Tougher building regulations required to protect future communities

We must stop building houses that are simply not covered or prepared for future flood events, warns Know Your Flood Risk’s Mary Dhonau OBE.

With the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s (Efra) this week criticising Government for “missing opportunities to act on” Efra’s Future Flood Prevention report that was published in November, Mary Dhonau OBE, chief executive of the Know Your Flood Risk campaign has publicly responded to urge Government to “toughen up on building regulations” so that flood resilient measures are automatically included in all new-build properties that are deemed to be within a flood risk zone.

Following Efra’s formal response on what it calls a “disjointed flood management system”, Mary Dhonau said: “I think it is now a matter of urgency that the Government toughens up on its planning and building regulation processes to make sure that any new builds located in ‘at risk’ areas automatically include measures to make the property flood resilient.

My concern is that Flood Regulation does not cover new build properties and therefore we must stop building houses that are simply not covered or prepared for future flood events; it’s not fair on the future generations who will have to deal with the dreadful aftermath that flood waters bring.”

Landmark Information, the data partner for the Know Your Flood Risk campaign, has undertaken some cross-analysis of flood risk data from the Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and planning application data from Barbour ABI to determine the percentage of planning applications for new build properties (residential and commercial) that are deemed to be within an EA/NRW Flood Zone 3 (assessing sea or river flooding only), by county.

Between September 2015 and September 2016, 9 out of 10 new build applications in the City of Kingston upon Hull were deemed to be within an EA/NRW Flood Zone 3. This is followed by Thurrock in Essex at 48%, Casnewydd-Newport at 37% and North Somerset at 32%.

Adds Mary Dhonau: “Having reviewed the data analysis from Landmark, it is clear that there are hundreds of applications submitted each year that fall in to a designated flood risk zone according to the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales’ parameters. These stats don’t even take into account groundwater or surface water risks and so I fear the volume is greater still. I therefore agree with Efra’s call to Government to create far stronger planning rules, and penalties for those that breach them, to ensure future communities are not blighted by today’s failure to act.”

The Know Your Flood Risk Campaign’s mission is to raise awareness of the risk of flooding from all sources. It is a well-regarded online resource for helping people find out the flood risk related to their current or future home and provides access to free-to-download information guides and a smartphone app.

To download a free copy of the Homeowners’ Guide to Flood Resilience or the new supplement for businesses, visit www.knowyourfloodrisk.co.uk. For more information, follow the Know Your Flood Risk campaign on Twitter. For more information regarding Landmark Information Group, visit www.landmark.co.uk.

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Investment demand in UK commercial property continues to rebound post-EU vote

The rebound in investment demand continues post-EU referendum, according to the Q4 RICS UK Commercial Market Survey 2016.

Despite some concern surrounding potential relocation of companies based in the UK, demand from overseas buyers was up notably across all areas of the market in Q4 2016. Demand increased for a second straight quarter with the growth in enquiries gaining momentum, as 21% more respondents saw a rise in demand in Q4 up from 9% more in Q3.

Foreign investment also saw a rebound, with the weaker exchange rate likely an important factor. 20% more respondents saw a rise in demand in foreign investment enquiries up from 7% more seeing a rise in Q3 (this reading has recovered significantly from -27% in Q2 2016).

At the same time, the supply of property for investment purposes fell in both the office and industrial sectors, but was broadly unchanged in the retail segment.

London investment trends

Investment trends in the capital remain mixed. Industrial assets attracted a solid rise in investor interest during Q4 but overall enquiries were flat in the office sector and declined modestly in the retail segment. That said, foreign investment demand did in fact grow strongly across each sector of the capital, with the sharp decline in sterling since June particularly prominent in enticing overseas demand. Nevertheless, having stabilised during Q3, all-sector capital value expectations slipped back into negative territory in London.

Rises predicted in capital values

Back at the national level, near term capital value expectations remained mildly positive across all sectors in Q4, with 14% more respondents projecting values to rise (rather than fall) over the coming quarter. Over the next twelve months, respondents anticipate capital values will increase across the majority of sectors, led by the prime industrial market. In terms of the headline picture, 28% more respondents expect to see a rise rather than fall in capital value over the next 12 months.

