Building News is an information portal for all professional building specifiers. Here you can find all of the latest construction news from around the UK and the rest of the world.

Robots to fix underground pipes and help cut roadworks

£26.6 million investment to build micro robots that can help repair the UK’s vast underground pipe network preventing disruptive roadworks and using robotics in hazardous work environments to avoid workplace injury.

New micro robots will be built to repair the UK’s huge underground pipe network, significantly cutting the disruption caused by the 1.5 million road excavations that take place every year.

Scientists from 4 British universities will use £7 million government investment to develop 1 cm-long robotic devices that use sensors and navigation systems to find and mend cracks in pipes. The traffic closures and disruption to businesses of these roadworks is estimated to amount to more than £5 billion. A further 14 projects backed by £19.6 million government investment, through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), will see robots sent to hazardous work places such as offshore wind-farms and nuclear decommissioning facilities. Researchers will test new technologies, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) software on satellites in orbit to detect when repairs are needed, and drones for oil pipeline monitoring.

Science Minister Chris Skidmore said “while for now we can only dream of a world without roadworks disrupting our lives, these pipe-repairing robots herald the start of technology that could make that dream a reality in the future

“From deploying robots in our pipe network so cutting down traffic delays, to using robots in workplaces to keep people safer, this new technology could change the world we live in for the better. Experts in our top UK universities across the country are well-equipped to develop this innovative new technology.

“We have put research and development at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy, with the biggest boost to funding in UK history to create high skill jobs and boost productivity across the country.”

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Chief Executive, Professor Sir Mark Walport added “The projects demonstrate how robots and artificial intelligence will revolutionise the way we carry out complex and dangerous tasks, from maintaining offshore wind farms to decommissioning nuclear power facilities.

“They also illustrate the leading role that the UK’s innovators are playing in developing these new technologies which will improve safety and boost productivity and efficiency.”

The £26.6 million government funding boost is part of the modern Industrial Strategy, investing in the technologies of tomorrow and creating high skilled jobs across the country. The UK already develops world-leading robotics technologies, and these projects delivered by UKRI will help make this a sector for UK businesses to grow and dominate international markets.

Health and Safety Executive Chair Martin Temple concluded “The key purpose of the Health and Safety Executive is to save lives and prevent workplace injury and ill health. To achieve this, we need businesses to work with us and to be innovative in their thinking around managing risk in the workplace. New and emerging technologies are shaping our working environment.

“As a regulator we want to encourage industry to think about how technologies such as robotics and AI can be used to manage risk in the workplace, safeguarding workers both now and in the future world of work.”

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Renewables break 100% threshold for electricity demand

Wind output in November broke through the 100% threshold for the first time, with 109% of total Scottish electricity demand being met from renewables, enough to power nearly 6 million homes.

Another milestone is that for 20 out of the 30 days, wind production outstripped demand.

Gina Hanrahan, Head of Policy at WWF Scotland said “Wind power breaking through the magic 100 per cent threshold is truly momentous. For months output has flirted around the 97 per cent mark, so it’s fantastic to reach this milestone.

“It’s also worth noting that 20 out of 30 days wind production outstripped demand.

“Most of this is onshore wind, which we know is popular, cheap and effective. But the UK Government needs to allow it to compete with other technologies, by unlocking market access for onshore wind if it’s to realise its full potential.”

  • National Grid demand for the month – 1,994,839 MWh. What % of this could have been provided by wind power – 109%
  • Best day – 28th November generation was 116,599MWh, 9.59m homes, 391% households. Demand that day was 60,492MWh – wind generation was 192% of that.
  • Worst day – 26th November 22,677 MWh, 1.86m homes, 75% of households
  • How many days generation was over 100% of household electricity requirement – 28
  • How many days generation exceeded overall electricity demand – 20

Alex Wilcox Brooke, Weather Energy Project Manager at Severn Wye Energy Agency said “Scottish wind power generation breaking the 100 per cent barrier in November is historic and serves as a timely reminder of the importance renewable energy now plays in the UK energy market.”

wind output

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A blow to the UK’s construction industry?

A potential exit from the European customs union and the single market without a transitional period could have a significant impact on supply chains say leading accounting, tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.

Alex Altmann, Partner and head of the German desk at Blick Rothenberg, said “The construction industry in the UK is dependent on foreign investment, overseas suppliers and European workers.

