ProperPR, the property specialist PR agency, are set to host a live, online event on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd September which will seek to gently probe representatives from Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market, Boomin and One Dome on a number of related questions. It will be a face to
Everyone understands the reasons risk management is important – both within construction and elsewhere – but at a time of great pressure to ‘build back better’ and rebuild the economy, it’s more vital than ever to manage risk smoothly and efficiently. Here, Dr Stuart Kings, director at Sypro and NEC4
In recent years, there’s been a growing trend in smart technology for the home, with many homeowners upgrading their properties with all sorts of internet enabled features and devices that can be operated from a single interface such as a smartphone or tablet. Increasingly, contemporary homes have heating thermostats and
Do you like the idea of relaxing on the couch at home and turning off the upstairs lights without having to move? The ever-expanding options of smart technology enable you to do just that. Controlled by a simple smartphone or computer, you have the power to control lights, air conditioning,
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of
FOLLOWING the outbreak of Covid-19, the construction industry was forced to move many of its processes online and modernise at a rapid rate in order to stay afloat. As we start to come through the pandemic and restrictions are beginning to ease, many of these practices have been implemented permanently
Building decision-makers list budget constraints and buy-in from senior leadership as the two biggest barriers to their adoption of smart technologies, according to a new research report from Johnson Controls. The report, ‘Thinking Smart: How the foundations of the UK will be defined by smart buildings’, found that 99% of
Two tech companies have joined forces to create a new turnstile with an in-built software system to improve safety and security on construction sites across the UK and Ireland. Security technology company Envision Intelligent Solutions, which also has offices in Northern Ireland, England and the USA, teamed up with software
The launch of a new mobile app for operators of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast-climbing work platforms (MCWPs) aims to bring training certification into the digital era and reduce the environmental impact involved in issuing the International Powered Access Federation’s (IPAF) PAL Card and all training certification. IPAF’s
Even before the pandemic, every business needed to take a strategic approach to communications, and the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) has always promoted clear and concise communication. With many disputes that arise within the construction industry being due to poor or ambiguous communication, director at Sypro and NEC4 co-author,
ProperPR, the property specialist PR agency, are set to host a live, online event on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd September which will seek to gently probe representatives from Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market, Boomin and One Dome on a number of related questions. It will be a face to face ‘Question Time’ style event broadcast live on the Unissu platform and available to watch back thereafter. It’s hoped that the outcome will be a frank and constructive exchange of views on what a portal really offers to their estate agency customers and to consumers; what the future holds in terms of innovation and technology features; and where the portal and agent relationship will look like in say five years’ time. The same as now? Better? Or worse? Co-founder of property PR specialists ProperPR and organiser, Russell Quirk, says “Senior representatives of each of the top five property portals have all been invited to this important event and most have confirmed their attendance. This will be no Punch and Judy show – but instead a reasoned debate amongst the sector’s main players to probe their business model, their success and their overall approach to property search. We’ll ask how they think about agents and consumers and where the future lies for them and their stakeholders’. ‘We will be asking grown up questions, the type of questions that the estate agency industry would like clarification on and not least how the relationship between portals and agents is likely to develop in the coming years. Given the enormity of the portal space now, with its value at close to £10bn, this is an opportunity for the property portals to sell themselves and to justify their propositions and indeed their value”. Russell asks “If agents have specific questions that they would like asked and answered, email me at russell@ProperPR.co.uk for consideration. There will also be a live chat facility during the session where the digital audience can pose questions”. You can sign up to the FREE event on the Unissu Events platform here
