Crossover to Electric Aircraft Well Progressed

Electraflyer has announced that it has passed crossover, meaning it now sells more battery-electric aircraft than polluting ones. Pipistrel sold over 100 battery-electric aircraft last year as they take over from its traditional offerings. Bye Aerospace does not even make conventional aircraft. With its Tesla-style approach, its order book exceeds 720 battery-electric aircraft evenly split between two and four-seaters. As the IDTechEx report, “Manned Electric Aircraft: Smart City and Regional 2021-2041” points out, this has caught Cessna, Cirrus and Piper by surprise. Particularly so because the purchasers are not people easily bamboozled – they are mainly pilot training and air taxi businesses that collapse if they get it wrong. Primarily they buy because it saves them money. Brand enhancement and saving the planet are useful bonuses.

Attention now turns to two-propeller fixed-wing aircraft up to 10 passengers for business and regional use similarly beating the traditional cost of ownership, with the zero emissions and faster climb typical of battery electric. Noticing this, Textron, owner of Beechcraft which is under threat, has belatedly said it will look into electric. It is not too late because approaches to these larger versions have been questioned by both battery experts and aeronautical engineers. There is no simple scalability. They need disproportionately more power and any new aerodynamics, where proposed, has issues.

For instance, the battery team at IDTechEx caution that solid-state lithium batteries of the necessary size and energy density are unlikely to be rolled out by 2026 but several putative makers of regional aircraft promise otherwise. Bye announced a partnership with Oxis Energy enabling such an aircraft in 2026,

only to see the company go under shortly afterward. Yes, LG Chem talks of a similar date for such lithium-sulfur batteries with high energy density but IDTechEx advises that 2030 is probably the earliest for full deployment. Believe that only if several issues are overcome such as cycle life and toxic emissions on misuse or wrongful disposal. Other aircraft developers such as Aura Aero and Regent talk darkly of their access to a battery with much-improved energy density but investors would be well advised to check out exactly what they mean and verify that technology’s roadmap with battery experts such as IDTechEx. See IDTechEx report, “Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2021-2031: Technology, Patents, Forecasts, Players” for more.

Usually, the aerodynamics and construction of these larger battery-electric aircraft are required to go faster, but 50% faster means three times the battery. The acceptable range may be 500 nautical miles and conventional design may be inadequate for this. Cars put in double the battery to get more range but that is less effective with aircraft.

The primary focus should be on reducing the 250kW or so needed in cruise. The Flying Ship Company, Regent, and RDC Aqualines will use ground effect to greatly reduce drag but that limits them to flying low over the sea. Heart Aerospace finds that low speed and short-range are acceptable in Scandinavia so it sharply reduces the battery requirement with 216nm range 215 knots. With a conventional airframe, the conventional lithium-ion batteries are one-third of the weight. The batteries will probably need to be changed fairly often and shorter-range in cold or rough weather will need to be acceptable.

Probably the most trustworthy, beneficial improvement to aerodynamics, beyond born-electric sleek designs, is to intimately integrate propulsion with thrust using propellers along the wing. That can include large ones at the wing tip reducing vortice drag. Enjoy at least a 10% increase in range partly from a much smaller wing volume. NASA, the German Aerospace Institute DLR, and others are behind this. Regent and to some extent Aura Aero are going this way.

Better sourcing of electricity is also necessary. Airbus is going earlier to 1000nm range by the inelegant approach of huge bulges to carry hydrogen that drives notoriously inefficient fuel cells. They still need quite large batteries. However, the idea of battery aircraft of this size should not be abandoned. Rolls Royce, working with Tecnam and Widerøe, plans an 11 seat one for 2026 plying the short distances acceptable in Scandinavia.

The Tesla approach to cars of many small improvements in powertrain efficiency, lightweighting, and simplification has lessons here. For example, a regional aircraft can have 500km of cabling but in cars, at least 50% of cable weight is eliminated by higher voltage, improved geometry, and board-to-board wireless connection. In-mold electronics, structural batteries, and large aluminum die castings together eliminate at least 1000 parts. However, although solar upper-atmosphere drones will be up for 5 years on sunshine alone and China even has a “Meiying” drone flying 24/7 at only a few thousand meters on solar alone, the necessary 3-5 multijunction solar bodywork all over a business/ regional aircraft would cost $100,000 at present and only contribute 5-10kW. It will be affordable and make sense for up-market single-propeller aircraft around 2031. For the larger aircraft, better opportunities can be taken from cars as detailed in the IDTechEx report, “Routes to 1000 Mile Electric Cars 2021-2041”.

