Bull Products, a manufacturer of life-saving fire protection equipment, has been selected to supply its Cygnus Wireless Alarm System to around 50 Covid-19 standalone test sites across the UK. Premier Modular is the modular building specialist responsible for installing 50 self-contained Covid test sites across the UK, from Inverness to Portsmouth as part of the national effort to support the NHS in increasing testing capacity. Within six hours of the initial order, Bull installed its Fire Call Point Alarms and Smoke Detectors to the first test site delivered by Premier which was located in Bolton. Matthew Trigwell, Sales Director at Bull Products, says: “It’s a privilege to work alongside Premier Modular to provide fire safety equipment to these vital test sites. The Cygnus alarm system provides an ideal solution to projects that require a quick turnaround thanks to the speed of installation and ease of use of this temporary fire detection and alarm system. “It’s another example of how the Cygnus wireless system is ideal for all temporary sites to protect both people and property.” Elgan Roberts, Contracts Manager at Premier Modular, adds: “We have worked with Bull for many years, and so we were confident they were the perfect partner to supply the Cygnus alarm system. The wireless alarm system is reliable and flexible, and we have no doubt it will provide enhanced fire safety across all of the Covid-19 test sites that we are installing around the UK.” For more information, contact Bull on 01432 371170, visit www.bullproducts.co.uk or email enquiries@bullproducts.co.uk 

Social distancing and mask-wearing can only go so far in preventing transmission of COVID-19 indoors. They are not barriers to contaminated aerosols, which can build up in poorly ventilated buildings. Specialist Building Service Engineers, Milieu, bring together the latest research on COVID-19 transmission and share their expertise on how to use ventilation to reduce the risk of COVID transmission indoors. It is generally agreed by the scientific and medical community that the main route of coronavirus transmission is by respiratory droplets (larger droplets and particles which are exhaled when people cough, sneeze, sing, talk or breathe), which are passed on through close contact with an infected individual. Transmission by these larger respiratory droplets is usually within 6 feet, hence the 2m social distancing rule. More recently, it was discovered that COVID-19 can also be spread through exposure to virus-containing respiratory droplets that remain suspended in the air over longer distances. These smaller droplets are known as aerosols. Outdoors, fresh air will dilute and disperse any virally charged particles; it is indoors where this mode of transmission puts us all at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Therefore, unless clever ventilation systems are incorporated into buildings, transmission risk is even higher. Aerosols tend to follow airflow. Opening windows and doors allows fresh air to enter indoor spaces, increases airflow and reduces the concentration of virally charged particles. In rooms where this is not possible, alternate methods of ventilation need to be used, such as air conditioning (AC). However, AC systems that recycle air, without an adequate supply of fresh air, could be responsible for recirculating and spreading airborne viral particles. In traditional AC systems, where units are placed on the wall, airflow is horizontal, potentially delivering infectious respiratory droplets into the pathways of others. In an underfloor ventilation system Milieu have recently installed at Pennybank, Clerkenwell, the airflow is vertical, streaming the air up past occupants to be expelled through cleverly concealed vents. This not only reduces the concentration of any virally charged particles, but it reduces mixing of air between people sharing a working space. Milieu have recently developed an innovative Ventilation Effectiveness Toolkit which assesses ventilation using computational modelling to analyse volume, occupancy, vocal activity and existing ventilation rates (natural and mechanical) of a building. Carl Carrington, CEO Milieu, says: “At Milieu, we’re passionate about creating healthy buildings and keeping people safe: our new toolkit enables us to assess ventilation of an indoor space, in relation to occupancy, and work out a Relative Risk Increase (RRI) that can be used to inform people how safe their spaces are and whether their current ventilation is sufficient or not.” As we await the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine, we can take steps to reduce its transmission and reduce the infection rate of any future strains of SARs or other viruses, such as flu and the common cold, all of which impact our health and productivity. An effective way of doing this is by improving the ventilation of our buildings.