Everyone understands the reasons risk management is important – both within construction and elsewhere – but at a time of great pressure to ‘build back better’ and rebuild the economy, it’s more vital than ever to manage risk smoothly and efficiently. Here, Dr Stuart Kings, director at Sypro and NEC4 co-author, examines how the introduction of the Early Warning Register within NEC4 works closely with cloud-based contract management systems to communicate and effectively manage potential risks, while minimising further impact elsewhere. The construction industry is currently facing a whole host of challenges that present risk to ongoing and upcoming projects, with the risks primarily being driven by a shortage of both materials and labour within construction – all set against the background of post-pandemic recovery. Earlier this year, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) warned that a fair approach was needed towards supply of materials, going as far as suggesting rationing to make sure smaller firms get their fair share of dwindling supplies. Several months later, the demand for supplies both in the UK and globally continues to dramatically outstrip supply. Record sales of building materials are putting enormous pressure on supply chains, which are still in the process of recovery from the pandemic – and there is no indication of shortages improving over the coming months. This of course presents construction schemes with the risk of not being able to acquire supplies critical to their completion, paying much higher prices that squeeze budgets further, or having to alter designs and source alternative products. Indeed, surge in demand will impact smaller companies in greater ways, with SMEs unable to purchase key materials off the shelves, or even afford them. Some may be forced to delay starting schemes on site altogether until they have certainty on product availability in order to keep risks as low as possible – but all of this ramps up the financial pressure, especially on smaller businesses. Another big issue causing potential risk to construction schemes is a shortage of hauliers to get supplies to where they are needed. Brexit has led to the loss of some 15,000 European drivers this year, and the remaining drivers are having to undertake COVID tests and self-isolate where necessary, further exacerbating the shortage. The global shipping industry is also struggling in its post-pandemic recovery, facing congested shipping routes, container cancellations and higher costs, which continue to impact global supply chains – including construction materials. It is crucial that builders and contractors maintain open communications with their customers regarding lead times, possible product substitutions and early notice of price increases – which is where excellent project and contract management systems will become incredibly important. But, how best to manage this risk assessment and communication? NEC contracts have a clear and simple, yet centrally important process for early warnings, whereby the Contractor and Project Manager must notify each other of any matter that could affect the cost, completion, progress or quality of the project. The move from NEC3 to NEC4 was labelled as an ‘evolution, not a revolution’, building on and improving what we were already working with. The updates were about the key principles of being risk-focussed, planned and transparent. As well as mitigating any impairment on a project, the focus is to safeguard timelines, objectives and change the procedure of risk reporting, and therefore mirror the principles of good project management. With regards to early warnings, in NEC4 the ‘Risk Register’ was renamed to the ‘Early Warning Register’ to help separate it from the project risk register, which is often used as a wider project management tool. Default periods for early warning meetings have been set to allow the Project Manager and project team to mitigate any risks quickly and efficiently. There were shortcomings in the previous iteration, including the fact that the Project Manager did not convene meetings and did not put together a first Risk Register. Additionally, early warning meetings were held sporadically and not always with the involvement of the supply chain. Following the changes, there is a clear mandate that the Project Manager issues an Early Warning Register to the Contractor within one week of the starting date. Secondly, the Project Manger convenes a first early warning meeting within two weeks of the starting date and thereafter imposes regular meetings – at the interval states in the Contract Data – to initiate a better ethos and culture of risk under the Engineering and Construction Contract. These key changes appear under clause 15.2 to promote a better management of risk, and so the role of the Project Manager becomes much clearer and proactive in managing the process. The early warning process is simple in principle and critical to the success of NEC contracts and facilitating the spirit of mutual trust and cooperation required by clause 10.1 of the contract. The contract administrator must give the process, and the associated risk, the attention it deserves and develop and use their soft skills to get the best out of risk reduction meetings. Any software system for contract management should facilitate this using a cloud-based – and therefore paperless – process. This is easy to implement under NEC4, which states that ‘if the Scope specifies the use of a communication system, a communication has effect when it is communicated through that system specified in the Scope’ – meaning that the communication has effect only when it takes place through the system. With a cloud-based system, the Project Manager and Contractor can seamlessly manage risk ‘on the go’ from any handheld device – with the digital approach creating one central point of truth, minimising the risks of miscommunication that could exacerbate any issues further. Considering the pressures facing the industry at the moment presenting more risk than ever, the implementation of systems that improve transparency, efficiency, information exchange and the all-important element of risk management will ensure that we keep projects on track, building back better and delivering the high-quality schemes the construction industry is known for. For more information, please