“Over 60% of all building materials used in the UK are imported from the EU. If the UK ceases its membership of the customs union, the cost of bringing building materials, machinery and other goods from the European mainland would significantly increase due to lengthy import procedures, potential duties and the administration of import VAT to be paid.”

“Not being a member of the single market could see free movement of workers being compromised and a shortage of the workforce would be the result, leading to higher costs for companies hiring workers on UK construction sites. Nationwide, European nationals account for around 10% of the UK construction industry’s workforce. On building projects in London this figure stands at around 40%.”

The UK Government plans to invest significantly into infrastructure in the next 20 years, with projects such as HS2, Crossrail 2 and a new runway at Heathrow airport. The UK has also a dramatic housing shortage and as reported in the media England alone requires about 3 million new homes by 2040.

“The UK’s construction market is very competitive with major European construction and project management companies bidding for building work, with Germany being one of the strongest international market participants. An exit from the European customs union and the single market could have a challenging effect for the UK’s construction industry”

“Many building projects in the UK are European ventures. From clients, investors and design teams to main contractors and specialised craftspeople – the UK’s construction industry is largely based on the EU membership. Ultimately the loss off access to the single market could result in the UK being a less competitive player in the international construction industry.”

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It’s no mirage, the industry is changing fast……

Says Tony Gittings, managing director of Rinnai, a global leader in the manufacture of hot water heating units and systems. And it is the end user that is emerging as the determining force in making changes to suit today’s demands and expectations.

In the past several years we have seen some extraordinary changes in our little patch of the wide heating and plumbing arena. Gone are the established supply lines, gone too, is the dominance of the ‘traditional’ products in the supply of hot water in commercial and institutional sites.

Water is the stuff of life, simple as that. It is a very precious commodity that is the foundation of our entire quality of life. In 2013 the Energy Savings Trust completed and issued a major report titled ’At Home with Water’. The report detailed our domestic use of water. It came up with some stunning figures re: the amount of water used domestically – each person uses approx. 140 litres of water daily with the average household using almost 350 litres per day. Just think of a one litre bottle of water, then multiply it 350 times – it’s a huge amount and it is not decreasing.

One of the biggest water companies has a consumption guide on its website and it estimates that just one person will use almost 180 litres of water daily. A quick website also shows the per person consumption of hot water when they are away from home. When someone stays at a hotel or hospital, they consume 160 litres of hot water each day! Offices use a measly 22 litres in comparison!

So, there is no doubt that hot water consumption is rising and, given the rapid development of techniques building energy efficient homes which require less than 10kW heating, means that hot water provision is getting more and more driven by the end user.

At the moment, domestic hot water provision is provided via the boiler, usually a combi type, although those homes with renewables tend to use a water heating appliance as an auxiliary supplement. But the biggest development in the last few years has been the launch of installing companies which are wholly and totally based online. These typically give the consumer a quote, a date for installation and provide finance. The installer is given a date and time to do the installation – no buying of materials – the domestic heating marketing is now thinking inside the Box because of innovations like Boxt.

It really does look like the days of box-shifting are gone.

Commercial systems of hot water provision come mainly via the traditional style ‘stored’ system – or the Rinnai continuous flow method where hot water is delivered instantly, economically and efficiently in an engineering sense. But the consumer and the installer – domestic or commercial – are beginning to demand a complete service now. We have seen and even anticipated these changes.

Rinnai has made considerable financial investments in the two critical areas of any commercial enterprise – high quality of products and service excellence aimed solely at the installer and their end user. We espouse the concept of complete system efficiency in terms of hot water delivery and we practise that every single working day.

Our products are of the highest possible quality, offering long term, robust performance giving useable hot water on demand at the turn of a tap, all at an economic and energy efficient level. Coupled with that is our service – we have a dedicated salesforce dealing directly with installers, contractors, designers, consultants and facilities & estate managers.

We have very deliberately aimed the bulk of all marketing communications direct to these sectors offering instant technical support, design service, comprehensive training courses at either our own tailor-made facility or at a venue of a customer’s choice. We have also initiated five accredited CPD courses.

