Leading mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright is to fit out the first phase of the Paradise Birmingham development. The company, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and an office in London, has been awarded a contract exceeding £4m by BAM Construction for the M&E infrastructure, basement
Willmott Dixon has selected REL Building Services to deliver the M&E package for a new £12m facility at the University of Hertfordshire. Part-funded by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the three-storey ‘Business Hub’ is due to be completed in 2020. Designed by Bond Bryan, it will bring business incubator,
When it comes to thinking about adding new or updating existing heating and plumbing systems, we realise it requires a lot of thought as often these can use a substantial amount of your home renovations budget. Choosing the right heating system is crucial to creating a comfortable and efficient home
From humble beginnings TLJ security systems have come a long way in the 10 years since the business was incorporated, with the team having built a solid and diverse customer base across the construction industry. In excess of 1,000 builders, contractors, architectural practices, facilities managers, hotels, student accommodation and residential
Mechanical and electrical building services provider J S Wright has secured a £5m contract for the biggest phase of a £64m estate regeneration in London. The company, which has its head office in Birmingham and offices in Bristol and London, will design and build the mechanical services for no less
No matter what your company might be or where your residence is, there are very few people who don’t make use of a security company. It could be to stop shrinkage and shoplifting, it could be at a bank to keep robbers out, maybe it is bouncers at a club
Leading supplier AEI Cables is highlighting the need for the highest quality of cabling for use in sprinkler systems increasingly being specified for use in new modern buildings. This follows a call from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered
In a move designed to enhance levels of efficiency, sustainability and quality, mechanical and electrical services specialists Mitton Group have entered into a new partnering agreement with modular and portable building company Enviro Building Solutions. The agreement will see Mitton provide mechanical and electrical services for buildings designed and constructed
Clare Adamson, Convener of Holyrood’s Cross Party Group on Accident Prevention and Safety has become the latest member of the Scottish Parliament to back the campaign to regulate electricians and supports SELECT, the electrotechnical trade association, for raising awareness by campaigning for recognition of Electricians as a Profession. Clare, who
Mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy McCann and Partners completed the MEP design for a £5M state of the art fire station at Bristol Airport, which has now been handed over. This is the latest in a series of developments that McCann and Partners have and will be undertaking at Bristol Airport, which
Leading mechanical and electrical building services specialist J S Wright is to fit out the first phase of the Paradise Birmingham development. The company, which has its headquarters in Birmingham and an office in London, has been awarded a contract exceeding £4m by BAM Construction for the M&E infrastructure, basement and external services for two new Grade A office buildings, One and Two Chamberlain Square. The wide-ranging mechanical works will include installing rainwater and above ground drainage, chilled water plant with distribution to serve neighbouring Birmingham Town Hall, and car park ventilation systems. J S Wright will also install commercial landlord systems including sprinklers, general ventilation services for the plant room and communal areas, and boosted mains cold water plant for distribution including landscape irrigation. All the services will be controlled by a central Building Management System (BMS). The electrical works will involve the installation, testing and commissioning of the mains distribution network, including an uninterruptible power system and commercial landlord switchboards, along with submain distribution cabling and small power distribution. J S Wright will also provide lighting and emergency lighting, access control, CCTV equipment, door security and fire alarms, and car park lighting. Work on site is scheduled for completion at the end of 2019. Phil Leech, Managing Director of J S Wright, said: “We are delighted that our expertise and experience in delivering M&E services to multi-million-pound regeneration projects, primarily in London and the Midlands, has resulted in a commission that will eventually transform our home city of Birmingham.” Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving homeowners and property managers across London. The company was voted one of the UK’s Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.