For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/1000Mile. This report forms part of the broader electric vehicle and energy storage research from IDTechEx, who track the adoption of electric vehicles, battery trends, and demand across more than 100 different mobility sectors. This is summarized in a master report: www.IDTechEx.com/EV, or for further in-depth analysis, please see the full portfolio of electric vehicle research available from IDTechEx: www.IDTechEx.com/research/EV.

 

 

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CONSTRUCTION SECTOR WAGES RISE EIGHT TIMES FASTER

BUILDING UP STEAM – CONSTRUCTION SECTOR WAGES RISE EIGHT TIMES FASTER THAN AVERAGE SALARIES

  • Construction salaries advertised by employers have soared by 6.7% in the space of just five months1, according to new data from the world’s largest job site Indeed 
  • With employer demand for workers outstripping the number of candidates, advertised wages are also rising fast in driving jobs (up 5.7%) and in manufacturing roles (up 4.8%)
  • Wage growth is accelerating as jobseekers’ interest in food sector jobs has slumped by 57% and in construction jobs by 27% 

High demand for workers in the construction, transport, manufacturing and food industries means wage growth in those sectors is far outstripping that in the rest of the UK economy1, new research from the world’s largest job site Indeed and the Central Bank of Ireland shows.

Average advertised salaries in construction, which has seen the highest salary growth over the past five months, rose by 6.7% between February and July. That’s more than eight times the 0.8% average recorded for all jobs. 

Salaries for driving jobs are also up strongly (5.7%), while manufacturing sector wages have risen by 4.8% and food preparation and service jobs are paying 3.7% more than they did in February when the UK Government announced its ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown.

The sectors recording the biggest salary increases are those in which employers’ need for extra staff, and thus the number of job postings, have risen rapidly as lockdown restrictions eased, but where the supply of candidates has not kept pace with demand.

Chart: Occupations with the fastest growth in job postings this year

 

Between February’s roadmap announcement and England’s so-called ‘Freedom Day’ in July, UK-wide job postings grew 83%, smashing through pre-pandemic levels. Overall, job postings now stand 21% above their pre-pandemic level.

The sectors seeing the fastest growth in postings include cleaning and sanitation, customer service, driving, food preparation and service, loading and stocking, and retail. 

However, this demand is not being fully met as the number of clicks from jobseekers per posting has fallen by 52% for food preparation and service roles, 37% in cleaning and sanitation and 30% for loading and stocking jobs. Candidate clicks on construction jobs have also dropped by 27%2.

Table: Posted wages have grown in occupations where clicks have fallen

Pawel Adrjan, head of EMEA research at the global job site, Indeed, comments: “Hiring bottlenecks are driving up wages in some sectors of the economy as employers use pay as an incentive to attract candidates and beat their competition to the best people.

“Historically, low interest in jobs has always translated into increased salaries, but what is unusual about the 2021 recovery is that demand for workers increased suddenly, coinciding with the re-opening of the economy – and employers appear to have responded swiftly.

“However, the surge in advertised salaries is limited to a few specific sectors which have a severe shortage of candidates. Elsewhere in the economy, wage growth is much more modest as the labour market still has not recovered fully.”

Reamonn Lydon, senior advisor at the Central Bank of Ireland, added: “Understanding which sectors of the economy are seeing the fastest growth in wages, and why, is important for central banks as they monitor inflation dynamics. 

“Our research shows that wages are growing faster in sectors where employers are finding it harder to get workers – in construction, driving, food services, manufacturing and cleaning and sanitation.”

 

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Fassa Bortolo lends render knowledge to transform new Co-op convenience store

Leading Italian render manufacturer, Fassa Bortolo has recently added convenience and service provider, the Co-operative Group, to its list of commercial brands completing a new render project at Maypole Garage in Bream, Gloucestershire.