We believe that we are the best value-for-money units and systems of hot water delivery currently available to the UK commercial and residential market. And we have proof of that in two independent reports from AECOM which show continuous flow as being at least more economic than any other type of system or unit.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com
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Construction output rises despite Brexit uncertainty

The Government must not be complacent about the damage a ‘no deal’ Brexit would cause amid positive signs of growth in the UK construction industry, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Commenting on the construction output figures for November 2018, published by the Office for National Statistics, Sarah McMonagle, Director of External Affairs at the FMB, said “The UK construction sector grew by 2.1 per cent during September to November 2018 compared with the previous three months. This is despite unparalleled levels of political uncertainty around the very real prospect of a ‘no deal’ scenario. However, we are urging the Government not to allow these results to create a false sense of security. Since November, political uncertainty has cranked up and is increasing every day. A growing and prosperous construction sector will be a distant memory if the Government allows the UK to crash out of the EU without a deal in place.”

“The construction industry is also extremely concerned about the Government’s proposed post-Brexit immigration system. In the Immigration White Paper, published at the end of last year, the Government revealed that they will make few allowances for low skilled workers to enter the UK post-Brexit. Most tradespeople will be defined as low skilled and therefore will not be permitted to enter the UK, regardless of whether they are from the EU or further afield. It is crucial that the Government introduces a post-Brexit immigration system that continues to allow us to draw on essential migrant workers or else their house building and infrastructure targets will be totally unachievable.”

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Intelligent systems will help UK transition to clean and affordable energy

New small-scale renewable electricity providers to be guaranteed payment for excess electricity supplied to the grid under government proposals unveiled this week – protecting consumers from unfair costs associated with current scheme.

Plans for Smart Export Guarantee could build a bridge to the smarter energy system of the future, which can help unlock technological innovations like home energy storage and more efficient electric vehicle charging.

Households and businesses installing new solar panels will be guaranteed payment for power provided back to the grid under government proposals set out this week to unlock the smart energy systems of the future- an important upgrade to the current Feed-in Tariffs scheme.

The proposed ‘Smart Export Guarantee’ (SEG) would replace the existing ‘Feed-in Tariff’ scheme (FIT), with electricity suppliers paying new small-scale energy producers for excess electricity from homes and businesses being put back into the energy grid. The new scheme could create a whole new market, encouraging suppliers to competitively bid for this electricity, giving exporters the best market price while providing the local grid with more clean, green energy, unlocking greater choice and control for solar households over buying and selling their electricity.

With the cost of solar falling by 80% since 2008, it’s the right time to review the way these payments are made- with the scheme currently costing consumers approximately £1.2 billion a year. The SEG would mean households and businesses installing new renewable energy generators would be paid transparently for the energy they produce- protecting consumers from cost burdens, by using established smart technology.

Currently under the FIT scheme, accredited households and businesses who install small scale electricity generation are assumed to export 50% of the electricity they produce and are paid for it-even when the electricity is not needed by the grid or they export less than 50%.

Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry said “This new scheme could help us to build a bridge to the smart energy system of the future, with consumers firmly at its heart – not only buying electricity but being guaranteed payments for excess electricity they can supply to the grid.

“It could also reduce strain on energy networks with a more decentralised and smarter local network delivering resilience much more cost effectively, unlocking innovative products for electric vehicles and home energy storage; a win-win for consumers and the environment and a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy.”

The proposals, combined with existing technologies like smart meters and battery storage could also help build a bridge to smarter more efficient energy systems of the future, with the potential to work together with electric vehicle and standalone batteries to store and sell electricity to the grid when demand is high; in turn cutting consumer bills, reducing strain on energy networks, and giving consumers more control of their energy use.

Government investment in clean energy is at the heart of its world-leading modern industrial strategy, with the Clean Growth Strategy pledging more than £2.5 billion investment in low carbon innovation by 2021. The FIT scheme, which closes to new applicants on 31 March 2019, has overachieved on its original objectives, outstripping installation predictions by nearly 100,000 with over 830,000 solar installations producing enough power for two million homes.

Some 560,000 households and business are currently generating electricity under the FIT scheme through a range of measures including anaerobic digestion (generating energy from waste products), wind power, biomass and hydro-electricity- but with the majority (99%) using solar panels fitted to rooftops.

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Bringing beauty into the built environment

A commission to champion beautiful buildings as an integral part of the drive to build the homes communities need has been recently announced by the Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP.

The ‘Building Better, Building Beautiful’ Commission will develop a vision and practical measures to help ensure new developments meet the needs and expectations of communities, making them more likely to be welcomed rather than resisted.

This move follows the government recently rewriting the planning rulebook to strengthen expectations for design quality and community engagement when planning for development. The new rules also ensure more consideration can be given to the character of the local area.

This commission will take that work further by expanding on the ways in which the planning system can encourage and incentivise a greater emphasis on design, style and community consent. It will raise the level of debate regarding the importance of beauty in the built environment.