Willmott Dixon has selected REL Building Services to deliver the M&E package for a new £12m facility at the University of Hertfordshire. Part-funded by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the three-storey ‘Business Hub’ is due to be completed in 2020. Designed by Bond Bryan, it will bring business incubator, social, and teaching facilities all under one roof. REL will be responsible for developing the M&E design to optimise performance, energy efficiency and costs. The installation of the £1.9m solution is expected to take eight months. Toby Buckley, REL’s managing director said: “This exciting educational facility incorporates teaching spaces alongside open plan collaboration spaces that will allow entrepreneurial students to mix with local businesses and hopefully develop successful business relationships. “We will be drawing on our extensive experience of both the education and commercial sectors to design and deliver an M&E package that uses the most effective technology to drive efficiencies and meet all client objectives.” The Business Hub will feature a ground floor social space, an area dedicated to business incubation, providing local entrepreneurs with access to all of the University’s facilities, and a new learning space for students. Hertfordshire LEP has invested £2.5m from the Local Growth Fund towards the construction of the building as part of its strategic priority to support business growth and innovation within the county. REL has a long-established relationship with Willmott Dixon and has worked with the contractor on several major projects, including the award-winning St Albans Museum and Art Gallery.
When it comes to thinking about adding new or updating existing heating and plumbing systems, we realise it requires a lot of thought as often these can use a substantial amount of your home renovations budget. Choosing the right heating system is crucial to creating a comfortable and efficient home and will be different for every property and its owners. Whether you are already homeowners or looking to become first-time buyers we have several heating and plumbing solutions that may be helpful to you. One of the most used rooms in your home is the bathroom and it is important to ensure your renovations are all in working order before even considering the design. We are stripping it back to basics in terms of things to consider for your bathroom. From hot water, leaks, corroded pipes and those consistent water bills we have put together this guide on some fantastic fixes for your bathroom and plumbing: If your hot water is in short supply If your hot water has become sparse and your relaxing showers aren’t what they used to be then you may need to replace your hot water heater. When it comes to choosing you may wish to look at both conventional and tankless models. Conventional one’s can supply multiple appliances at once which may be better suited to your property. New water heaters are more efficient and so your water bill could be considerably lower! Water leaks and corroded pipes Unfortunately, from time to time you may experience a water leak, or if you are buying an old house the pipes will often need replacing. It is important to know the age of your home as pipes should be replaced every 80 to 100 years and much less for PVC drainpipes that only last around 25 years. Replacing your plumbing pipes before they burst can save you thousands in damages. PVC piping is also popular as it costs less and can be installed much more quickly. Alternative options are conventional brass, copper or steel. If you must replace any pipes it also gives you the opportunity to place them in a different area. Plumbing fixtures are boring and outdated This could be your chance to upgrade your plumbing fixtures to newer models or invest in boiler parts such as these glow worm boiler spares for your home. Often this is an easy upgrade as many of them are inexpensive. This job can be a little more fun than other plumbing tasks as there are a variety of colours, materials and designs available when it comes to boiler spares and other fittings. So not only will they look the part, but new fixtures can also be more efficient that your old ones. Water bills draining your wallet Expensive water bills are often related to leaking fixtures. This could be down to several reasons such as, a continuously running toilet. It is important to test everything for any leaks whether they are slow or heavy. If you hear a random flushing noise coming from your toilet, it may be time to replace your fill valve and flapper. If everything has been repaired and your water bill doesn’t seem to be decreasing, then it may be worth while booking a professional to come and inspect. It’s also worth noting that low-flow showerheads and toilets help to reduce water output without sacrificing pressure and can dramatically improve usage compared to older models that may clog. Eco-friendly bathroom plumbing should not be overlooked either as it helps to cut your environmental footprint. Looking to sell your home If you are in a hurry to sell your home, then renovating your bathroom may help with a speedy sale. Investing in your bathroom can bring a huge return if you are going to spend on any home improvement prior to moving out. If you are remodelling your interior, it is also worth investing in quality tiles and upscale fixtures as a shiny new bathroom lets you up your asking price! Let us know if you have any other heating and plumbing tips for your home.