With a brief to source a high quality, long lasting render that would suit the store’s hightraffic environment, following a full specification assessment from the expert team at Fassa, Woodman Brothers, in Bristol, supplied the materials for the Project.

The Project was completed with one of the popular Fassarend systems, using Externalight as the render carrier board. The base coats used were Fassa A96 and Fassa before finishing with Fassa RX561 and Fassa PX505 acrylic based siloxane topcoats this gives better performance and maximum resistance to weather and improve overall color quality.

Stephen Gore, Fassa UK area sales manager for the region, added: “We’re thrilled that internationally recognized brands are now looking to Fassa Bortolo to specify a render system they can trust. Our products are of superior quality and are competitively priced, so whatever kind of system chosen, you can rest assured you are making a reliable choice for any commercial or residential property.”

To find out more about Fassa Bortolo and its range of render systems and building products, visit the WEBSITE or call 01684 218 305.

About Fassa Bortolo

Fassa Bortolo is the leading Italian manufacturer of renders and integrated render systems. Building on 311 years of heritage, the company has grown to open a number of distribution units across Europe including the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. With a rigid set of values, Fassa prides itself on unrivalled product quality, its commitment to research and ethical quarrying.

 

 

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LANDLORDS MUST GO GREEN

Gavin Holvey, Priva General Manager UK & Ireland

 

London’s commercial landlords must invest now in building tech to ‘green’ their building stock, or risk being ‘unrentable’ 

A new report which claims that around 10% of London’s office space, has an EPC rating of F or G making it potentially unusable when new MEES regulations come into effect in 2023, should prompt swift action and investment in energy efficient building technology by commercial landlords, says Priva UK & Ireland.

The new analysis from leading commercial real estate company Colliers shows that approximately 20% of central London offices can be classed as A and B on the EPC rating scale, (Colliers calculates that the majority of buildings (57 %) fall into the D to G categories).

Priva UK, a leading manufacturer of building automation and building energy management technology, believes there is much work to be done to bring existing buildings up to a higher standard. Post 2023, any building that does not meet the minimum rating of E may be un-rentable under the MEES legislation.

“It is imperative that London’s commercial landlords and real-estate asset owners invest now in their existing building stock to bring the energy efficiency ratings up to scratch,” says Gavin Holvey, Priva General Manager UK & Ireland.

“The Colliers report says that while new Grade A+ schemes in Central London ‘rightly demand the highest rental levels’, there is a genuine appetite for sympathetically refurbished buildings which benefit from low carbon technologies and energy management tools. Such buildings will not only contribute to Net Zero emissions goals, they are likely to be much more affordable to the majority of tenants.”

 

Make more of existing buildings 

“We must make so much more of the buildings we already have,” continues Gavin Holvey. “By upgrading building control systems and taking advantage of cloud-based energy management technologies, we can help to bring existing buildings closer to the operating performance of modern Grade A structures. A BMS system – in experienced hands – can deliver 40% savings on energy bills during the operational phase of the building.”

“It’s well known that building from scratch – or indeed demolition and total re-build – is highly carbon intensive. We take a view that we must all think smarter – and find new ways to embrace circular economy principles. Our technology has been used on many commercial retrofit projects in London and elsewhere in the UK’s cities. We have seen first-hand the impact that re-using and greening existing building stock can have on getting Scope 1 and Scope 3 Green House Gas Emissions under control.”

 

Simple retrofit

Priva’s suite of building control technologies makes it possible to upgrade existing buildings with legacy BMS systems by reusing existing cabling and sensors and field devices. This can be achieved with ease. Previously, in older buildings, burdened with outdated controls technology it was uneconomical to fully replace, owners and occupiers had no choice but ‘make do’. However, the ability to retrofit old systems with new controls makes a positive contribution to sustainability – such as energy outcomes and operational efficiencies

“Quite simply, the ‘invest in retrofit’ approach offers a commercial ‘win-win’ for London’s real-estate sector and UK plc more widely. Finding more sustainable approaches to managing the long-term impact of the built environment should be the focus of everyone in our sector,” concludes Gavin Holvey.

 

 

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TESLA BOT, will carry out repetitive tasks

But don’t worry if it takes the hump at these tasks, as long as you can run faster than 5 miles an hour it wont be able to catch you, hopefully it equally can’t figure out how to use a weapon!