The commission has 3 aims:

  • To promote better design and style of homes, villages, towns and high streets, to reflect what communities want, building on the knowledge and tradition of what they know works for their area.
  • To explore how new settlements can be developed with greater community consent.
  • To make the planning system work in support of better design and style, not against it.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said “Most people agree we need to build more for future generations, but too many still feel that new homes in their local area just aren’t up to scratch.

“Part of making the housing market work for everyone is helping to ensure that what we build, is built to last. That it respects the integrity of our existing towns, villages and cities.

“This will become increasingly important as we look to create a number of new settlements across the country and invest in the infrastructure and technology they will need to be thriving and successful places.

“This commission will kick start a debate about the importance of design and style, helping develop practical ways of ensuring new developments gain the consent of communities, helping grow a sense of place, not undermine it. This will help deliver desperately needed homes – ultimately building better and beautiful will help us build more.”

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£38m injection to increase accommodation for homeless in the capital

Thousands of extra homes will be made available for vulnerable Londoners at risk of becoming homeless, Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has announced.

Through a new scheme, London boroughs join forces to provide safe accommodation for families on the edge of homelessness, backed by almost £38 million of funding from the government’s £1.2 billion overall investment in tackling homelessness.

The additional homes will help provide a long-term, stable solution for vulnerable families struggling to find secure accommodation, providing a safety net for those who may otherwise feel they have nowhere else to go.

Currently, all London boroughs are responsible for providing accommodation for those at risk of homelessness both inside and outside their area. However, this can often lead to areas competing for the best accommodation – driving up prices and slowing down the provision of quality housing for the most vulnerable.

The new scheme purportedly aims to stop this from happening by encouraging London boroughs to work together in boosting accommodation to tackle homelessness across the capital.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said “Everyone deserves a safe and secure home. I’ve seen for myself how hard each of the London boroughs works to provide those that are homeless with the support they need and a roof over their heads.

“This radical new way of working and unprecedented collaboration between the boroughs and government will make a real difference – providing more accommodation for the vulnerable and helping them to get back on their feet and away from homelessness for good.”

Councillor Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, added “With so many homeless households and so little accommodation available, London faces the country’s most serious homelessness challenge.

“Capital Letters is a crucial opportunity to do things differently – and we are extremely pleased to have the government’s support for this innovative work.

“Through collaboration, boroughs will collectively strengthen our market position and secure much better housing options for homeless Londoners.”

To date, 11 London boroughs have signed up to the scheme, with more expected to come on board in the future. Over the next 3 years, the scheme is expected to help over 35,000 households within Greater London out of homelessness.

 

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Construction bosses fear EU workers won’t return to UK after Christmas

The UK construction industry is asking its highly valued EU workers, who might be travelling home for Christmas, to please come back after the Christmas break, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Research focusing on how the bosses of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms view their EU workers concluded that:

  • 85% of construction SME employers that employ EU workers say that these workers are important in allowing their business to maintain and expand its workforce
  • 76% of these firms say it would have a negative impact on the health of their business if any of the EU workers they employ returned to their country of origin, now or post-Brexit
  • 94% of firms describe the quality of EU workers they employ as ‘good’ or ‘very good’

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said “Our research shows that EU workers are vital to the success of the UK construction industry and our message to these individuals is clear – you are highly valued and we need you. Christmas is now upon us and there’s a risk that those EU migrant workers who go home to their home countries for the festive period might not come back. With Brexit looming large on the horizon, EU workers in the UK are facing high levels of uncertainty over their future. Furthermore, since the depreciation of sterling, their wages aren’t worth as much as they were previously. Construction employers are genuinely concerned that this mixture of uncertainty about the future and less money in their pockets will make the UK a much less attractive proposition that it was pre-referendum.”

“Ministers haven’t done enough to reassure EU workers that they have a future in the UK. In our ‘Construction Industry Brexit Manifesto’, seven of the major trade bodies have called on the Government to embark upon a communications campaign that makes clear to our EU workers that they’ll have no serious impediments to gaining settled status. Indeed, both the Government and the industry need to do all that they can to put a positive message across. In the medium term, the construction industry can and should do more to attract and train a greater proportion of domestic workers. However, such is the extent of the current construction skills shortages, we’ll continue to need to draw upon a high number of EU migrant workers post-Brexit if the Government wants to meet its target for new homes and infrastructure projects.”

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