One year. Three topics. Countless innovations.

Schüco UK is using a dramatic online format to introduce its new products and its vision for the future. The Schüco Innovation Now (i.NOW) launch event will take place at 10.30am on Wednesday 24th March and is free to attend. The i.NOW online platform will be unveiled directly after the event.

The multinational building envelope specialist has traditionally used the BAU trade fair in Munich to present its innovation strategy. With the cancellation of all such events, Schüco has embraced the potential for online activities, dedicating its considerable resources to delivering a first-class broadcast experience.

With live introductions and a question and answer session with Schüco UK product specialists, the event will introduce customers and specifiers to the latest products from the world-class innovation team.

Well-designed fenestration has never been more topical as building designers and occupiers focus on the urgent need to create healthy indoor environments that actively support wellbeing. i.NOW will expand on that theme, illustrating how the building envelope can and should make its contribution.

Pete Temprell, Managing Director, Schüco UK says, “We always look forward to BAU and are disappointed not to have the opportunity to meet friends, customers and colleagues from across the industry there this year. Instead, however we would like to invite people to join us on an exciting new virtual journey.

“Following the success of our virtual Excellence Awards 2020 we decided if you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you! We’ll introduce our sustainable system solutions for windows, doors and façades in relation to the topics of healthy building, smart building and secure building throughout 2021.”

The i.NOW launch event will focus on subjects such as ventilation, indoor air quality, noise pollution, and the increasing regulation around thermal performance, light and solar gain.

To register for your free place visit www.schueco.uk/inow

 

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UBER FOR ARCHITECTURE EXPANDS

Scottish architect and entrepreneur Danny Campbell, 30, founded Hoko in 2019. Picture: Elaine Livingstone

A Glasgow-headquartered start-up described as the “Uber for architecture” has expanded across the UK under ambitious growth plans

 

Hoko Design has opened six studios as part of its expansion following a £400,000 investment and a record month for the residential architectural business.

Scottish architect and entrepreneur Danny Campbell founded Hoko in 2019 as he looked to disrupt the industry by creating a “one-stop-shop” client experience for homeowners seeking to improve their living spaces with the help of architecture and design experts.

The process features “cutting-edge” technology including virtual reality and a full interior design service to help clients realise their interior design visions.

With more than 450,000 UK home planning applications decided each year, the fledgling firm has designs on becoming the household name in residential architecture. The expansion around the UK is the next stage in that plan.

The expansion has helped the firm to a best-ever month in February, placing it on target to be working on 1,000 projects nationwide by the end of the year.

The six new studios mean that the business now covers the north of Scotland, north and south London, Bristol and the south west of England, Birmingham and the West Midlands, and Brighton and the south east – all in addition to the firm’s headquarters in Glasgow.

Campbell, founder and chief executive, said: “The Hoko mission has always been to provide the perfect home remodelling experience for homeowners.

“The traditional architecture process can be complicated, inaccessible, and out of line with advances in customer experience in other industries.

“As news of our success spreads, we have seen rising demand for our brand of residential architecture across the UK, particularly during lockdown, and these new studios in these six areas provide the perfect platform to service that demand.

“The six new additions to our team of talented architects working nationwide to deliver Hoko’s streamlined one-stop shop experience, customer experience. Working with a fantastic network of local suppliers and tradespeople, we are able to take the hassle out of home improvement, and deliver the highest quality projects from start to finish.”

There are now ten Hoko project architects working around the UK, each of whom benefit from the opportunity to earn unlimited pay made up of a competitive base salary and then 30 per cent commission on every invoice.

Aiden Junor, one of the new architects, who will be based in Inverness, said: “The response to our expansion has been excellent, and already we are working with dozens of new clients.

“It’s a privilege to be part of such a forward-thinking business, which is seeking to make positive, client-focused changes to an industry that needs a refresh. It’s a great place to work, and clients love the work we do.”

The business has already grown to employ in excess of 30 staff. Hoko said it has also earned the backing of “world-class” investors and board members, Donald Wilson, Graham Campbell and Warren Gee, who see the firm’s potential to be a world leader in its field.

Source: The Scotsman

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SUPPLY CHAIN FOCUS AT OXFORDSHIRE EVENT

Next week, the latest in a series of regional retrofit conferences opens. The Low Carbon Homes online event, hosted by Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, will focus on the key barrier for increasing the uptake of home retrofit – the supply chain.

Low Carbon Homes Oxfordshire, (Tuesday 9th – Thursday 10th March), supported by MCS is staged over three mornings, and includes both speaker sessions and interactive work groups to generate ideas to overcome the supply chain barrier.

Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, as a pilot home retrofit service, has operated for almost two years. During that time, the biggest barrier to scaling up retrofit has always been finding enough trusted and high-quality contractors to deliver home retrofit projects in Oxfordshire – be that installers, manufacturers, electricians, or anyone else in the supply chain.

The recent national retrofit strategy consultation document ‘Greening Our Existing Homes’ published by the Construction Leadership Council indicates that around 500,000 new professionals and tradespeople are needed to tackle this challenge.

“Since the launch of our whole house retrofit service two years ago we haven’t struggled to find homeowners who are keen to retrofit their home. Instead, our main barrier has been finding trusted local building contractors to deliver the work. It’s clear that we need to build up the supply chain for retrofit in Oxfordshire to meet homeowner demand and climate targets.

We need training opportunities to bring new people into the building sector, from apprenticeships to train up the young, to re-skilling programmes to enable those who are unemployed to find work in the retrofit sector (supporting the green recovery from Covid-19 at the same time). There’s also room for innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing new ideas to the plate. That’s why we’ve chosen to host this event in collaboration with Low Carbon Homes, and we’re excited to see the conversations and ideas that come from it.” Tabitha Whiting, Cosy Homes Oxfordshire.

 

Low Carbon Homes on 09-11 March, hosted by Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, is a free-to-attend online event bringing professionals from inter-related sectors together to collaborate and consider the scale of the supply chain challenge, the solutions available and the barriers to overcome.

After Oxfordshire, Low Carbon Homes will be staging further events across the UK. Next is Solent, hosted by Green Tech South, University of Portsmouth.

 

Oxfordshire event

  • Free tickets for representatives from across Oxfordshire and the wider region
  • The online event takes place across three mornings – 09, 10, 11 March (0830-1200hrs)
  • Delegates can view all or selected sessions and meet with other delegates, speakers and sponsors
  • Group work sessions will be staged each day to facilitate thought development among delegates
  • Registration for the Oxfordshire event closes at 4pm, Monday 8th March

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

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Boris moves from Bridge to Burrow

After seeming to support the construction of a Bridge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, the Prime Minister seems to be leaning more to the idea of under rather than over the dangerous waters of the Irish Sea. In some parts of the proposed route the waters are 1000 feet deep, there is 30 mile long and two miles wide trench known as Beaufort’s Dyke that was used by the ministry of defense to dump unused explosives from the second world war, with no mapping of the whereabouts of the estimated 1.5 million tons of explosives.

The government is now looking to alternatives and has asked chairman of Network Rail Sir Peter Hendy to make recommendations on how to improve transport connectivity between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

According to The Times, Boris Johnson has suggested that the Douglas Junction – built directly under the Isle of Man – would be connected to Belfast in Northern Ireland, Stranraer in Scotland, and Heysham and Liverpool in England.

The tunnel, which could be dubbed Boris’ Burrow, would help ease post-Brexit tensions, after Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement created checks for some goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said: “I saw the proposals in the news over the weekend and they are certainly ambitious.

“I would be interested to see the conclusion of the Sir Peter Hendy report in the summer and see if any of these ideas are a viable proposal.”

A government spokesperson said: “We have asked Sir Peter Hendy to make recommendations on how to improve transport connectivity between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

“His recommendations will be published in due course.”

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employers warned against the risks of mandatory ‘no jab, no job’ policies 

Simon deMaid, Partner and employment law expert at Howes Percival

Law firm answers Covid-19 vaccination questions for employers 

Leading law firm Howes Percival is urging companies to consider the risks of adopting a blanket ‘no jab, no job’ employment policy.  

Currently, vaccination against COVID-19 is not compulsory, with the Government leaving it up to businesses to decide the ethics and feasibility of mandatory vaccination policies in their workplace.  After months of lockdown restrictions, companies will be eager to reassure customers and clients that they operate a ‘COVID-19 safe’ environment.  However, Howes Percival is warning employers to tread carefully and obtain specific legal advice regarding the implementation of any workplace vaccine policies.  

Issues regarding vaccination will be specific to each employers’ circumstances, their business sector, and the individual circumstances of their employees.   While employers are entitled to suggest that staff get vaccinated, if an employee refuses, great care needs to be taken to avoid potential discrimination claims. 

Simon deMaid, Partner and employment law expert at Howes Percival commented, “While the need for vaccination policies in the workplace may seem premature.  The expected trajectory of the vaccination rollout will lead to more instances of employers asking for or even requiring employees to receive the vaccine.”  

“There are still many unknowns about COVID-19 and the vaccinations.  Depending on the science, wide-scale vaccination may not be an all-encompassing solution for a return to “normality” or a pre COVID-19 workplace environment.  The vaccines have been shown to be effective at reducing or eliminating symptoms and effects of COVID-19, what is less known is the extent to which they prevent transmission (although the early data is encouraging) or the period of immunity.  This raises concerns about the feasibility of employers requiring vaccination, and highlights questions about the effectiveness of these polices in reducing risk to employers, employees, and customers.”   