Tesla will build a humanoid robot called Tesla Bot, to tackle “dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks”, Elon Musk announces

CEO Elon Musk used Tesla’s ‘AI Day’ event to tout a humanoid robot the electric car maker intends to build.

The AI Day event is essentially a series of tech talks hosted by Tesla to recruit machine learning talent and excite investors about future technologies.

The event was recorded in this YouTube video, and Musk can be seen explaining how Tesla will build a humanoid robot called Tesla Bot (skip to the 2 hour and five minute mark)

Tesla Bot

The Tesla Bot will be designed to eliminate “dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks”, but Musk warned that that the robot “probably won’t work,” at least not to begin with.

In the video, Musk engaged in his typical showmanship when the Tesla Bot figure was shown off, but it turned out to be a human actor in a Telsa Bot suit who took to the stage and proceeded to dance and gyrate around in a very unrobotic manner.

Musk began his speech by pointing out that Tesla was essentially already the world’s biggest robotic company, given the level of automation in its cars.

“We’re also good at sensors and batteries and we’ll probably have a prototype next year that looks like this,” Musk said.

He confirmed that the Tesla Bot actor was not a real robot, but he insisted “the Tesla Bot will be real.”

The “friendly” Telsa Bot will measure 5.8” in height, and will weigh nearly 57kgs, with a carrying capacity of 20kgs.

It will have a screen instead of a face, and is designed so humans can run away from it (it can only run at 5 miles per hour) or people can overpower it.

If a humanoid robot works and can perform repetitive tasks that only humans can do today, Musk said, it has the chance to transform the world economy by driving labour costs down.

However, Musk warned that the robot “probably won’t work” at first.

“It’s intended to be friendly, of course, and navigate through a world of humans, and eliminate dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks,” Musk said.

Musk revealed that the robot is codenamed “Optimus,” and is based on the same chips and sensors that Tesla’s cars use for self-driving features.

“It should be able to, you know, please go to the store and get me the following groceries, that kind of thing,” Musk said.

Musk concerns

Elon Musk’s labelling of the Tesla Bot as ‘friendly’ and designing it so it can overpowered by a human, is significant, considering his previous warnings about the dangers of AI and robotics, which was echoed by the likes of renowned physicist Dr Stephen Hawking and Microsoft’s Bill Gates.

Musk for example has previously tweeted that artificial intelligence could evolve to be “potentially more dangerous than nukes”.

In 2014, Elon Musk had stated: “With artificial intelligence we’re summoning the demon. You know those stories where there’s the guy with the pentagram, and the holy water and he’s sure he can control the demon? Doesn’t work out.”

He even described AI as an “existential threat”.

In 2015 Musk set aside a $10 million cash pot to protect humanity from eventual extinction at the mechanical hands of robotic overlords.

The donation was to the Future of Life Institute (FLI), a non-profit advisory board dedicated to weighing up the potential of AI technology to benefit humanity.

In 2017 the British government was warned by a think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, that robots and workplace automation must be carefully managed, if predictions of mass unemployment and economic disruption are to be avoided.

 

 

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Ensuring Access for all

GEZE UK’s popular RIBA-approved CPD Removing Barriers to Access has been completely revised and updated and includes new visuals and updates to regulation all in GEZE’s new branding.  

The CPD looks at why door controls are needed, explains the various standards and regulations that apply, where and when to use a manual door control or an automatic operator. It looks at self-closing devices for fire door applications and the benefits of electro hold-open devices. The seminar also explains the benefit of automatic doors, the different types and their suitability, as well as their potential danger points.

Offering architects and specifiers invaluable advice and guidance, which contributes to their continuing professional development, this updated training seminar gives a better understanding of the requirements of specifying door control devices to make buildings accessible to everyone.

The 40 minute seminar covers all the relevant standards and regulations and is included in RIBA’s core curriculum: Access for all, Compliance, and Designing and building it.

It can be presented in person or virtually via a variety of online platforms and at a time to suit, usually lunchtime but breakfast seminars or afternoon sessions can be accommodated.

