Heradesign from Knauf AMF has been installed in the state-of-the art Engineering Hall at City of Glasgow College’s new Riverside Campus.
The expansive Engineering Hall is a multi-functional environment with machinery operating and tutorials running at the same time. Heradesign ceiling panels were chosen because they comply with ‘Building Regulation BB93: Acoustic design of schools’ and provide Class A sound absorption to help control the ambient sound level and increase speech intelligibility, helping to create a productive learning environment.
Heradesign is manufactured from sustainably sourced wood-wool, has a naturally textured woven surface and is available in fibres ranging from 1–3mm thick. Its surface can be colour matched to many custom colours: Heradesign in light grey was specified to fit the hall’s design aesthetic.
www.knaufamf.co.uk
A joint initiative between the Construction Products Association (CPA), BIM4M2, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and NBS has been formed to provide consistent product data parameters and templates to enable manufacturers to prepare their product information in readiness for the Government’s April 2016 BIM mandate.
With April 2016 and the Government’s Level 2 BIM requirement looming large on the horizon, there is a real and urgent need for accurate, accessible and consistent digital product information. The manufacturer community needs a single and unified approach to product data, using a common language. Manufacturers already have the required information, but a simple and industry-wide approach to product data parameters and templates has until now been a challenge.
Through this initiative, building and infrastructure manufacturers will have free and ready access to product data parameters and templates that are relevant to their products and have been developed through a defined consensus process. By using these templates manufacturers will be able to supply product information in a form that aligns with the UK’s Level 2 BIM requirements. Each template defines the minimum information about a product that is required for UK Government BIM projects.
Mark Bew MBE, Chairman of the BIM Task Group, said: “When the BIM Task Group identified the client data requirements which are now provided in the BIM Toolkit, we were looking for other communities to work together to provide their own common data requirements. This initiative from the products and manufacturing sector signals an important collaboration from industry which will add significant value and clarity.”
The benefit of this initiative to the supply chain is significant. The availability of product data in a structured form equips designers with the information they need to create project information models reliably and accurately. It will lead to the provision of higher quality project data that can be checked and validated by clients, designers and contractors. The successful electronic validation of BIM data relies upon this initiative considerably.
Product data template development work has been ongoing for a number of years and this initiative aligns the work of BIM4M2, NBS and CIBSE to create a unified basis for product data parameters and templates. These organisations have agreed to align their processes, approach and terminology, which will enable consistent and transparent development of full peer reviewed product data templates to expand on the breadth already freely available in the NBS BIM Toolkit, which currently stands at over 5,000. These templates currently identify the minimum product data requirements for Level 2 BIM and will be extended to include the greater depth of all aspects of a product’s lifecycle and operational performance, building on the work already completed by CIBSE, BIM4M2 and others. Extended templates already developed by CIBSE may be found via this link. Common product data parameters will also enable easier development of further templates going forward.
Peter Caplehorn, Deputy Chief Executive and Policy Director at the Construction Products Association, said: “The CPA welcomes this move forward. We are at a point where clarity and ease of use of product data is vital for everyone to make progress. We are very pleased to be part of the initiative and will be encouraging all manufacturers to take part.”
Joe Cilia, FIS technical manager, said: “This work is absolutely fundamental in ensuring that data is described consistently and accessible for the proper management of the facility in future. FIS will be contributing directly to the work, to ensure its members are fully aware of the options to ensure they are ready to meet the requirements laid out in the Governments Construction strategy and participate fully in the opportunities it presents.”
Through this joint initiative all templates will be maintained and developed to support the evolving needs of a digital construction industry and to ensure product parameters align with the requirements of relevant European and international standards as well as mapping to open data exchange standards, such as COBie and IFC.
The templates and common product data parameters will be made available on both the CPA and NBS BIM Toolkit websites as well as the existing CIBSE website. The current product data templates defining the minimum information for Level 2 BIM can be found via this link; further information can be obtained directly from NBS, CPA, CIBSE and BIM4M2.
The initiative will engage with other industry groups, including the wider BIM4 Communities and trade associations to ensure industry product data requirements continue to be supported.
For more information visit BIM4FitOut and BIM4M2
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) manufacturer SmartPly has launched its SmartPly FR (Flame Retardant) OSB3 for projects where Euroclass Reaction to Fire compliance is required.