In recent years, there’s been a growing trend in smart technology for the home, with many homeowners upgrading their properties with all sorts of internet enabled features and devices that can be operated from a single interface such as a smartphone or tablet. Increasingly, contemporary homes have heating thermostats and lighting controls that can be operated and adjusted from anywhere, WiFi connected security systems with live video footage that can be viewed remotely and, of course, all manner of smart appliances including TVs, fridge freezers and dishwashers that can be controlled via a smartphone app or smart speaker devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest. According to recent survey findings, 57% of homes in Britain now contain at least one smart device, and there are 2.22 million homes in the UK with at least two smart devices. For sure, smart homes are the future, however most features are retrofitted after construction. With the current drive to substantially increase the nation’s housing stock in full swing, why are UK housebuilders not integrating more smart technology into new builds right from the design stage? Let’s take a look at some of the most common hurdles. Higher build cost: A complete smart home system can add 5% to the cost of the build with an unproven return on the investment for housebuilders in a highly competitive market. It’s a financial risk many developers are unwilling to take. What’s more, building a home with smart technology requires niche skills, materials and methodologies that are comparatively new to the housing industry, adding time and cost to the process. New ways of cooperating between smart home professionals, architects and site managers are required. Security concerns: According to industry figures, 86% of real estate pros are concerned about cyber attacks and the risk of hacking with smart home technology is on the increase. The more smart features and devices are used, the greater the vulnerability to the householder. Outdoor devices with embedded computers that have little in the way of security protocol pose the greatest risk, such as garage door openers and wireless doorbells are a case in point. Weak communication protocols and configuration settings may also be an issue for smartphone app controlled devices such as personal home assistants, smart thermostats and even baby monitors. Software problems: Software integration can become a real issue for systems that use incompatible technologies and won’t ‘speak’ to each other, or are unable to accommodate additional connections further down the line. With the co-existence of various communication protocols as the proliferation of ever more sophisticated smart devices continues, there is no guarantee that the latest tech used today won’t be obsolete in a few years’ time Again, it’s a financial risk that many housebuilders will want to avoid. On the other hand, it is clear that the emergence of smart home technologies over the last 20 years can no longer be considered a passing phase. Home automation has steadily increased in popularity since the early 2000s, and it might be unwise for the UK housebuilding industry to ignore this fast-growing demand among consumers wanting the latest technology in their homes. Here are some of the main benefits of smart new builds: Smart homes sell faster than comparative properties without the added features, and they fetch premium prices too, particularly among younger homebuyers. Survey findings show that 61% of millennials would pay extra money to live in a home with smart features. Reliable long-term performance of smart home systems is best achieved via upfront integration. Designing the entire system at the beginning will ensure smoother and more efficient operations as opposed to the piecemeal retrofitting of individual features. Greater vigilance offered via connected devices means homeowners are alerted to problems such as burglaries or fires early. This results in fewer home insurance claims and, in turn, potentially lower premiums. Smart homes enable the homeowner to cut down on energy waste such as lights left on or rooms heated unnecessarily, by up to a third. This can help UK housebuilders meet energy efficiency standards and build more sustainable homes. Smart home technology can be particularly beneficial to physically disabled and elderly residents. Home management tasks and home security all become much easier, creating more inclusive home environments. The fact that a growing number of home buyers are now prioritising technology in the home is a clear sign that there is an opportunity to maximise future profits for the UK housebuilding industry by building more smart homes. Not only is the Internet of Things already bringing the benefits of connected living to an increasing number of people, but the next generation of property buyers are looking for homes that align with their values. From environmentally conscious and energy-efficient solutions to more interconnected communications for work and home, smart homes are able to offer all that and more.