 

To find out more or to book a CPD seminar CLICK HERE or email cpd@geze.com

National Specification Manager Richard Richardson-Derry said: “The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and its replacement The Equality Act 2010 has rightly enshrined in law that a disabled person must not discriminated against and has the same opportunities as every other member of the public. This includes access to shops restaurants, theatres, hospitals or any public building.

This seminar provides detailed guidance on how architects and specifiers can do just that.”

 

RIBA Chartered Architects are obliged to undertake a minimum of

35 hours a week to maintain their competence

 

Other presentations offered by GEZE UK, include EN 16005 – Safeguarding Pedestrians from Accidents at Power Operated Doorsets; Designing Effective Natural Heat and Smoke Ventilation, Glass Door Assemblies – Selection and Specification, and Specifying, Installing and Maintaining Ironmongery for Fire Doors.

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk

 

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MMC and net zero on the agenda for LHC at Housing 2021

Public sector housing teams will be able to hear about and discuss the challenges of and opportunities available in MMC, retrofit and the net zero agenda, as experts from procurement specialist LHC appear at Housing 2021.

Two of LHC’s regional directors will be tackling the hot topics at the first major housing event to take place in-person following the pandemic.

Mary Bennell, director of LHC’s South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA), will be joining a panel to discuss the role of MMC and digital in UK housing delivery on the Future of Living stage at 2pm on Tuesday, September 7.

Gary Cawley, director of Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC) – LHC’s regional division for the North and Midlands – will be chairing a session at the Unlock Net Zero stage on the same day at 11.50am. The panel will be assessing whether the sector can agree a single, credible approach to the data and standards needed to inform the retrofit agenda. He’ll also sit on a panel the following day at 2.55pm, on the same stage, discussing the net zero procurement and skills challenge.

On Thursday 9 September at 8am, LHC will be hosting a breakfast briefing in conjunction with Engie and Ground Control.

 

John Skivington, director of LHC, said:

“Through our procurement expertise honed over the past 50 years, we’re committed to helping the public sector get to grips with, tackle and reap the benefits of the net zero agenda and the emergence of MMC, for them and their residents.

“It’s vital to us that we can help our clients and suppliers realise the social value inherent in both issues, and we recognise that this is the very beginning of the journey for many. So we’re really looking forward to taking part in Housing 2021, and meeting and speaking with our peers from across the sector.”

 

Housing 2021 will feature more than 500 speakers across three days from 7-9 September in Manchester.

The LHC team will also be on hand throughout the event to answer any questions about procurement options and the process, located at stand D46.

To find out more about LHC see www.lhc.gov.uk, and for more details on Housing 2021 see cihhousing.com/

 

 

 

 

 

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The Hydrogen Strategy – Government announcement

Tens of thousands of jobs, billions of pounds in investment and new export opportunities will be unlocked through government plans to create a thriving low carbon hydrogen sector in the UK over the next decade and beyond, the Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has set out today (17 August).

The UK’s first-ever Hydrogen Strategy drives forward the commitments laid out in the Prime Minister’s ambitious 10 Point Plan for a green industrial revolution by setting the foundation for how the UK government will work with industry to meet its ambition for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 – the equivalent of replacing natural gas in powering around 3 million UK homes each year as well as powering transport and businesses, particularly heavy industry.

A booming, UK-wide hydrogen economy could be worth £900 million and create over 9,000 high-quality jobs by 2030, potentially rising to 100,000 jobs and worth up to £13 billion by 2050. By 2030, hydrogen could play an important role in decarbonising polluting, energy-intensive industries like chemicals, oil refineries, power and heavy transport like shipping, HGV lorries and trains, by helping these sectors move away from fossil fuels. Low-carbon hydrogen provides opportunities for UK companies and workers across our industrial heartlands.

With government analysis suggesting that 20-35% of the UK’s energy consumption by 2050 could be hydrogen-based, this new energy source could be critical to meet our targets of net zero emissions by 2050 and cutting emissions by 78% by 2035 – a view shared by the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee. In the UK, a low-carbon hydrogen economy could deliver emissions savings equivalent to the carbon captured by 700 million trees by 2032 and is a key pillar of capitalising on cleaner energy sources as the UK moves away from fossil fuels.