Yell Business has released a new research into how small businesses have adapted to survive in light of Covid-19 and how the pandemic is changing the way businesses and consumers communicate. The new study reveals the scale of the challenge that business owners have faced in recent months, with three quarters (76%) of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) introducing a new service because of Covid-19. The tradesperson industry was found to be one of the most adaptable sectors, with 90% of tradespeople surveyed having introduced a new service. Of those new services: 41% started taking online bookings 40% started doing online video consultations 36% started home delivery services 33% online video tutorials 27% introduced contactless payment systems Nearly half (46%) of tradespeople who introduced a new service said that it was crucial for them to be able to survive the pandemic. 85% stated they plan on continuing the service post Covid-19. Who’s getting the message? The research also identified how the global pandemic has accelerated changes in the ways businesses are communicating with their customers. A massive 93% of tradespeople have introduced new ways of communicating in 2020 with instant messaging platforms coming to the fore. 26% of tradespeople have started using Facebook to communicate with customers as a result of Covid-19 and just over one in five (21%) have started using WhatsApp. 20% of trades have started using Twitter followed closely by Instagram at 15%. 14% have also implemented chatbots. Whilst a phone call and email are still ingrained as the most popular communication methods for tradespeople and their customers alike, the most effective marketing communication tool used by tradespeople during the pandemic was found to be SMS texting. When asked whether the tool had been either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ effective since March’s national lockdown, 58% of businesses stated that it had. WhatsApp (51%), a Facebook page (50%), paid Facebook ads (49%) and Facebook Messenger (48%) followed. Getting the message in an instant The emergence of instant messaging tools such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and other social messaging platforms as vital communication tools for tradespeople was identified in the research. 58% of tradespeople surveyed said that instant messaging is key for business success post Covid-19, whilst nearly half (48%) stated they had seen an uplift in enquiries thanks to using instant messaging services during the pandemic. 38% said that they had seen an uplift in repeat business and 37% saw an increase in sales. Choosing the correct channel to communicate with customers was found to have far reaching benefits for businesses in the sector too. Yell’s research revealed that over a third (36%) of consumers would be more likely to buy from a business that communicated with them on their preferred channel. 28% of consumers would be more likely to recommend the business to a friend and 24% would be more likely to spend more with that business. Conversely, if an SME communicated with a customer on the wrong channel, 37% of consumers wouldn’t use that business again and 18% would even leave a bad review for the business. Optimism in the face of adversity Despite the challenges brought on by Covid-19, businesses in the tradesperson sector remain positive for the future. 81% of business owners state that they are optimistic about the success of their business in 2021 and, on average, 84% said they were more prepared to deal with another lockdown. Claire Miles, Chief Executive Officer of Yell commented: “The last six months have been incredibly tough for tradespeople but it’s heartening to see that the majority of the sector remains optimistic in the face of adversity. Our diverse local businesses are the cornerstones of our community, which is why it’s crucial that now, more than ever, Yell continues to champion small businesses and provide the digital tools and insights needed for them to thrive. Our research highlights not only the sheer adaptability of tradespeople but also their ability to find the right way to communicate change to their existing and potential customers. It’s clear that during these uncertain times, instant messaging services have been a real lifeline to businesses in the sector who have had to adapt and adjust their models quickly. Instant messaging, as we are aware from our own developments with Apple in this area, facilitates timely and conversational communication between businesses and consumers and as the findings show, many businesses will still be relying on these services to succeed post pandemic.”