Do you like the idea of relaxing on the couch at home and turning off the upstairs lights without having to move? The ever-expanding options of smart technology enable you to do just that. Controlled by a simple smartphone or computer, you have the power to control lights, air conditioning, garage doors, deadbolts, security cameras and more. If this sounds like a dream come true, read on to learn all the benefits of installing smart technology in your home. Increase Your Home’s Resale Value Realtors and smart home builders around the nation are aware that a home that offers the latest in technology is a selling point for buyers. In fact, where repainting walls or updating carpets were suggested improvements before selling a home, now sellers are advised to install automated systems within their home before listing. Buyers see the convenience of having the equipment preinstalled and are more interested in a home that current owners have kept updated. Monitor Your House When You’re Not There A smart home provides peace of mind for the times you are away. Devices connect with a cell phone, computer, or tablet, which allows you to check on your home and its occupants. You can check to make sure you locked the front door, shut the garage door, and remembered to turn off the oven no matter where you are. Not only are appliances available with smart technology, but most security systems are also controlled remotely. This setup allows you to check on your home when you’re away, receive alerts if there’s motion around your home, and view security footage in real-time. These features provide a feeling of reassurance if you have children or elderly parents at home by themselves. Save Money By Saving Energy When your home has smart options, not only can you control appliances from a distance, most of these items are programmable. The thermostat can be programmed to run only when you’re at home, and some are smart enough to adjust the amount of air flowing in empty rooms. Do your children constantly forget to shut off the lights? Smart lights are programmed to sense when there’s no movement in a room and automatically shut off. These features are incredible ways to cut energy and save money. Answer the Front Door at Any Time Another benefit of having smart technology is seeing who is at the door without being by it. Doorbell security systems alert you when someone rings the bell or motion is detected by the front door. You can view who is there and speak directly with them through an app without opening the door. This means that your home and occupants are also safer without opening the door to strangers. What about when your parents stop by unannounced while you’re at the store? No worries, use the app to speak directly with them, then unlock the front door to let them in without making them wait for you to get home. Equipping your home with updated smart technology has numerous benefits. The only decision is choosing what to buy first.
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of the past. However, against all odds, amidst a fast-deteriorating retail landscape, one company was able to complete the construction of a mall visited by over two million shoppers in its first three weeks of opening. Westfield Group’s Westfield Shopping Mall, in White City, West London, became the largest covered shopping development in London in October of that year. It began with a retail floor area of 1,600,000 sq. ft., and with additional investment and expansion, by 2018 it became the largest shopping centre in Europe, with an area of 2,600,000 sq. ft. To ensure the mall was completed on time despite the poor economic climate, commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, sought the aid of cloud-based software platform, Zutec, for Phases 1 and 2 of the project from 2007 until present. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was formed in 2018 when Unibail-Rodamco SE, a European company, acquired Australian shopping centre operator Westfield Corporation, and has the largest development pipeline in the industry. Phase 1 In 2007, Westfield Design & Construction (now part of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield) procured Zutec to manage the handover and completion process for the first phase of the shopping centre. When the mall opened the following year, the platform became a powerful tool for the management team, who used it to access interactive and digital operations and maintenance manuals, continuously upload retail fit-out information onto the platform, and update both capital and minor works to maintain a Source of Truth for the entire facility. Phase 2 From 2017 onwards, Westfield D&C once again procured Zutec for the handover and BIM data management and integration of Westfield London’s £600 million Phase 2 retail extension, as well as the URW UK Head Office Building and Newall Court. Early engagement with Westfield’s management team, via workshop sessions held with key management personnel, was crucial to success during the implementation of the software for this phase of the project, which included adding 740,000 sq. ft. of retail space. During this time, Zutec evolved from an interactive folder structure for the capturing of handover information, to a 3D Model Management and Visualisation Solution, and repository for all BIM attributes linked to Asset Registers and Manuals/Documents. Benefits The project was a success due to the multitude of benefits Zutec provides its customers. The platform, which is used for all project data to be defined, captured and managed throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, allowed Westfield quicker access to information, enhanced knowledge of built assets, a reduction in existing condition surveys and a faster reaction time in emergencies. Zutec continues to be utilised as a single Source of Truth, where the as-built records, changes and modifications which take place throughout the facility’s life cycle continue to be updated and maintained. Commenting on the partnership, Zutec’s Global Head of Digitalisation, Tom Boland, said: “This project has been one of our greatest achievements, and we are proud to have been involved from the very beginning. It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication on both sides that Westfield was able to open its doors on time and achieve the level of success that it has experienced to this day. We hope to continue this more than 10-year-long partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and collaborate on equally groundbreaking projects in the coming years.”