Business & Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

Today marks the start of the UK’s hydrogen revolution. This home-grown clean energy source has the potential to transform the way we power our lives and will be essential to tackling climate change and reaching Net Zero.

With the potential to provide a third of the UK’s energy in the future, our strategy positions the UK as first in the global race to ramp up hydrogen technology and seize the thousands of jobs and private investment that come with it.

Energy & Climate Change Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

Today’s Hydrogen Strategy sends a strong signal globally that we are committed to building a thriving low carbon hydrogen economy that could deliver hundreds of thousands of high-quality green jobs, helps millions of homes transition to green energy, support our key industrial heartlands to move away from fossil fuels and bring in significant investment.

The government’s approach is based on the UK’s previous success with offshore wind, where early government action coupled with strong private sector backing has earned the UK a world leading status. One of the main tools used by government to support the establishment of offshore wind in the UK was the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which incentivises investment in renewable energy by providing developers with direct protection from volatile wholesale prices and protects consumers from paying increased support costs when electricity prices are high.

As such, the government has today launched a public consultation on a preferred hydrogen business model which, built on a similar premise to the offshore wind CfDs, is designed to overcome the cost gap between low carbon hydrogen and fossil fuels, helping the costs of low-carbon alternatives to fall quickly, as hydrogen comes to play an increasing role in our lives. Alongside this, the government is consulting on the design of the £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, which aims to support the commercial deployment of new low carbon hydrogen production plants across the UK.

Other measures included in the UK’s first-ever Hydrogen Strategy include:

  • outlining a ‘twin track’ approach to supporting multiple technologies including ‘green’ electrolytic and ‘blue’ carbon capture-enabled hydrogen production, and committing to providing further detail in 2022 on the government’s production strategy
  • collaborating with industry to develop a UK standard for low carbon hydrogen giving certainty to producers and users that the hydrogen the UK produces is consistent with net zero while supporting the deployment of hydrogen across the country
  • undertaking a review to support the development of the necessary network and storage infrastructure to underpin a thriving hydrogen sector
  • working with industry to assess the safety, technical feasibility, and cost effectiveness of mixing 20% hydrogen into the existing gas supply. Doing so could deliver a 7% emissions reduction on natural gas
  • launching a hydrogen sector development action plan in early 2022 setting out how the government will support companies to secure supply chain opportunities, skills and jobs in hydrogen

Prioritising and supporting polluting industries to significantly slash their emissions, the government also announced today a £105 million funding package through its Net Zero Innovation Portfolio that will act as a first step to build up Britain’s low carbon hydrogen economy. The investment will help industries to develop low carbon alternatives for industrial fuels, including hydrogen, which will be key to meeting climate commitments. This includes:

  • £55 million Industrial Fuel Switching Competition. Funding will support the development and trials of solutions to switch industry from high to low carbon fuels such as natural gas to clean hydrogen, helping industry reach net zero by 2050
  • £40 million Red Diesel Replacement Competition. Providing grant funding for the development and demonstration of low carbon alternatives to diesel for the construction, quarrying and mining sectors, with the aim of decarbonising these industries reliant on red diesel, a fuel used mainly for off-road purposes such as in bulldozers. With red diesel responsible for the production of nearly 14 million tonnes of carbon each year, the investment supports the UK government’s budget announcement removing the entitlement to use red diesel and rebated biodiesel
  • £10 million Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA). Offering funding to clean technology developers to work with industrial sites to install, test and prove solutions for reducing UK industry’s energy and resource consumption

This comes as the Transport Secretary unveils the winners of a £2.5 million R&D competition for hydrogen transport pilots in the Tees Valley area, which will lead to supermarkets, emergency services and delivery companies trialling hydrogen-powered transport to move goods and carry out local services.

Hydrogen can be made as safe as natural gas. As the hydrogen economy develops, all necessary assessments will be carried out and measures put in place to ensure that hydrogen is stored, distributed and used in a safe way.

The UK government is already working with the Health and Safety Executive and energy regulator Ofgem to support industry to conduct first-of-a-kind hydrogen heating trials. These trials along with the results of a wider research and development testing programme will inform a UK government decision in 2026 on the role of hydrogen in decarbonising heat. If a positive case is established, by 2035 hydrogen could be playing a significant role in heating people’s homes and businesses, powering cars, cookers, boilers and more – helping to slash carbon emissions from the UK’s heating system and tackle climate change.