Town expansion is not always due to more people moving into the location. Rather, it can because there is a higher need for more homes, more jobs and more roads because it’s become a popular tourist destination. It could also be because you’re close to a city and you need to compete for jobs and tourism. Whatever the reason, town expansion is something contraction companies and local authorities are very concerned about in the new world of Covid-19. So how can either of these particles respond to modern challenges? Expensive vs expansive When cities become expensive, they stop becoming expansive. This is why many people in the industry fail to realize, cities like New York and London are not actually expanding rapidly outward. They’re building upward, with more and more skyscrapers. This is because the edges used to be suburban and they have been facing challenges. More and more people are moving away from the city. At least those that do not work in the city or don’t need to. More and more people who have to work in the city are moving in but they don’t have enough money for a house and don’t want to live in the suburbs. Thus, the outer edges are losing residents as the inside is growing. It’s growing but it’s not expanding. Local authorities need to do more to keep local families in the suburbs. Infrastructure requirements One of the things that holds back expansion is the lack of resources that the new residents need. If something as simple as water cannot be found in abundance, the expansion will grind to a halt or it simply won’t take off. Using a water bore drilling service, they can find where the water is, what kind of quality it is, how much of it there is and how you can utilize it. This is important for both construction companies who don’t have this capability as well as local authorities who are accountable to their constituents. It only takes a quick consultation to find out where you are and what you need. Then, with their over 20 years of experience, Adams Drillers will arrive on the scene and get to work. When you can supply the new homes with freshwater, this is when expansion can continue safely. Road network access Many Americans are still commuting to work via the highways. Despite massive developments for trains and airports, the majority of those in employment prefer to drive. They may only have that choice but many prefer it. Without access to the wider road network, you cannot hope to expand properly. Despite there being good developments practically, without transportation requirements being met, you will have a lack of home buyers. Thus, for every new town or borough, you should have an easy way to access the highway. Covid-19 hasn’t changed the challenges that city and town expansion projects have always faced. They have just been made more intense, as the need to retain homeowners in the suburbs has become a priority. 

Although most people are currently working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, it seems likely that a high percentage of people will return to the office at least in the coming months with many employers keen to have workers together in one location. So, what might this look like in the office as we emerge from the pandemic? Socially Distanced Workspaces One of the most important steps that employers need to take when it comes to the office is creating socially distanced workspaces. People need to be at least one metre away from one another, which will also be intelligent after the pandemic as it could reduce illness. Obviously, this is a challenge which is why many businesses may have to have some people WFH and some in the office and rotate. Health & Safety Health and safety will be critical as we emerge from the pandemic and business will want to do all that they can to provide a safe and healthy work environment for staff. Staying compliant with changing regulations will be vital and is likely to include things like proper ventilation, regular cleaning, availability of hand sanitiser and the use of contactless technology. New Equipment & Technology Following this point, businesses may need to invest in new equipment and technology that will enable them to carry out their operation safely. Many businesses have had to adapt as a result of COVID-19 which may require large investments in tech and equipment such as remote working tools, contactless solutions and augmented reality. This can obviously create a financial challenge, so a business cash advance could be a smart way to get the capital that you need to replenish the business for a post-COVID-19 operation. Employee Management Businesses will also need to consider the way in which they manage staff when they return to the office. It will create a challenge, but trying to enforce social distancing, reducing meetings and making sure that people are greeting each other in a safe manner will all be key moving forward. It is likely that people will start to return to the office in the coming months even if this involves WFH a few days a week. Businesses need to take action to make sure that they are providing a safe work environment for their team so that they can protect the health of employees and the public as a whole – the above are a few changes that will need to be made to create a suitable office space for staff.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the UK, tradespeople are among those who have been advised they are still able to work under the national restrictions that came into effect on 5 November, including working in and around people’s homes. The news is certainly positive for the construction industry and homeowners in England, as it means people can take advantage of the new Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, which will see the Government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of energy-efficient home improvements. The scheme is a key part of the UK’s green economic recovery following the pandemic. However, only TrustMark Registered Businesses can do work under the Government’s new scheme, meaning tradespeople and businesses who are not registered could be missing out on work. Simon Ayers, Chief Executive of TrustMark, explains, “There are certain steps that must be completed in order to become a Green Homes Grant installer. Firstly, the businesses must hold a PAS 2030 certification and/or MCS certification for low carbon installations, which can be achieved through UKAS accredited certification bodies. “They must also register with TrustMark which in turn, will allow them to register with the Government’s scheme administrator as a Green Homes Grant installer. “There are thousands of UK customers looking for someone to carry out work under the scheme right now, so it’s most certainly worth businesses getting involved.”  The levels of work that will be created over the next decade to improve the homes we live in means a sustainable and growth driven market for businesses to operate within, an investment with rewards. To communicate this message, TrustMark has created a number of assets to make it easier for businesses to become Green Homes Grant installers, outlining the steps in more detail at: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp And, since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, the Government and industry have worked hard to ensure written safety guidelines are in place. To keep everyone safe, TrustMark, has created Work Safe Safe Work: a three-part guide to help customersknow what to do before, while and after they have tradespeople working for them. “We know that many people have reservations about what is expected of them and what they need to do while the work is taking place to ensure it’s safe. That’s why we would recommend tradespeople send out the Work Safe Safe Work guide to their customers at least 48 hours prior to the work being done”, says Simon Ayers. “In providing such clear and simple information, the guide will keep both tradespeople and customers safe, while giving them confidence in this new reality we are finding ourselves in.” For further information, please visit TrustMark’s dedicated Green Homes Grant page for trades: www.trustmark.org.uk/ghgvsopp.