Should employers introduce a “no jab, no job” vaccination policy?

Ultimately, it is a commercial decision for each employer to take based on the level of risk they are prepared to take.  However, employers should bear in mind that, a “no jab, no job” policy is too simplistic an approach for most companies because it does not take into account many of the current vaccine ‘unknowns’.  Existing employees may have medical clauses in their contracts, which could include a requirement to have a vaccination.  If not, employers may take steps to implement a vaccination policy or contractual clause.  It may also be possible to have a ‘no jab, no job’ policy for job applicants to any new role.  Although, this does not come without employment law risks, specifically discrimination. 

Can an employer compel an employee to take the vaccine?

In short, no.  Employers cannot physically force or compel employees to take a COVID-19 vaccine.  At this stage, rather than relying on compulsory vaccination, employers may wish to focus on how best to educate employees and publicise the benefits of taking the vaccination.  

Can employers require employees to have a vaccine on health and safety grounds?

Employers are required to reduce workplace risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and should continue to follow COVID-secure guidance regardless of vaccination status.  Requiring employees to take the vaccine on grounds of health and safety law would require employers to prove that vaccination protects other employees, and the third parties they encounter.  Although early data is showing a reduction in transmission this issue is yet to be resolved.  At this stage, relying on health and safety law is likely to be risky.  

Can an employer dismiss an employee for refusing a vaccine?

In theory, yes, however, whether the dismissal is fair or not will depend on the individual circumstances.  If the request to be vaccinated is reasonable, an employee’s unreasonable refusal to comply could result in disciplinary action.  Whether a request is reasonable will depend on the circumstances of the individual employee; the employer’s business and the sector they operate in.  For example, it will be more reasonable to require frontline health care workers to have the vaccine, compared to fully remote office workers.  

How can employers avoid unfair dismissal claims?

For a dismissal to be “fair”, it must fall under one of the five potentially fair reasons for dismissal.  The most likely justification for dismissing an employee will be “conduct” for failure to comply with a reasonable request.  Alternatively, dismissal might be for “some other substantial reason”.  Due to the complex issues involved, employers should take specific legal advice on any disciplinary or dismissal relating to employees who refuse the vaccine.  

What is the risk of discriminating against employees who refuse the vaccine?

There is a risk that employers could be accused of discrimination if they insist on employees, or job applicants, being vaccinated.  There are several potential ‘protected characteristics’ that an employee may seek to rely on to justify a refusal to take the vaccination and consideration will need to be given to the rights of individual employees and whether there are health reasons, religious or philosophical beliefs that mean vaccination is not appropriate.  

Can employers ask an employee if they have had the vaccine?

Yes, however, the vaccination status of an employee is private health information, which is a ‘special category of data’ (that requires extra protection under GDPR).  Use of this data must also be fair, necessary, and relevant for a specific purpose.  Any reason for recording employees’ vaccination status must be clear and compelling.  To process the data fairly and lawfully, employers will need to rely on one of the permitted grounds for doing so.   The sector, type of work and specific workplace health and safety risks will help employers decide if they have compelling reasons to collect employees COVID-19 vaccine records. 

For more information on COVID-19 and employment law visit:

 

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Why don’t we put it on the roof?

Researchers in Germany have shown that roof mounted photovoltaic systems can provide as much as 39% of the energy required by office buildings.  Just a small part of what we can do to avert the worst of global warming.

In the video at the end of this article you can watch David Attenboroughs recent speech to the UN.  We cannot stop the impact of global warming but we can mitigate it and if we don’t act, today’s youngsters will have far more to worry about than the impact of Covid on their education.

 

Office buildings generally consume a fair amount of electricity, and rarely in a climate-friendly way. As recent findings from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) indicate, this consumption can be made far more sustainable with façade and rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems. Researchers recently investigated the façade-mounted PV system on the ZSW’s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, to determine to what extent solar power generated by the building itself can cover overall electricity consumption. Feeding the data obtained from this building into a model, they found that electricity sourced from rooftop and façade-mounted solar panels cover nearly 40 percent of a standard office building’s overall demand – and can do so even without solar power storage units. This combination of PV systems on the roof and façade pays off in the course of the day as well as across seasons.

It takes quite a bit of electricity to keep office buildings running. Most of it goes to power lighting, ventilation, air conditioning and other electrical appliances. Germany will have to meet this energy demand in a more ecofriendly way now that it has committed to the goal of climate-neutral buildings by 2050. Electricity sourced from photovoltaic systems can help with that. The country will need at least 100 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2030, much of which will have to be mounted on buildings. Some owners of non-residential buildings have installed this type of carbon-free power source mainly on rooftops, but not nearly enough to meet these goals. Façade PV systems are few and far between.