From humble beginnings TLJ security systems have come a long way in the 10 years since the business was incorporated, with the team having built a solid and diverse customer base across the construction industry. In excess of 1,000 builders, contractors, architectural practices, facilities managers, hotels, student accommodation and residential developers have specified TLJ for their access control needs. They install and service tens of thousands of electronic locks every year in the UK. A true British success story, TLJ has been family owned and run since the very beginning. From its base in East Yorkshire the company designs, manufactures, installs and services its own range of electronic locks and access control products. They’re especially proud of their service proposition, enhanced by keeping their installation and aftersales operations fully in-house. Things move quickly in the access control industry, and the past 10 years have seen many changes. This has been reflected in TLJ’s product range: less reliable biometric ‘fingerprint’ locks and older magnetic keycard technologies have been replaced by up-to-date contactless electronic locks and access control readers, all for security. Becoming increasingly popular is TLJ’s Mobile Keys system: replacing physical keys with the end user’s smartphone, opening locks via secure mobile app. This cutting-edge tech is especially popular in student accommodation developments where residents stay for the longer term. However, many leading hotels and ‘collective living’ projects are also adopting this technology as part of a ‘mobile first’ approach for their customers. Looking ahead, TLJ will be expanding their security range with design-led electronic locks tailored for high-end residential developments and, ingeniously, locks suitable for non-standard doors such as those often found in the leisure industry. “I sometimes have to pinch myself to believe that TLJ have been around for 10 years. From our very humble beginnings we’ve grown into a business that all of us here can be truly proud of. Sure, it’s been hard work but overall there have been many more hits than misses. The team has grown and continues to do so, but we’re in no rush to expand our numbers for the sake of it; I firmly believe in quality over quantity when it comes to employing really talented people,” said TLJ Managing Director, Luke Martin. “We’ve punched above our weight and continue to do so, and this is in no small part down to our ethos of managing every stage of the process, from product design to aftersales. We keep everything in-house at TLJ and know that service is king, something which is reflected in the frankly superb feedback we receive from clients. But we’re not resting on our laurels: we know the marketplace is changing and technology moves apace so we’re ‘future proofing’ our product and service offering to better meet our customers’ needs going forward. Here’s to the next 10 years!”
Mechanical and electrical building services provider J S Wright has secured a £5m contract for the biggest phase of a £64m estate regeneration in London. The company, which has its head office in Birmingham and offices in Bristol and London, will design and build the mechanical services for no less than 201 energy efficient affordable apartments within the latest fourth phase of New Union Wharf at Stewart Street on the Isle of Dogs. J S Wright was awarded the contract by developer Hill following its successful completion of the 114-home second and third phases of the new 399-home riverside development that will be managed by housing association L&Q. The design and build deal will involve installing a low-pressure hot water heating system and associated pipework to feed underfloor heating within each apartment, along with a cold-water plantroom and distribution network to deliver boosted cold water as part of the domestic hot and cold-water services. As accredited CIBSE Heat Network Consultants, J S Wright will also install a heat interface unit in each apartment to act as a bridge to deliver instant hot water on demand and hot water to the underfloor heating at low return temperatures. The company will also fit a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system that will use the outgoing air from each property to heat incoming fresh air, dry risers and sprinklers for fire protection, sanitary ware, and above-ground drainage. In addition, the company will provide building management controls including a pre-payment system for billing each apartment’s energy use. J S Wright will start work on site in August 2019 with completion scheduled for December 2021. J S Wright has equipped more than 1,500 new homes across London for Hill over the past three years. Current design and build projects for the developer include the first two phases of 580-home Fish Island Village in Hackney Wick, and Phase 1B of the 1,500-home Blackwall Reach development in Tower Hamlets. Phil Leech, the new Managing Director of J S Wright, said: “We are thrilled to have built up such an excellent partnership with a developer that is renowned for restoring vibrant communities with modern energy efficient housing.” Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving homeowners and property managers across London. The company was voted one of the UK’s Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.