FOLLOWING the outbreak of Covid-19, the construction industry was forced to move many of its processes online and modernise at a rapid rate in order to stay afloat. As we start to come through the pandemic and restrictions are beginning to ease, many of these practices have been implemented permanently by businesses that have reaped the benefits of working online – and complete construction partner Stepnell is no exception. The family-run business had been embracing cloud-based technology and digital platforms long before the Covid-19 pandemic, but the positive impact digitisation has had on client satisfaction has become even more prominent throughout the pandemic, making project delivery as cost and time efficient as possible. Stepnell, which works on public and private sector projects across the UK, has been utilising a selection of programmes to maximise efficiency and deliver outstanding service to its clients – as well as recently hiring a new technical manager as part of its company-wide advancement in BIM. One of the programmes currently being used by its team is Fieldview, a cloud-based app which offers managers the ability to view and amend shared documents – such as quality checks and health and safety protocols – on a live platform that provides updates in real time to project teams, stakeholders and sub-contractors. It also allows managers to have a detailed overview of each project while working remotely and collects data that enables Stepnell to make informed improvements about its ways of working. Fieldview runs alongside Viewpoint for Projects, which is a design management tool that stores plans and drawings, allowing architects and sub-contractors to effectively collaborate with the Stepnell team while keeping the client up to date with building design alterations. The team also uses Biosite to maximise site management efficiencies, helping to speed up induction processes, oversee the number of operatives on site and monitor the expiration of qualifying documents such as CSCS cards. Biosite also works to monitor the sustainability of each project, measuring the carbon footprint of each site worker’s commute in order to moderate transport emissions on eco-friendly builds. Tom Wakeford, joint managing director at Stepnell, said: “Without a doubt, the future of the construction sector lies in technology – especially following the pandemic, which forced us to embrace cloud-based platforms and move processes online in order to continuously collaborate while social distancing. Stepnell is intent on being at the forefront of this change, and we believe that these tools are a great place to start on our journey towards digitisation. “As a construction partner, it’s important that our role remains collaborative, so we’re in constant communication with both our clients and sub-contractors to keep them updated on the progress of the build. Transparency is an essential part of our service, and these platforms enable us to deliver this to our clients by not only providing live updates, but also by protecting their personal data and ensuring our teams are trained to a high standard so they can exceed expected requirements.” Stepnell has also been working to upgrade its systems internally, being one of the first businesses in the sector to migrate to the Nutanix Enterprise Cloud. Stepnell has also listened to customers and was one of the first contractors to achieve ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus qualifications, which reinforces the company’s efforts in protecting sensitive client data. The team is also using Clear Review to help manage the performance of its staff online, a programme which helps to set objectives, arrange in person or virtual catch ups with mentors and line managers, and deliver constructive feedback to aid professional development. Tom continued: “Stepnell is constantly looking for ways to evolve and improve, so we are always on the lookout for technology that will help us to develop further. The use of these platforms, and the appointment of our new technical manager, will help us move towards continued growth, and we look forward to seeing how the rest of the construction industry embraces these changes over the next few years.” With more than 14 years’ BIM experience within the sector, new technical manager Charlotte Brogan will be dedicating her time to working with other technical and design managers in the business to improve the use of new and existing platforms across the business, pushing Stepnell to further expand its technological capabilities. Charlotte said: “I’m very excited about getting stuck into my new role and working alongside the Stepnell team to embrace new technologies and processes that will help to continuously elevate the business. “I was