The Hydrogen Strategy is one of a series of strategies the UK government is publishing ahead of the UN Climate Summit COP26 taking place in Glasgow this November. The UK government has already published its Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, Transport Decarbonisation Strategy and North Sea Transition Deal, while its Heat and Buildings and Net Zero Strategies will be published this year.

 

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Comments attributed to Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA):

“The UK’s Hydrogen Strategy represents a huge step in the right direction for the introduction of the technology, something the heating industry is rallying behind in the decarbonisation process. The Government’s commitment to hydrogen is a promising step, which will help to create thousands of jobs and decarbonise homes for millions of consumers with minimal disruption.

“We are enthused to see the Government also recognise the role a hydrogen blend into the grid will play in reducing carbon emissions without homeowners needing to change appliances or boilers. It is of great importance that the transition to hydrogen does not cause disruption or large costs to consumers. The blend is a way to significantly reduce emissions with no change, which will in turn leave time for the groundwork to be laid for a seamless switch to 100% hydrogen later on.

“We also welcome Business & Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng’s recognition of hydrogen’s potential for decarbonising heat in homes and commercial buildings across the country.

“Giving consumers choice when it comes to low carbon heating is vital to ensuring all buildings can be suitably decarbonised to hit targets set out by government. Research conducted in our recent report Too Close To Home revealed 72% of homeowners supported efforts of UK manufacturers to develop low carbon gas boilers, such as hydrogen boilers. The establishment of a Hydrogen Strategy will be to ensure this consumer sentiment is met, and disruption is limited in the renewable transition.

“The creation of jobs is a welcome aspect of the strategy but will also play a part in the preservation of jobs for the over 120,000 gas engineers working across the UK. Likely requiring only one extra module to be taken on the compulsory Gas Safe engineering qualification, the installation and servicing of hydrogen-ready boilers is set to be very similar to their traditional counterparts. Given heating installers will play an integral role in preparing for the transition should the decision be made in 2026, it is vital that their jobs are protected as part of renewable development.

“We in the heating industry are committed to do all that we can to work with the Government ahead of its decision in 2026 on the role of hydrogen in decarbonising heat. A number of EUA members have been at the forefront of developing hydrogen heating technologies to ease the transition for homeowners and ensure cost to them is no more than with natural gas equivalents. With the establishment of this strategy, UK consumers and businesses have more choice across low-carbon energy mix, an integral part of ensuring no one is left being in the renewable transition.”

For more information about the EUA, visit: https://eua.org.uk/

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Why product manufacturers need to be the driving force behind specification reform

Over four years on from Grenfell and 11 years from Lakanal House, Hannah Mansell, Masonite UK Technical Director (including Premdor Crosby and Door-Stop International), reflects on the current fire safety landscape and the critical role that fire safety product manufacturers must play in building safety now.

 

At both Lakanal House and Grenfell Tower, there wasn’t just one failure that we can point to and say, ‘if we change this part, the system is fixed.’ It is much wider than that. We have to re-evaluate every stage of the building and refurbishment process, from specification and installation, right through to resident engagement and ongoing maintenance. We need to embed better practices across the whole fire safety and construction industries to ensure that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet on transparency and traceability.

 

Unrestricted access to the testing process

Some construction product manufacturers have hidden their specifications behind closed doors, making it difficult for stakeholders to scrutinise and verify the information.

Phase Two of the Grenfell Inquiry has investigated how manufacturers have positioned product information and test evidence, and how that could lead to a lack of clarity on what can, or cannot, be used. One of the product manufacturers giving evidence admitted that the testing information associated with the product “wasn’t sufficiently precise or clear*”.

When Masonite test our doorsets, we manufacture the doorset under the witness of an independent third-party observer, by a process known as ‘sampling’. They verify each component, the production process, and that the doorset that is furnace tested is not a ‘lab queen’ (a doorset that’s been engineered to pass the fire test and is therefore not reflective of standard production or specification).

The independent witnesser permanently marks the doorset with traceability marks. These are then verified by the test house and on the sampling report included in the test report. We do this to prove that the product that was tested, was the same one that was witnessed and sampled, directly from our production line in our factory.