Occupier demand

Occupier demand is less buoyant than that from investors, with demand increasing only modestly at the all-sector level. However, this was driven entirely by industrial property with demand flat in both office and retail sectors. The lack of demand prompted landlords to increase the value of incentive packages on offer to prospective tenants in both these sectors. In the office sector, inducements have now risen in each of the last two quarters at the headline level (the first time this has happened since 2013) with 14% more respondents seeing a rise in Q4 2016.

Lack of availability

On the supply side, a lack of availability continues to be a key feature of the industrial occupier market with a net balance of 32% of respondents reporting a further decline in leasable space during Q4. Industrial supply, in net balance terms, has now fallen in eighteen successive quarters. As a consequence, near-term rent expectations in the industrial sector have been pushed higher and are now pointing to strong growth, with 30% more respondents envisaging a rise in industrial rents in the coming three months. In comparison, only very marginal gains are expected across office space and modest declines are now anticipated for retail sector rents.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist said “The results for the Q4 survey suggest that the commercial property market is continuing to attract investor interest despite ongoing concerns about pricing in the capital and the prospects for the economy more generally. Indeed, the feedback we have received is consistent with a renewed appetite from overseas buyers for UK assets.

“Meanwhile the results for the occupier market highlight the resilience of the economy in the wake of the vote to leave the EU, but also clearly demonstrate the demand for large warehouses to support the development of the distribution industry as consumers increasing go online to make their purchases.”

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Getting a kick out of Kalwall®

Kalwall translucent cladding is a key feature in the recently renovated British National Taekwondo Centre in Manchester. The new facility was opened in time to service the needs of British athletes training for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Now for the first time, the entire national taekwondo programme, including 130 athletes, coaches and administrators, can be carried out under the same roof. This state of the art facility was designed by AEW Architects, with Balfour Beatty as the main contractor.

One of the main attractions of specifying high performance Kalwall is its unique influence on both the interior and its external appearance, particularly at night. Internally, rooms are flooded with diffused natural daylight which creates a stimulating and healthy exercising environment which, although translucent, also offers privacy. Unlike conventional glazing, highly insulating Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. In addition, the even distribution and deep penetration of light through Kalwall means less artificial lighting is needed thereby reducing energy costs.

Kalwall is a popular choice for sports and leisure environments and is commonly installed around swimming pools and sports halls. It is an ideal solution where an even distribution of light is important so that players can distinguish markings on the floor as well as not being distracted by glare and other interference.

Kalwall is distributed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by Structura UK, a leading supplier, fabricator and installer of glass curtain walling, rainscreens, glass atria, windows and other architectural glass building products.

The company has had all three of its ISO certifications successfully renewed for three years: OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification and ISO 9001 Quality Management certification.

Case studies and technical information are available from Structura UK Ltd, Tel: 01233 501 504 or visit www.structura-uk.com/kalwall.
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Top of the class Sika-Trocal roof system ensures primary school extension’s smart delivery

Sika-Trocal’s flexible, easy-to-apply waterproof roofing system ensured the uniform, aesthetically-pleasing delivery of a complex, five-classroom primary school extension in time for the new term.

Kirkliston Primary School has been awarded £5 million to redevelop its site in Kirkliston, Edinburgh. The funding will create eight classrooms, a new gym, dining hall and other sports facilities. Developers have supplied the grant as part of a deal to build 700 new homes in the town. The extended and additional classrooms will enable the school to accommodate an extra 140 pupils.

Hadden Construction, appointed as the project’s main contractors by Edinburgh City Council, is carrying out the redevelopment in three phases. The most recent phase saw sub-contractors, McConnell Roofing, install 700m2 of waterproof roofing to the five-classroom extension.

Smith Scott Mullan Architects required a roofing system which not only offered a long-term guarantee against water ingress but also provided the building with a uniform, aesthetically-pleasing finish – an incredibly challenging task given the complex nature of the application. For these reasons, Sika-Trocal SGK was specified for the project.

An adhered single-ply roofing membrane, Sika-Trocal SGK, is suitable for new-build and refurbishment applications. Its easy-to-fit properties proved an additional benefit during the Kirkliston installation, as the five-classroom extension had to be completed during school holidays to avoid disruption to lessons.