initially attracted to Stepnell as it is a family-run business, which means it has the values and company ethos that I often look for in an employer. The scope for development at Stepnell – both as a business and for my personal career growth – is huge and I look forward to working alongside teams in each department to introduce new platforms that can streamline processes and make sure we deliver the best service possible to our clients.” Stepnell is not only using these tools to improve relationships with existing clients, but it is also using online platforms to attract new business and win potential bids. Tom said: “We have also been utilising the Conquest estimating tool for many years and we are currently upgrading to its enquiries system, which will replace our own bespoke system. This will make us more efficient and means our teams can do more. “These platforms have all had an incredible impact on the success of Stepnell, and we’re excited about trialling more BIM products in the future and continuing to push the boundaries of modernisation within construction. Next up is an upgrade to our finance system to make us more efficient.” To find out more about Stepnell, visit https://www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
Building decision-makers list budget constraints and buy-in from senior leadership as the two biggest barriers to their adoption of smart technologies, according to a new research report from Johnson Controls. The report, ‘Thinking Smart: How the foundations of the UK will be defined by smart buildings’, found that 99% of decision-makers see the value of smart tech – yet just 34% of buildings are currently fitted with smart solutions. In the short-term, this could be putting occupant health and safety at greater risk, while long-term, sustainability targets will be impacted. During the COVID-19 pandemic, smart technologies helped 87% of respondents keep their buildings safe – and over a third (37%) say it was critical or essential to doing so. Despite these evident benefits, budget constraints caused issues for two-thirds (64%) of decision-makers, while 42% struggled to get senior buy-in. When it comes to the smart building budget abyss, commercial office space organisations have to make their money stretch furthest, with required budgets as high as £2.7 million per building, and real budgets coming in as low as £1.3 million. Higher education is also struggling, with a £300,000 deficit from the £1.8 million they need, while government and healthcare organisations feel they have sufficient budgets to see value from their smart technology investments. For senior leaders, this exposes a difficult question: whether to address the problem head-on and make major investments now, or be forced to make urgent improvements down the line – both to reduce ever-mounting costs and meet increasingly tough sustainability targets. But it’s not only a problem in the present. Occupant health and safety takes top priority now, but decision-makers say that in five years’ time, energy efficiency will be top of their priority list. In ten years’ time, sustainability and net zero will take the top spot, signalling a growing focus on climate change. Worryingly, without the right smart technologies in place soon, businesses will struggle to achieve these goals. Priority in the next year Priority in the next five years Priority in the next ten years Occupant health & safety 59% 32% 32% Regulatory compliance 42% 28% 26% Employee experience 40% 34% 37% Operational efficiency 39% 42% 36% Energy efficiency 38% 58% 37% Cost efficiency 37% 44% 31% Security 34% 32% 29% Sustainability & net-zero targets 17% 37% 49% Profits 16% 21% 22% “Smart buildings haven’t only helped businesses get through the pandemic – they’re also essential to achieving ambitious sustainability targets like Carbon Net Zero,” said Andy Ellis, VP and General Manager, Johnson Controls UK&I. “Smart solutions that integrate with your fire, security, controls, HVAC, and occupancy systems can look across a whole building to see in real-time where efficiencies can be made. Without technologies like these to do the hard work for building staff, achieving new levels of sustainability targets and creating healthy workspaces – that support both the environment and employees – will be hard.” “It appears that building decision-makers understand the challenge, so now it’s on organisations like ours to speak out, educate the market and embrace the challenges we face around sustainability. We can do this by using smart technologies, so taking this message to the C-Suite and senior leaders – with tangible evidence on the benefits they will bring – will be critical. Then, we can gain their buy-in to ensure our buildings and businesses can be future-ready.”