 

Effective implementation of the Golden Thread

Manufacturers are in an ideal position to set the standard for the information included within the digital Golden Thread as they should know everything about their product’s journey, from raw materials through to manufacturing, testing, production, and sale.

Door-Stop use a bespoke digital ‘Critical to Safety’ framework that records the multiple checks carried out on the components and manufacturing processes of each doorset. Our doorsets are shipped with copies of the full certificate, data sheet and installation instructions, which list the original primary test evidence reports of our product. The label traceability affixed to each doorset means that stakeholders can not only see who the manufacturer was, but also trace their way back to the certificate, and access detail of compatible components and specification limitations. This is a vital link to help stakeholders manage, inspect and maintain the product throughout its lifetime.

 

Adopting third party certification

Dual certification is relatively new and is not mandatory. Some people step onto the market with just a single test report, but we prefer a more robust approach.

We’ve chosen to test and certificate our doorsets for both fire and security: neither performance characteristics should be considered above the other. The documentation that supports dual certification clearly shows the stakeholder that the product specification is identical and has been independently verified.

Door-Stop has conducted in-depth research and development testing programs to create the robust primary test evidence base that is used in our certification. We’ve run multiple tests to help us to understand not only what makes a doorset pass, but also the factors that will make a doorset fail.

Fire doorsets are complete systems, so it’s important to understand the interplay and impact that every component – even something as tiny as a screw or fixing – has on the system as a whole.

The way that we have approached our testing and certification is designed to help enable decision makers to make judgements regarding selection and use of our product in their specific build situations.

 

Making change now

We’ve got some clarity over the previously ambiguous areas of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in the Fire Safety Act 2021 – with further amendments and additions proposed in the Building Safety Bill – but there is still plenty of time before legislation will dictate what is to be done in a prescriptive manner. Don’t wait. The fire safety and construction industries must step up now and be the early adopters of best practice.

 

*Source: Grenfell Tower Inquiry, February 17 2021.

 

www.masonite.co.uk/firedoorsets

Tel: 01623 446336

 

 

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CREATING A FLUSH FINISH WITH KAWNEER’S ENHANCED CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

With ever-increasing market demands for more robust and flexible façade systems, Kawneer, the leading manufacturer of architectural aluminium glazing systems has launched a new version of its successful AA®100 and AA®110 curtain wall products. In addition to a +/- 5mm building expansion joint for its SSG curtain wall variant and a higher weight capacity for its capped option, one of the key enhancements is a concealed vent option within the product to help produce a beautiful, finished aesthetic to a building’s façade.

Designed specifically for the AA®100 and AA®110 systems in either capped or SSG variants, the concealed vent option utilises a structurally bonded glazed unit and slim aluminium profiles, allowing Kawneer curtain wall systems to be installed with no visible external framing.

This provides designers, specifiers and architects with the flexibility and freedom to create a flush finish to the external facade, while satisfying ventilation requirements for optimised comfort.

Contemporary building façade design also requires larger glass panes, with unobstructed views and increased natural light. The new enhancements result in the AA®110 being able to accommodate glazing up to a 50mm depth in the capped system and withstand a maximum weight capacity of 180kg. Available as a top hung vent or a parallel opening window, both types can be manually operated or motorised, using neatly concealed chain drives and integrated locking drives to achieve a seamless internal finish.

The AA®110 concealed vent has undergone full CWCT Sequence B testing as part of a larger curtain wall assembly, with proven weather performance. Furthermore, the window has been RC2 security tested to EN 1627, which is the same classification as the existing AA®100 and AA®110 curtain wall systems.

As with the AA®100 system, the AA®110 offers a range of construction methods, including zone-drainage and mullion-drainage. Also, advanced thermal break technologies provide superior thermal performance that meet and exceed building regulations.

Kawneer’s Technical Director, Gary Ledger commented: “Together with our new +/- 5mm SSG expansion joint and increased weight capacity, the concealed vent option subsequently gives architects ultimate design freedom with our enhanced AA®110 curtain wall product by combining exceptional product performance with visual aesthetics and occupancy comfort.”

www.kawneer.co.uk

 

 

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