The roofing installation for the extended classrooms was far from a straightforward operation. The buildings contained three roofs up to 70-degrees in pitch. Rooflights, ventilation systems and large vertical upstands also had to be accommodated during the application. The experience and skill of McConnell Roofing’s on-site team, along with the flexibility of the Sika-Trocal SGK system, ensured potential challenges were comfortably overcome.

The school roof had a timber deck which the McConnell roofing team covered with Sika S-Vap 5000E SA, a multi-layer, self-adhesive vapour control sheet made of polymer-modified bitumen with a glass-fibre mat reinforcement and an aluminium foil as top layer. This was followed by thermal insulation board, and then Sika-Trocal SGK membrane with a fleece backing in slate grey, to give the roof a superb, uniform look.

To provide the roof’s sharp, straight edges, Sika-Trocal Metal Sheet Type S was prefabricated offsite and applied to all perimeters, with changes of direction and plane ensuring a crisp, simple detail was achieved. Metal ribbing was also applied, giving the overall roof a smart, standing-seam appearance. The architect also required a standing seam rib profile to give the roof a zinc-effect finish. This was installed to the entire vertical and sloped roofs at 600mm centres. Sika-Trocal was able to provide this detail which was hot-air welded to the membrane.

Despite the roof’s intricate application, McConnell Roofing completed the project – which started in June 2016 – in less than three months, meeting the client’s strict deadline and full satisfaction. Sika-Trocal SGK comes with a guarantee of up to 20 years, providing long-term peace of mind for the client that their building has been long-term safeguarded against the risk of water ingress.

For more information please call 01707 394444, or visit www.sika.co.uk.
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Rinnai goes Solo

Now available from Rinnai, the leading continuous flow gas fired water heater manufacturer, is the Infinity Solo Re-Circulator water heater.

The Rinnai Infinity Solo condensing and low NOX condensing water heater is the first Rinnai product for the UK to combine the advanced technology of its wall mounted continuous flow water heaters with a stainless steel storage cylinder all in one compact footprint.

The design parameters of the Rinnai Infinity Solo, enables designers, installers and engineers to benefit from unique Rinnai technology in applications whereby it was not previously possible. For instance the solo range will incorporate both 35kW and 54kW appliances, ensuring sites with a smaller gas meter can utilise such technologies. The larger Infinity Solo model will also act as a high-efficiency alternative to gas fired storage appliances that exist in today’s market.

Rinnai

Because the cylinder is stainless steel it greatly reduces the weight compared to glass lined models, which makes transportation and installation a lot easier. As well as the difference in weight, the cylinders available also have extremely low heat loss figures (as low as 1.41kW/h day), which means the customer pays less to maintain the heat within the tank.
One other benefit of the Solo utilising a stainless steel cylinder, is that the life expectancy of the material is far greater than that of a glass-lined equivalent as glass suffers from thermal shock causing it to crack after a period of time.

The 24kW-59.5kW Infinity Solo range is renewables compatible and supplied pre-fitted with a coil, meaning that the primary energy source will always be from renewable gains and the complementary Rinnai water heater will only apply the precise amount of gas to boost the difference in temperature. Rinnai manufactures the energy efficient Infinity range of gas fired continuous flow water heaters and space heaters. The Infinity brand carries the widest range of condensing water heaters on the market today with the most impressive efficiencies in operation, leading the field in technological innovation.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Armstrong Ceilings showcases European projects in ‘A Book for 2017’

A coffee-table visual delight is published by Armstrong Ceilings.

Proof that ceilings are no longer an afterthought in the design and build process is contained within the glossy new A Book for 2017 from Armstrong.

While they hide unsightly soffits, reflect light, help to control the air quality, acoustics and temperature of a building space, and resist bacteria, ceilings are now all this and so much more – stunning designs guaranteed to inspire no matter the environment.

And those stunning designs, dozens of them, are showcased within the 82-page coffee table-style brochure that snapshots new-build and refurbishments projects from the retail and leisure, education, office, healthcare and transport sectors throughout Europe.