Euroclass was introduced in 2000 as the harmonised European classification standard for the Reaction to Fire of building materials manufactured and sold in the EU. With fire prevention a crucial consideration both on- and off-site, SmartPly FR OSB3 meets a growing need for flame-retardant OSB that achieves Euroclass C-s2,d0 for wall, ceiling, roofing and free-standing applications, and Euroclass BFL-s1 for flooring applications.
SmartPly FR OSB3 has flame retardance built into every panel, manufactured using a water-based, eco-friendly fire retardant called Zeroignition Solution. The addition of Zeroignition during the manufacturing process ensures that the SmartPly FR OSB panels have the same quality and structural strength as all OSB3 manufactured by SmartPly to European Standard EN300.
www.smartply.com
A new report has revealed that reducing the burden of business rates could unlock almost 4,000 jobs and £1.75bn development over the next five years – more than the combined development value of the Shard, Walkie Talkie and Cheesegrater.
The report, launched by the British Property Federation, (BPF), British Council of Shopping Centers (BCSC) and British Council for Offices (BCO), written by Regeneris Consulting, has revealed that over a period of two to three years, approximately three quarters of any increase in business rates is transferred to landlords as occupiers push for lower rents.
The report shows that over the past three years, increases in business rates may have led to the economy missing out on as much as £670m of new development, and in addition may have resulted in as many as 6,000 fewer jobs among occupiers of property.
The organisations have further calculated that over the next five years projected increases in business rates could lead to approximately £1.75bn of new commercial property development being foregone. Rising rates will also reduce occupiers’ profits by approximately £585m, which could affect as many as 4,000 jobs.
Ahead of the outcome of the Government’s review of business rates, which is expected to report at Budget 2016, the organisastions have called on Government to reduce the burden of business rates and introduce more frequent revaluations.
Ion Fletcher, director of policy (finance) at the British Property Federation, said: “Business rates are often seen as a cost for occupiers; one that gets in the way of growing their businesses. This research shows that business rates also harm landlords and in particular they discourage new, economically valuable development.
“The government’s desire to maintain a high level of income from business rates, although understandable, means we are missing out on opportunities to provide new jobs, skills and growth in various sectors of the economy, not least construction and retail.”
Dr Stephen Rosevear, director at Regeneris Consulting, added: “The study has important messages for policy makers, investors and occupiers alike, not least of which is the very real impact rising business rates could have on employment and development. This was a complex, but important project cutting across many of our core business areas. It is an extensive work, built on the best available data and analytical techniques.”
Build UK has welcomed EFIA, (European Fencing Industry Association), as the first trade association to join their growing membership. EFIA, has been serving the professional needs of the fencing industry since 1982 and has more than 80 members.
EFIA chairman, Bernard Kilbride, said: “Being accepted as a member of Build UK is a stringent process and we are therefore delighted to have joined them.
“The new relationship will enable the forging of stronger links with the construction industry by becoming the Trade Association Partner representing the fencing industry, with the further benefits of working together significant on a number of levels.”
Build UK’s chief executive, Suzannah Nichol MBE, said: “I am delighted to welcome EFIA as the first new Trade Association to join Build UK. As the single representative voice for the contracting supply chain, Build UK represents the best of the construction industry. In meeting the stringent Trade Association membership criteria, EFIA now joins 27 Main Contractors and 40 other Trade Associations in providing a strong united voice for the whole construction sector.”
Metsec has supported the renovation of Portland House in Exeter city centre as part of a £17m luxury student accommodation scheme with load-bearing steel frame structure (SFS) system installed by Mansell Finishes for Select Property Group.
The four-storey 1960’s concrete-framed structure has been converted into a 161-flat, seven-storey student accommodation block on the site of Exeter’s former Theatre Royal. Create Construction converted the building using Metsec’s load-bearing SFS, installed by approved subcontractor and FIS member Mansell Finishes. The lightweight design of SFS enabled three additional storeys to be added to the original concrete building without impacting the structure.
Stephen Ginger, managing director of Metsec Purlins & Framing, said: “SFS makes use of the axial capacity of specially designed studs, which are designed as a series of columns to provide complete load-bearing wall panels. These are typically stick-built on-site, ensuring maximum flexibility to suit site requirements.