Two tech companies have joined forces to create a new turnstile with an in-built software system to improve safety and security on construction sites across the UK and Ireland. Security technology company Envision Intelligent Solutions, which also has offices in Northern Ireland, England and the USA, teamed up with software development firm NTD (North Time and Data) to launch the latest development of their bespoke security turnstile that uses facial recognition technology and records temperatures to help ensure a Covid-free workspace. The Gateway Turnstile, which is manufactured by Envision, incorporates a new cloud-based software system that links directly to the company’s payroll and HR systems. The first turnstile with the new cloud-based software has rolled off the production line and has been shipped to a large building site in Chepstow in Wales for construction fit-out company Beacons Business Interiors (Bbi Group). Philip Murdock, Envision IS Managing Director said: “Our clients in the construction industry asked for a bespoke security system that incorporated facial and thermal access readers with a time and attendance system, which is completely cloud networked. During the pandemic, they needed a contactless product that could link back to their head office and provide the data in real time.” Amanda Campbell Envision IS Commercial Director added: “Envision moved quickly to get contactless turnstiles to the marketplace to support construction companies to keep sites open and personnel safe.” Envision partnered with NTD to create the cloud software for the new turnstiles that gave construction companies improved security and communications between the sites and their head offices. NTD adapted its successful NT Pro Workforce Management System to the requirements of the construction industry. NTD Managing Director Stephen Brown explained: “The Biometric Facial Recognition Terminals and NT Pro Software not only record the time and date of an employee coming onto a construction site, but it also takes their temperature and alerts management if an employee has a high temperature. We believe that with this partnership, there will be a well-structured and user-friendly system that makes it easy for smooth operations and overall profit maximization.” The software comes with modules that are particularly useful to construction site security. For example, it allows companies to upload CSR/CSCS qualifications and gives access to personnel training files that can all be viewed from the live dashboard ensuring health and safety qualifications are up to date. Additionally, the software provides full job costing, financial reporting and statistics. The first turnstile was shipped to commercial fit-out specialists Bbi Group, which design, fit-out and refurbish commercial premises across the UK. The company has secured a contract to completely refurbish a 20,000m2 storage warehouse in Chepstow and will have approximately 100 people working on site over the 13-month period. Dave Bastier from Bbi said the company chose the Envision Gateway turnstile as it needed an efficient means to control access to and from site that would not cause an issue with social distancing and contamination of touch surfaces. He said: “The Envision Gateway has been positioned between the car park and the principal entrance to site and provided the perfect solution to that need. Training and backup for our site administrator has also been excellent.” For more information on the Gateway Turnstile go to www.envision-is.co.uk
The launch of a new mobile app for operators of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast-climbing work platforms (MCWPs) aims to bring training certification into the digital era and reduce the environmental impact involved in issuing the International Powered Access Federation’s (IPAF) PAL Card and all training certification. IPAF’s new ePAL mobile app is free to use and features the first ever digital IPAF PAL Card, operator log book and operator safety guide. It also allows operators to receive the latest best practice tips and safety information, and means operators can share their qualifications with site managers quickly and easily. “A typical year’s output in terms of IPAF PAL Cards and certificates issued used to amount to a 130-metre stack of printed plastic and paper, shipped from supplier, to IPAF, to the IPAF Training Centre and then on to candidates. Then, after five years, the candidate would dispose of it and start again,” said Peter Douglas, IPAF CEO & MD. “The new app will lead to us reducing the number of steps in processing a PAL Card and cut down on all that waste, as well as the expense, delays and carbon emissions involved in shipping items around the globe needlessly. Developing an operator app has been a key priority for IPAF since I took up post in 2019, and we were excited to team up with IPAF member Trackunit to bring its considerable technical expertise to bear to roll this out. “IPAF’s ePAL brings huge benefits for operators and IPAF Training Centres alike, while allowing us to streamline and digitise our processes. We are monitoring the roll-out of the new app and are already planning new functionality. These are exciting times.” The ePAL app is a major a step forward in IPAF’s ongoing drive to boost sustainability, as it shifts away from issuing plastic, credit-card sized PAL Cards via the post to every training candidate successfully completing or renewing an IPAF operator course. The new ePAL app also phases out paper certification of qualifications and logging of machine time and replaces the printed paper version of IPAF’s operator safety guide; it speeds up the processing time and resource required to issue training candidates with their PAL Card and certification. Søren Brogaard, CEO of Trackunit, IPAF member company and specialist in fleet management solutions for construction that helped develop the app, says: “This is a big step up for the industry when it comes to safety and efficiency. It has been long in the making, at least in terms of an industry wish-list, and now it is finally here. “The app allows IPAF to communicate directly with operators and offers them a digital platform to record, show and share their qualifications and operating experience worldwide. ePAL is a commitment to enable collaboration between the operator and the digital ecosystem. “We all know filling out paper operator logbooks and keeping them up to date can be a challenge. This app provides contractors and operators secure access to equipment and a convenient way to document machine activities. We can also use the app to encourage and make it easier to report an accident or near-miss incident through the new IPAF reporting portal. My hope is we can all contribute to building a safer, digital future for operators.” IPAF ePAL mobile app is available now in the UK and Ireland. It is initially offered in English with other languages to follow, and is available for Apple iOS and Android devices. The app will be updated with additional features as usage demands and developing technology allows.