No matter where you are in the world, you have likely been impacted somehow by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe you know someone who contracted it. Maybe it’s impacted your job or the career of someone you love.  While some parts of the globe are seeing yet another surge, there are certain industries that have to keep going in order to maintain some sense of normalcy. So far, the construction industry has been considered ‘essential’ in many different areas of the world. Things still need to get built. Deadlines and schedules need to be kept.  Unfortunately, one recent study in the U.S. has found that construction workers might be at a greater risk of developing COVID-19.  So, why the increased risk within the construction industry, and what can you do to keep your team safe?  Why Are Workers at Risk?  At the height of the pandemic, the BESA released new COVID-19 guidelines to keep engineering and construction firms safe. Like many other industries are discovering, however, no safety plan is foolproof.  One of the biggest reasons why construction workers remain at high risk is because the industry remained in demand throughout the pandemic. Again, many construction projects needed to keep going and workers were considered essential.  Whether a buyer needed a property report or actual building needed to be completed, the commercial real estate, construction, and design industries haven’t stopped. In many places across the globe, things have been so uncertain for so long that it has been hard to keep up with changes in rules, regulations, and policies.  Amidst that confusion, it has likely been easy for those in the construction field to make a few missteps in keeping themselves safe.  Close Confines on Construction Sites If you work in the industry, or you’ve been on a job site before, it’s easy to think you’re safe from the threat of any virus, considering you spend the majority of your time outside. But, think about how close you can get throughout the day to your fellow workers. You might need to give them instructions or receive some from someone else. You may be touching the same tools and building materials as someone else.  Construction workers often go from job to job, too. That can easily increase the spread of the virus, even if just one worker is carrying it from site to site.  Simply put, there are plenty of ways in which the virus can be passed at a job site, which may also be contributing to the greater risk for those in construction.  What Can Be Done Now?  Thankfully, the precautions necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 haven’t changed much over the last few months. If you are in charge of a job site, you should make it your top priority to keep everyone safe. If you are a worker, it is your own responsibility to take precautions and keep yourself safe while doing what you can to reduce the spread to others.  The most important thing you can do is to make sure everyone on the site is practicing social distancing as much as possible. That may not always feel realistic when working on a job. But, if it means extending a deadline to keep your workers safe, that’s what needs to be done. Having fewer people on the site is a great place to start. Additionally, anyone who is there should be wearing a mask at all times. This is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce the spread of COVID, and it’s a small price to pay for keeping everyone healthy.  Contract tracing should also be done among workers. If one employee is exposed to the virus, everyone needs to be made aware and the right procedures need to be put in place. That’s especially important for workers who go to different job sites to work.  Does that mean some of your workers will have to quarantine for a while? It’s likely. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Not putting these precautions in place could trigger an outbreak among your employees.  Information like this isn’t meant to scare anyone. The construction industry certainly isn’t the only one facing these ‘surges’ and rising case numbers. Almost any profession that requires people to work closely with one another is at a greater risk of spreading the virus. But, if the construction industry wants to stay afloat, guidelines need to be taken seriously and construction firms need to have their own sets of rules in place that are designed to keep everyone safe.