Dean Johnston, managing director at Mansell Finishes, commented: “Metsec’s SFS was ideal for this development as it offered a high-performance load-bearing solution and ensured the quickest installation process.”
www.metsec.com
Coming from a year of rapid growth in 2014, the construction industry was expecting growth to ease from 2015 onwards. Despite this, growth rates are still expected to remain relatively strong, according to the Construction Products Association’s (CPA) recent autumn forecast. Amandeep Bahra, an economist at the CPA, looks at how this growth is expected to pan out.
The CPA’s autumn forecast estimated that the construction industry will expand by 3.6 per cent in 2015 and 3.8 per cent in 2016. These forecasts have been marginally downgraded compared to the association’s forecast last summer primarily due to widespread weakness across the industry in the third quarter. But what has fuelled the recent slowdown, and is the construction industry beginning to run out of steam?
After two and a half years of sustained growth, the construction industry reported its first year-on-year decline in output, of 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). A breakdown into sectors shows that the industry’s two major engines appear to be displaying signs of weakness. Private housing posted the slowest year-on-year growth in Q3 since 2013 Q1, and on a quarterly basis, output declined 2.6 per cent. This fall can largely be explained by difficulties in recruiting on-site trades, which has not only added to the overall construction costs faced by house builders but also slowed down the pace of work. Nevertheless, house builders retain an optimistic view looking over the next 12–18 months, and we expect the sector to have grown by 10.0 per cent in 2015 and to grow by 5.0 per cent in 2016.
Public housing, on the contrary, continues to slide with the third quarter reporting an annual decline for the second consecutive quarter. Uncertainty over the future of affordable housing has inevitably impacted on public sector house building confidence. New orders were poor in 2014, and according to more recent data, the weakness in orders continued through 2015. As a result, public housing starts are forecast to decline 10.0 per cent in 2015 and 5.0 per cent in 2016 with no growth projected over the rest of the decade, largely as we see incentives for building by housing associations and local authorities gradually diminish.
Surprisingly, performance of the largest sector – commercial – has also exhibited signs of a slowdown as the impact of rising construction costs is also felt by developers in the sector. For the first time since the start of 2013, output in the commercial sector fell 2.0 per cent on a yearly basis in Q3 primarily due to declines in the retail and entertainment sub-sectors. Projects are reported to have been delayed as contractors wrangle over costs, which have risen since contracts were won.
Retailers go small for future success
In retail, the focus remains on smaller concept stores and so far this year, we have seen several retailers including Asda and the Co-operative announce expansion plans for convenience stores across London and the South East. Niche retail chains such as Costa have also set out five-year targets for store expansions across the UK, which will be seen through fit-outs of existing stores. Despite this, retail output is forecast to decline by 7.0 per cent in 2015 before we see a return to growth from 2016 onwards as larger projects such as the £440 million redevelopment of Oxford Westgate and £1 billion Croydon shopping development get underway.
Busy offices sector continues to perform
Offices, the largest commercial sub-sector, continues to perform well and will continue to drive growth over the rest of the forecast period as activity remains robust in London and picks up in cities such as Manchester and Birmingham. Birmingham in particular has attracted some of the largest projects outside of London, including the announcement by HSBC that it will be moving its headquarters to the city and pre-letting 210,000 sq. ft of new-build office space.
Although new orders in offices declined on an annual basis in the second quarter for the first time in two years, this is unlikely to divert the strength we expect to see over the medium-term. Growth of 8.0 per cent is forecast in 2015 followed by 7.0 per cent in 2016.
Return to growth expected from 2016
Overall, despite the slowdown in output growth in the commercial sector this year, growth is expected to return from 2016. Furthermore, by the end of the forecast period, output is expected to have increased 16.3 per cent and will reach a value of £27.6 billion in 2019.
The outlook for education construction continues to remain upbeat with growth of 3.6 per cent expected in 2015 before averaging a rate of 4.2 per cent each year between 2016 and 2019. Work under PF2 schools and higher education, which is benefitting from a stream of capital investments aimed at improving facilities, will support activity.
With house prices high and construction costs rising, major sectors are indeed feeling the pressure, and although this has translated into a slowdown in activity in the short-term and a marginal downgrade to our forecasts, the industry outlook still appears to be healthy for the next four years. With the project pipeline still strong, this will ensure that the industry’s engines are kept running, but let’s not overlook the concern over skills and capacity that will be at the forefront of the industry’s challenges over this period.
www.constructionproducts.org.uk
November saw the weakest rise in housing activity since June 2013 and led to the slowest rise in UK construction output since April according to the latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey. As a result commercial building has replaced housing as the best performing area of activity and jobs growth eases to its slowest since September 2013.