UK projects include metal tiles and baffles at the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington, Axiom Knife edge canopies with integrated lighting at CFC Underwriting’s offices in London, wood tiles on a black bandraster grid at Global Mining and Resource Company’s offices in London, and a bespoke orange metal ceiling and wall at The Contact Company’s call centre in The Wirral.

Other European projects include metal baffles and open-cell metal ceilings at Ernst & Young in Poland, Optima canopies at Pitney Bowes in Italy, metal baffles at H&M’s central European main store in Hungary and mesh metal ceilings for multi-media centre Mediathèque de Caen in France.

Armstrong’s office in Prague also features in the book, with, understandably, the complete portfolio – mineral canopies and baffles, metal canopies, wood tiles and the first ceiling system comprising mineral tiles and grid to be awarded Cradle to Cradle certification.

The manufacturer’s 150-year-old pedigree means all this comes with unparalleled expertise so the design process is simplified in a “Less is more” fashion.

A two-minute video presentation of the A Book is available to view via http://www.armstrong.com/commclgeu/eu1/uk/gb/video-library.html?channelId=5227721150001&mediaId=5275657551001.

The A Book for 2017 is available to download from www.armstrong-ceilings.co.uk and also features on the Armstrong Ceiling Systems app available from both the Apple store as well as the Google Play store, or by clicking on one of the links below with your mobile device www.armstrong.com/CeilingDownloads-Apple or www.armstrong.com/CeilingDownloads-Android.

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Trump expected to give the order to begin constructing wall today

The new President of the United States Donald Trump is expected to give the order to begin works on building his controversial wall between the US and Mexico today. Buildingspecifier investigates:

Mr Trump is visiting the Department of Homeland Security today, purportedly to order federal funds to be allocated towards the building of the giant wall in question. Yesterday he tweeted:

How big will it be?

Reports of how big the wall will actually be vary, but the length of the border itself is around 1,900 miles in total. Trump himself has said that the wall will cover roughly 1,000 miles, with natural obstacles protecting the remainder of the distance.

In comparison, the Berlin Wall was 96 miles long and the Great Wall of China is 13,000 miles long.

How much will it cost?

There is already some fencing in place between the borders, which cost approximately $2.4 billion to build. Reoports estimate that to building the rest of it would cost between $15-$25bn. THEN there’s maintenance, which is expected to run up to a whopping $700m per annum, according to deputy director of the US Immigration Policy Program at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, Marc Rosenblum.

After offending their neighboring country with racial slurs such as “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people”, Donald Trump added further salt to the wound by insisting that Mexico would foot the bill for the construction of his ludicrous wall.

Mexico have repeatedly insisted that they will do no such thing, forcing the President to find alternative methods of payment. Earlier this month, he announced that the wall would instead be paid for initially with a congressionally approved spending bill, which would eventually be reimbursed by Mexico. He has yet to explain how he intends to make that happen.

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PM unveils controversial plans to back nuclear power

Prime Minister Theresa May will use her first regional Cabinet meeting this morning (23 January) to launch proposals for a modern Industrial Strategy to build on Britain’s strengths and tackle its underlying weaknesses to secure a future as a competitive, global nation.

As part of this strategy, May intends to invest time and money on improving UK competitiveness and skills in the nuclear power industry.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The modern Industrial Strategy will back Britain for the long-term: creating the conditions where successful businesses can emerge and grow, and backing them to invest in the long-term future of our country.”

“It will be underpinned by a new approach to government, not just stepping back but stepping up to a new, active role that backs business and ensures more people in all corners of the country share in the benefits of its success.”

What, no renewables?

This news will undoubtedly come as a disappointment to the many Brits opposed to nuclear power within the UK today. A string of costly issues regarding the delivery of Hinkley Point C and overwhelming national support for renewables bring the very need for nuclear power in Britain into repute.

Figures released last year confirmed that 25% of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewables in 2015 – an increase of 29% on 2014. Nearly half of this (48%) came from wind power alone. 1 in 8 units of electricity generated in the UK came from wind.

In comparison, coal generated 22% of the country’s electricity – down from 30% in 2014.