Even before the pandemic, every business needed to take a strategic approach to communications, and the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) has always promoted clear and concise communication. With many disputes that arise within the construction industry being due to poor or ambiguous communication, director at Sypro and NEC4 co-author, Dr Stuart Kings, examines why the cloud-based leap is central to better contract communication. Despite construction projects being valued in the millions, many project managers and construction teams still rely on managing contracts in the old-fashioned way – i.e. complicated spreadsheets, lots of paper, unrecorded phone calls, and large email chains. With poor contract management being a major source of disputes between a client and contractor, the value of clear communication is evident. The move from NEC3 to NEC4 was labelled as an ‘evolution, not a revolution’, meaning that it built on and improved what we already had in place. The NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC3) required all communication to be in a form that could be read, copied and recorded, and notified matters communicated separately. This means those using a paper-based system find themselves inundated with intensive admin – plus will have faced the associated problems of managing physical paperwork caused by a sudden move to homeworking during the pandemic. This approach to communication is a key difference in Version 4, which states that ‘If the Scope specifies the use of a communication system, a communication has effect when it is communicated through that system specified in the Scope’[i]. In contract speak, this means that communication only has effect when it takes place within the specified system – no other communications would have effect. This essentially advocates a cloud-based operation, with no need for paper-based registers or huge logs of communications – and this is the direction the industry needs to go towards and is why systems like Sypro’s Contract ManagerTM not only exist, but also thrive. The last thing any business has needed during the past year is to deal with a dispute that was ultimately avoidable. The whole premise of systems like Contract Manager is to run projects more efficiently, with everything you need in one place, thereby allowing teams to move to working remotely quickly and simply, with no loss of information or the all-important project communications. Due to the long-term nature of construction projects, we must also keep in mind that every file, piece of data, and communication will need to be accessible for years to come. This is another benefit to cloud-based systems, as this information will be stored in a compliant manner and will accommodate for any future circumstances like office moves or staff changes. This, in itself, can help prevent any issues from escalating into full disputes, allowing information to be gathered clearly and quickly to evidence the situation. Throughout the pandemic – with staff on furlough and unable to meet physically – information could easily be forgotten, lost, or miscommunicated, and so the benefits of cloud-based systems have become even more apparent. The industry was certainly working towards better use of technology for our everyday processes, but the pandemic has accelerated this further and systems like Contract ManagerTM don’t simply streamline communications but cover all facets of the contract from the Early Warning Register, management of Defects, and payments. It’s easy to see where cloud-based management systems benefit project managers when we examine the number of communications that go through Sypro’s Contact Manager, which is used on some of the biggest construction projects across the country. For example, in the first quarter of 2021, more than 15,000 communications of various types took place via the tool across live projects. This is more than 15,000 opportunities for miscommunication, which would be at much higher risk of happening if these communications were not streamlined through a central system. A final obvious benefit to a cloud-based system is just that – it is cloud-based. This means that information is stored digitally, and we are able to save physical storage space in our offices and reduce the amount of paper we use within our businesses. Many companies are working to reduce their carbon footprint and work in a digital first manner – and cloud-based systems will help any construction company (or client) to reduce physical paperwork. Our overall move towards digitisation in the industry will be crucial in the coming years. It will improve transparency, information exchange, payment performance, and contract management across the sector for all parties – and will ultimately help us collectively deliver on several of the key principles outlined in The Construction Playbook, which makes it clear that government strives to see this transformational change in the sector. For more information, please visit https://www.sypro.co.uk/