Growth momentum softened across the UK construction sector in November, with output, new business and employment all rising at slower rates than in the previous month. At 55.3, the headline seasonally adjusted PMI was down from 58.8 in October and signalled the slowest expansion of business activity for seven months.
Tim Moore, senior economist at Markit and author of PMI survey, said: “The UK construction recovery is down but not out, according to November’s survey data. Aside from a pre-election growth slowdown in April, the latest expansion of construction activity was the weakest for almost two-and-a-half years amid a sharp loss of housebuilding momentum.
“Residential activity lost its position as the best performing sub-category, but a supportive policy backdrop should help prevent longer-term malaise.Strong growth of commercial construction was maintained in November as positive UK economic conditions acted as a boost to new projects, while civil engineering remained the weakest performer.
“Overall the latest results suggest that construction companies have become a little more cautious towards year-end, especially in terms of job hiring. However, a healthy flow of new tenders from public and private sector clients is expected to provide a tailwind to growth heading into 2016. Reflecting this, UK construction firms were again overwhelmingly positive about the outlook for their business activity, while only a small proportion anticipates falling output levels during the next 12 months.”
Aside from the pre-election slowdown seen in April, overall output growth was the weakest since mid-2013. All three broad areas of construction activity experienced a slowdown in output growth during November. Residential building activity increased at the weakest pace since June 2013, while civil engineering activity rose at the slowest rate for six months and was the worst performing subcategory.
Commercial construction activity topped the growth table, but the latest expansion was less marked than October’s eight-month high. Construction companies mainly commented on supportive economic conditions and rising workloads. However, there were some reports from survey respondents that cited a lack of new work to replace completed projects in November, which in turn acted as a drag on business activity growth. Reflecting this, latest data indicated a weaker rise in overall new business volumes. In some cases, construction firms suggested that more cautious spending patterns among clients had weighed on new order inflows.
Slower growth patterns across the construction sector contributed to a moderation in job creation from the 11-month high recorded during October. Although still strong in a historical context, the latest rise in staffing levels was the weakest September 2013. Sub-contractor usage continued to rise at a solid pace in November, but their average charges increased at the least marked pace for almost two years.
David Noble, group chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said:“Suppliers continued to struggle this month, citing shortages in key materials, supply chain capacity and skilled capability as the causes. But there is a question mark over the coming months as the housing sector, normally the star performer, may drag back on recovery along with the lack of availability of skilled staff. Many firms were forced to use more expensive contractors and, further combined with the hoped-for continued job growth failing to materialise, this may leave commentators wondering what’s next.”
Hilti’s new TE DRS-4-A dust removal system (DRS) has an integrated attachment for the popular TE 4-A22 cordless rotary hammer. At just 1kg, the new product is lightweight making it more comfortable to use overhead for long periods. The attachment is powered entirely by the rotary hammer’s 22V battery – no need for a separate power source.
In addition to the serious health implications presented by dust particles, dust also hurts productivity on-site by clogging up tools and inserts which, in turn, reduces their productivity and shortens their lifespan. The Hilti DRS portfolio ensures a cleaner, healthier and more productive working environment.
The TE DRS-4-A is the latest product in the Hilti range of harmonised DRS systems whereby the tool, consumable, accessory and M-Class vacuum work together to remove the maximum amount of dust at the point of contact.
www.hilti.co.uk
The Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster has launched a Call for Evidence, inviting the public to share its views on a planned major restoration and renewal programme and asking how the heritage of the Palace of Westminster should be conserved and safeguarded?
The Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster, co-chaired by the Leader of the House of Commons and the Leader of the House of Lords, was appointed by the two Houses of Parliament in July 2015 to consider the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. The Committee’s main task is to make a recommendation to both Houses about the best way to approach the Restoration and Renewal Programme, a major programme of repair and conservation which is intended to start during the 2020 Parliament.
The Palace of Westminster is one of the most important and recognisable buildings in the world. It is a Grade I listed building and, with Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church, forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to one of the busiest parliaments in the world, with more than a million people, including 70,000 schoolchildren, passing through its doors each year.
The Committee is inviting written evidence to be received by 22 January 2016.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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