In a survey by Harris Interactive of more than 2000 UK respondents found that only ‘one in four people (24%) considered nuclear power to offer the greatest potential.’ This was further proved when a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) http://www.iea.org/newsroom/news/2015/august/joint-iea-nea-report-details-plunge-in-costs-of-producing-electricity-from-renew.html discovered that new nuclear power in the UK would be more expensive than in any other country in the world.

Interestingly, the Government’s own poll on the public’s views on energy, the ‘Public Attitudes Tracking Survey,’ showed that 76% of people support renewable energy and that 70% of people also said renewable projects provide economic benefits to the UK. Doesn’t it seems strange then to announce further backing of a controversial industry when public opinion and solid statistics are in fact tilted more in favour of renewables?

Investing in nuclear power is a costly and long term action. All eyes will be on Theresa May and her cabinet as she makes that decision – let’s hope she’s thought it through!

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Rinnai goes wild for Countryfile with Prestek

Rinnai, manufacturer of the energy efficient range of Infinity continuous flow water heaters, recently stepped in to ensure a recent BBC Countryfile event in the grounds of historic Blenheim Palace had a plentiful supply of hot water for its catering outlets.

Managing director for Prestek Services in Derbyshire, John Webster, no stranger to providing water for Blenheim Palace outdoor events, was called in to supply the means to provide hot water to the various catering operations dotted around the grounds.

Originally a kitchen and bathroom fitter, John has built a business providing water for events since first supplying a festival in 2001 and feels he has found his niche. “By its nature the events market is a small community so most of my work comes though word of mouth from relationships that have sometimes been 20 years building.” He believes the backbone to that trust is in providing reliable systems that work.

“I have used Rinnai hot water heating units for some time,” he says, “and believe they are the only ones suitable for this kind of work. They are a tried and tested solution. I first came across Rinnai units at an equestrian event around 10 years ago where they were being used for the mobile shower units. The customers loved them. Having seen the units in action I decided to purchase Rinnai for my own business.”

He explains that he has a fleet of hot water units that he can roll out whenever needed. “I have six Rinnai units running on LPG gas which are configured on to a T-stand, linked to the cold water supply and then linked to a sink in the wash-up area. It is an ideal arrangement for a temporary potwash area.”

At Blenheim Palace he was able to site individual wash up areas around the show area by linking them to a temporary system of pipework several kilometres long. “We simply had to build the network, link pipework and gas cylinders to the boilers, add a sink, and the caterers all had instant hot water.”

“All went well with no complaints from the caterers who had as much hot water as they desired. Which, let’s face it, is exactly what was required.”

The Rinnai units will never run out of temperature safe hot water all the time they are connected to a water supply. The burner lights automatically when the hot water tap is opened, and extinguishes when the tap is closed. Ignition is electronic so there is no pilot light. When the hot water tap is off, no gas is used.

As far as John is concerned for his kind of work he needs a product that is reliable, quick to set up and gets going with no worries. “Which is why we use Rinnai. You could say, they do what it says on the tin.”

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Kemmlit Primo Kn prescribed for UCL Pharmacy School

The School of Pharmacy, part of University College London is one of the most highly rated pharmacy schools in the UK.

Dating back to 1842 the school is dedicated to teaching and research in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

As part of a refurbishment project, architects Potter Raper Partnership specified Kemmlit’s recently launched Primo Kn cubicles for the male and female student toilet facilities.

With smooth-surfaced doors in lemon green and contrasting quartz grey walls made of 42 mm thick composite elements with internal aluminium frames, the Primo Kn cubicle system was installed by Kemmlit’s own specialist contractors.

Additional scope of works supplied by Kemmlit included; bench seating, vanity units, and duct panelling.

A special protective layer on all surfaces increases PRIMO Kn’s scratch and abrasion resistance capability and, in order to withstand intense wear, the system includes a substantial three-roller edge hinge with a stainless steel axis.

As you would expect from Kemmlit, PRIMO Kn is available in a number of design options including a suspended version or a floor to ceiling system for increased privacy.

Offered in a range of colours including the option of customised digital print, PRIMO Kn is supported with a range of accessories including: LED door handles, headrails, hinges, support feet and sanitary equipment.

For more information please visit www.kemmlituk.com.
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