No matter what your company might be or where your residence is, there are very few people who don’t make use of a security company. It could be to stop shrinkage and shoplifting, it could be at a bank to keep robbers out, maybe it is bouncers at a club or perhaps it is an armed-response solution at your home. The sad reality of the age that we live in is that crime is rife and that there are plenty of opportunists out there who will act in nefarious ways if they are given half a chance. But while security plays a very important role in our lives, there are probably as many bad partners out there as there are good ones. So, how do you find the right company to service your security needs? Here are a few questions that you should ask and angles that you should investigate, before you commit to a solution from which you cannot escape. Word of mouth Start by just asking around amongst friends and family. If you are looking for a company to protect your valuables or your nearest and dearest, then you need to make sure that they come with an impeccable reputation. So, if your goal is to find security companies in Sydney, engage with people in Sydney who have made use of the services of these outfits. Ask the right questions: what are their strengths? Do you get value for money? What hassles have you had? What are their response times like? You will very quickly be able to form a picture of who is good and who isn’t. Reviews online The online space is a great place to source information. Look at review sites and social media to see what people are saying. It can be quite easy to spot trends on online platforms. If there are repeat complaints about tardy response times, then you know what to expect. The advantage with sourcing information online is that the pool from which you are collecting your data is more diverse than if you are just asking amongst friends. It will be hard to find a business that has no bad reviews, bad reviews are inevitable, so don’t discount everyone who is negatively reviewed. Look rather at positive comments and how the companies themselves react to negative comments. Where are they based You should always try to find a locally based company as they have more to lose if things go wrong. Not in my backyard is an adage that is well used. It goes without saying that a security company will want to ensure that crime and bad things don’t happen near where they are based, so the closer they are based to you, the better. Meet their people Security jobs are quite easy to come by. You don’t necessarily need a plethora of qualifications. As a result, it means that almost anyone can get a gig in a uniform. But you need to meet the people who are going to be responsible for your valuables and make sure that they are a type of person you feel you can trust. Are they likeable or user friendly? If they tick those boxes, then you are good to go with them.
Leading supplier AEI Cables is highlighting the need for the highest quality of cabling for use in sprinkler systems increasingly being specified for use in new modern buildings. This follows a call from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to make the installation of sprinklers mandatory in all residential buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools and care homes taller than 11 metres. The same organisations have also called for sprinklers to be retrofitted where possible. Graham Turner, of AEI Cables, said the issue of providing continuous power to sprinkler systems is a key component of improving fire safety in buildings nationwide. He added: “Buildings such as tower blocks, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, airports and those areas with large numbers of people moving about need cabling which will continue to operate in a fire and provide power for the highest fire protection of 120 minutes. “This ensure fire and rescue services can safely evacuate people and that sprinklers will continue to operate in the event of a fire.” The Hackitt Review into the Grenfell disaster sets out a series of proposals to make tower blocks safer to live in but stops short of recommending a mandatory requirement for sprinklers to be fitted. The new generation AEI Cables’ fire performance cabling ensures critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes. Using the very latest in technology and science, the Firetec Total Fire Solutions range from AEI Cables offers enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories and technical support from one source. All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB covering design, manufacture and supply. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world.
In a move designed to enhance levels of efficiency, sustainability and quality, mechanical and electrical services specialists Mitton Group have entered into a new partnering agreement with modular and portable building company Enviro Building Solutions. The agreement will see Mitton provide mechanical and electrical services for buildings designed and constructed by Enviro Building Solutions across the UK. Enviro Building Solutions have been designing and constructing modular buildings for over 30 years, serving sectors including healthcare, education, retail and commercial. With the business seeing significant growth and projects becoming larger and more complex, the company was looking to partner with an established and responsive M&E specialist capable of designing and installing high quality, sustainable mechanical and electrical services to match customer requirements. Bespoke modular building solutions are continuing to increase in popularity, particularly for applications and environments where short lead times are an important consideration. They provide a real alternative to more traditional building methods, offering not just significant cost savings but also real benefits in terms of reduced time to occupation, minimal on-site disruption, a safer working environment and sustainability. The two companies are also geographically close, with Enviro Building