as we are a solutions partner for their building technologies division,” explains Dave Watkins, director of Abtec BT, a specialist in bringing cost-saving intelligence to buildings. “After an initial chat with Ibstock, at which we had the opportunity to put forward our ideas, we were asked to tender formally for the project, which we duly won.” The solution proposed by Abtec BT was based on a number of class-leading technologies, including LED sources, open platform functionality, sustainability and, of course, connectivity. This proposal contrasted notably to the original brief, which was based on fluorescent lighting. “We had to justify the technology and why Ibstock should go for it,” states Mr Watkins. “However, the advantages of the proposal were pretty apparent and the company soon placed the order.” Demonstrating the payback Abtec BT’s alternative to traditional lighting and controls facilitated the potential to build an energy-efficient building management system. Significant payback on the proposed solution was demonstrated, along with CO2 savings to match. In terms of the actual choice of lighting, the nature of the environment within the factory made this task especially challenging. Specialist conditions meant that the system not only had to be energy efficient, but had to be installed to a very specific standard, a factor that called for careful thought in the design of the concept, as well as consideration for future maintenance requirements. “We proposed DALi light fittings, which were rated to a high IP (ingress protection) with no metal exposed,” explains Mr Watkins. “This is important as a combination of brick dust and moisture in the atmosphere can cause incorrectly specified light fittings to corrode. In addition to their suitability for the operating environment, the use of DALi lighting would also provide the control and feedback needed at the management graphics end of the system.” 300 light fittings In total, Abtec BT calculated the need for 300 light fittings above the 295 x 86m factory floor in order to maintain the necessary lux levels. Contamination from the brickmaking process will of course affect lux levels over time, but the nature of the connected lighting solution proposed by Abtec BT means it is possible to account for this eventuality. “At installation, new lights can be dimmed to counter the fact that they will probably emit lux levels that are too high,” says Mr Watkins. “However, as time passes and the lights get contaminated from factory production processes, so we can dim up accordingly. Having a high understanding of issues such as these helped us to secure the Ibstock contract.” The installation undertaken by Abtec of the electrical elements such as the busbar also had to be carefully selected and installed. Due to the challenging height of the building (over 17m), the sensors used and the location required close scrutiny. Effective energy management Abtec BT’s system has all the elements necessary to provide effective energy management, including presence detection from sensors mounted throughout the factory, automated function and duration testing of emergency lighting, constant daylight control and some scene setting. “Constant light control means that we monitor natural light levels across the whole factory and adjust the DALi lighting accordingly,” says Mr Watkins. “For instance, if the sun comes out and natural light levels improve we can slowly dim the lights [not noticeable by the naked eye], thus generating savings.” In total, energy savings of around 50% are anticipated in comparison with a traditional lighting install, along with an annual CO2 reduction of 170,041 kg. When coupled with the automated emergency testing, further savings are expected, leading to an estimated project payback of less than two years. Open platform “The system installed is open in its approach to technology; KNX has been used for the field based sensors, BACnet for integration to heating and ventilation, and MODBUS to bring in the metering data,” explains Mr Watkins. Importantly, the entire system links to Abtec’s integrated building energy management system, HYDRA, which allows users to easily navigate and visualise logged events. Built on the latest vector graphics platform (HTML5), HYDRA helps users zoom in to the information they need, whether on a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. The HYDRA system, with its supervisor control and data acquisition functions, is a window into the heart of a building, as well as a proactive tool giving information to managers so they can make informed business decisions. HYDRA supports OPC, ModBus and BACnet, and allows integration with third-party systems. Data aggregation
