ECS Engineering Services has delivered a full renovation of Peakirk pumping station on the River Welland on behalf of the Environment Agency, significantly boosting the effectiveness of flood defences in the area. Work carried out has included the refurbishment of the station’s pointing doors; the installation of an adjustable stoplog and automated weed screen; a renovation of the pumping station plus an inspection and overhaul of existing pumps on-site. Since winning the Environment Agency refurbishment contract for the pumping station, ECS has been able to complete the entire project within a matter of months, enabled by experience gained as an appointed framework contractor to the agency. Peakirk pumping station plays an important role in protecting properties that lie upstream of the facility, so completing the work swiftly was of the utmost importance. The centre piece of Peakirk’s flood defences are its pointing doors, which have received a complete renovation from ECS. This required the removal of the pointing doors from the central sluice structure, so they could be transported to ECS’ fabrications workshop for re-engineering and painting. The existing mitre posts were also replaced, with the new alternatives trimmed to size during the reinstallation of the gates. However, challenges arose during the project when the existing stop log guides were deemed unsuitable for use during a dive survey, meaning the central structure could not be initially dewatered to remove and reinstate the pointing doors. ECS tackled the problem by erecting a temporary dam, allowing engineers to install improved guides and a fully adjustable 5,000 kg stoplog. With adjustment from 6800 mm to 8000 mm and motion enabled by a rack and pinion drive with a balancing gate, the new stop log provided a modern solution of increased versatility for the needs of the end user. Once the central structure had been dewatered, debris could be cleared and the gates could be removed. To operate the newly renovated pointing doors, ECS delivered a mechanical counter balance system, which utilises a weight stack to actuate the gates in the event of flood conditions. In addition, the existing weed screen cleaning system at Peakirk required attention. The system was unreliable, and its effectiveness was further hindered by the fact that the automated grab systems were not compatible with the existing weed screen, increasing the build-up of debris. ECS duly replaced the weed screen to provide an appropriate fit with the automated grab, as well as incorporating new maintenance platforms, task lighting, level sensors and improved controls. The new controls were integrated into the existing framework by ECS, enabling a full electro-mechanical refurbishment that has greatly improved clearing efficiency and flood safety. Peakirk operates six separate pumps onsite, three diesel and three electric variants. All of the pumps required dismantling, inspection and assessment – with the Environment Agency requiring a full record of findings regarding each of the pumps. Refurbishment work could then be carried out, followed by subsequent reinstallation and testing. The electric pumps had suffered particularly from wear, but were renovated and reinstalled to safeguard pumping capacity at the facility. Furthermore, a condition survey of the supporting infrastructure around the pumps and pump chambers discovered that the steel work was in a poor state of repair, so these elements were fully replaced by ECS. To complete the comprehensive overhaul of the facilities, ECS turned its attention to the pump house. Due to an Environment Agency policy to reduce manual lifting at facilities, ECS was required to upgrade the overhead lifting equipment. The addition of electrical drives and hoist systems, coupled with plug-in or radio remote pendant controls, eliminated any required manual involvement to operate the crane. Lighting was also a concern, as the existing installation was mounted on the ceiling, which made maintenance difficult. To remove the need for specialist access equipment, ECS installed low level, energy efficient, LED lighting in the diesel pump room, greatly improving accessibility. Jamie Wesley, Contracts Manager at ECS expanded: “The project at Peakirk demonstrates our full breadth of electro-mechanical services, as well as the integrated approach which has seen us tackle a number of high profile projects on behalf of the Environment Agency. Our state-of-the-art facilities at our headquarters, our extensive knowledge of conducting on-site operations and the versatility of our product offering means we were are to deliver within a short time frame even in the face of unforeseen challenges.”

The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has welcomed government plans to review EU migration to the UK post-Brexit. Home Secretary Amber Rudd is to commission the independent Migration Advisory Committee to carry out a detailed analysis on a sector-by-sector basis of the impact of EU migration to the UK. Director of External Affairs for the CECA, Marie-Claude Hemming, said with the construction sector requiring more than 35,000 new workers per year, it is a “positive development” ministers recognise a migration system must be put in place that “mitigates the potential impact of Brexit on the different sectors of the British economy”. “A key part of mitigating any potential impacts of Brexit must be the immediate guarantee of the rights of EU construction workers living in the UK to ensure those who are are helping to build the future health of the UK economy can continue to do so post-Brexit,” she said. “It is also important that the Government provides the certainty business needs by setting out at the earliest opportunity how EU migration will occur in any potential ‘transition’ period after March 2019. “CECA looks forward to working with Government and other industry bodies to deliver solutions – in both the long and short-term – that ensure that our industry will able to both upskill the existing workforce, and attract new entrants, once Britain has left the EU.”

The Glass and Glazing Federation, or GGF has issued a statement to BBC Radio Surrey after news was released of the recent conviction of Zenith Staybrite. The GGF have issued the statement as a response for comment after the double glazing company was found guilty of using illegal high-pressure sales tactics and falsely claiming offers were limited. After the guilty verdict the company has been ordered to pay fines and costs of £330,000. In the statement released by the GGF, Zenith Staybrite were condoned. It was emphasised that the company was not a GGF member and it is a knock to the entire Glazing Industry to hear about the malpractice that has been carried out by Zenith. The news of the illegal high pressure sales tactics has been called disappointing by the GGF and the Federation hope that the company will take drastic steps to change their approach to sales, if they have not already done so. The conviction of Zenith Staybrite has highlighted the importance of the GGF Consumer Code of Practice that has been approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The Code is known for being the only approved Code of Conduct in the glass and glazing industry. All of the members of the GGF must adhere to the Code of Practice put forward by the Federation. As part of the Code of Practice, GGF members must not engage in any high pressure selling techniques and is also explicit in saying that companies must not offer inflated prices for goods and services above those depicted on the company’s price list and should not offer “special one day offers” that are untrue. As part of the compliance to the GGF Code of Practice, only genuine discounts that have been agreed by the company can be applied to a sale.