Solutions operating as modular building manufacturers from their base in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and Mitton Group headquartered in Bradford. First fix will be completed in Halifax before Mitton teams attend on site to complete and commission each individual project. “Partnering with Mitton Group ensures we and our clients have access to the highest quality M&E services. The proximity of their head office to our manufacturing site is an added bonus, whilst we will benefit from the convenience of their operational depots across the UK when completing work on site,” stated Jonathan Collins for Enviro Building Solutions. “Our new partners produce a premium quality product designed to provide answers for a range of accommodation requirements. Their professional approach matches our own commitment to quality and performance at every stage of the project,” said Mitton director Jonny Knowles. PHOTOGRAPH ATTACHED Picture shows (left to right) Craig Ready and Jonathan Collins, Directors, Enviro Building Solutions, Jonny Knowles, Director, Mitton Group and Richard Shannon, Director, Enviro Building Solutions. For further information, please contact:- Mitton Mechanical Services Ltd info@mittongroup.com T: 01274 691177 (Editorial) Ann Horan pr@dmddesign.uk T: 01422 371633
Clare Adamson, Convener of Holyrood’s Cross Party Group on Accident Prevention and Safety has become the latest member of the Scottish Parliament to back the campaign to regulate electricians and supports SELECT, the electrotechnical trade association, for raising awareness by campaigning for recognition of Electricians as a Profession. Clare, who is the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, has added her name to the Wall of Support, a striking graphic representation of the ever-growing numbers of organisations and individuals backing the campaign. Clare said: “I am very aware of the importance of Electrical Safety. Consumers deserve the assurance that when they engage the services of an electrician that the person is qualified and accredited to complete the work safely and to the highest industry standard. SELECT’s campaign to have the trade of Electrician recognised as a profession has shone a light on this issue and I support the progress being made in regulation of this industry to ensure that my constituents are protected and can have confidence going forward.” Ms Adamson’s endorsement of the campaign adds to widespread backing across the construction industry for the move which is also backed by the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and Unite the Union. The Wall of Support illustrates vividly the strength of feeling across a huge range of disciplines that being an electrician is a highly-skilled and professional occupation and that those who practise it must be suitably qualified. Alan Wilson, Acting Managing Director at SELECT, said: ““The Wall shows in a dramatic fashion the strength of feeling that exists within the construction sector about the issue of professional recognition. We would like to thank Clare for backing us in such a public manner. Our aim is that in future no one in Scotland should have to tolerate the anxiety and upset to which she and her family have been exposed. Bodies which have contributed a brick in the Wall include: Electrical Safety First, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); the Scottish Association of Landlords; the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group; the Association of Electrical Safety Managers; Energy Action Scotland; BAM Construction; the Scottish Building Federation; the Federation of Master Builders; and the Energy Saving Trust. For more information please contact Alan Wilson, Acting Managing Director at SELECT, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian, EH26 0SB. T: 0131 445 5577. F: 0131 445 5548. E: admin@select.org.uk. W: www.select.org.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/updates_select https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWJVjt14CvIig8bIKwidVug
Mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy McCann and Partners completed the MEP design for a £5M state of the art fire station at Bristol Airport, which has now been handed over. This is the latest in a series of developments that McCann and Partners have and will be undertaking at Bristol Airport, which has planning approvals in place to handle 10 million passengers per annum. “Bristol Airport is going through such an exciting period of growth at the moment and we are delighted to have been involved in its expansion over the past few years. The airport team are continually investing in sustainable, low carbon systems and we’ve been working closely with them throughout 2018 to ensure that this building is extremely energy efficient. Working on this state of the art development has been a huge opportunity for us at McCann and Partners, and we look forward to expanding on this in the coming months,” said Jeff Price, Mechanical Director at McCann and Partners. As well as the new fire station, which is located next to the runway and the existing fire training ground, the upcoming developments will include an immigration hall and new airline building, the first of which has recently commenced. “We are currently completing a variety of development projects at the airport to meet the growth in passenger numbers. Sustainability and energy efficiencies are key factors and decision drivers for all projects and it is great to work with a business like McCann and Partners, who share the same approach in promoting state-of-the-art technology and design in development,” commented Andrew Goodenough, Development Director at Bristol Airport. McCann and Partners specialise in providing the full range of building services associated with mechanical, electrical and public health engineering systems – developing innovative and bespoke design solutions. Working across multiple sectors, its commitment is to developing exemplary, sustainable buildings through a collaborative approach to design.