A combination of solar panels on the façade and roof pays off

Very few owners integrate solar panels into the building’s envelope, despite their towering benefits. While the roof area remains the same regardless of a building’s height, the higher it rises, the greater its façade surface area will be. Façade-mounted PV systems offer benefits beyond their capacity to generate electricity. They also protect against wind and weather, provide shade, reduce heat loss, replace conventional building components and help to soundproof buildings.

Germany’s Building Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz) rewards owners who install façade PV systems by giving the building a better energy rating. Façade-mounted solar panels are most cost-effective when incorporated into the design on the drawing board, before new buildings go up. In this case, the investment can pay for itself in just ten years, after which the façade-mounted system starts turning a profit.

Thin-film modules with semiconductors made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) also have an aesthetic advantage. Offering the same design options as glass façades, they enable architects to create uniform glass surfaces in elegant hues. Panels come in various colors, sizes and shapes. They can even be flexible components and custom designs made to order. Researchers at ZSW are striving to optimize such applications.

Façade PV systems achieve 29 percent self-sufficiency

The ZSW model used actual power generation and consumption data to calculate how much of an office building’s electricity demands can be covered with photovoltaic modules on the façade and roof. First, the researchers determined the amount of power generated by CIGS thin-film solar modules on the southeast and southwest façades of the institute’s office building in Stuttgart and by its rooftop panels.

The researchers then applied this data to a model of a typical five-story office building with PV panels covering a quarter of the façade and 30 percent of the roof area. This amounts to 131 kilowatts of installed capacity. These solar modules would collectively generate around 115,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. In this modeled use case, the building’s annual demand comes to 170,000 kilowatt hours, a figure based on meter readings taken by the state of Baden-Württemberg for administrative buildings.

The results of these calculations show that office buildings can indeed meet quite a bit of their electricity needs with solar power furnished by façade and rooftop systems. “The façades alone furnish 29 percent of the electricity consumed over the period of a year,” says Dieter Geyer, project manager at ZSW. Most of the power generated by these solar modules – 80 percent – is devoted to this purpose, with the rest being fed into the power grid. “This combination of photovoltaic systems on the façade and roof elevates the level of self-sufficiency to 39 percent,” says Geyer. The majority of all solar power generated by the building’s systems – 58 percent – is consumed locally. The remainder increases the share of green electricity in the grid.

As much as 39 percent of demand covered by PV, even without batteries

Solar panels can satisfy a great deal of demand even without batteries to store the generated electricity. “Office buildings need electricity mainly during the day, so a good portion of the generated solar power can be consumed immediately,” says Geyer. “Storing this electricity for later consumption is not an absolute necessity.” This also brings down the cost of the overall photovoltaic system.

What’s more, solar façades generate electricity mainly in the morning and late afternoon when aligned to do so as in this use case. Rooftop systems generate electricity mostly in the midday hours. This means solar power is available during the hours when electricity consumption runs highest, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There is another reason why rooftop and façade-mounted solar panels are a greener option for office buildings – they complement each other well across seasons. Rooftop panels’ output is highest during the summer months. Façade-mounted PV panels are a perfect match, contributing to the overall system’s annual production with power output that runs highest during the winter months. Their vertical orientation puts façade-mounted panels in a better position than rooftop systems to capture the low winter sun’s rays.

PV façades set to take off

The upshot is that PV façades come highly recommended – they certainly make office buildings’ power supply more climate-friendly, particularly in combination with rooftop systems. Experts and scientists predict that façade PV systems will figure ever more prominently in architects’ designs and engineers’ building plans. When this practice goes mainstream, it will present a mass-market opportunity for German manufacturers of photovoltaic modules and production systems. The ZSW intends to step up its research to extend the life of photovoltaic façades to match that of standard façades.

This research was funded as part of a joint BMWi project to investigate façade-integrated CIGS photovoltaic systems (funding code 0324156A).

About ZSW

The Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg, ZSW) is one of the leading institutes for applied research in the areas of photovoltaics, renewable fuels, battery technology, fuel cells and energy system analysis. There are currently around 300 scientists, engineers and technicians employed at ZSW’s three locations in Stuttgart, Ulm and Widderstall. In addition, there are 100 research and student assistants.

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PRINCIPLE DESIGNER ROLE – TAKE PART IN THE HSE SURVEY

New construction industry research to broaden understanding of how the vital CDM 2015 Principal Designer role is working in practice

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging the construction industry to get involved in important new research to develop a broader picture of the benefits and challenges of the Principal Designer (PD) role under CDM 2015 by completing an online survey.

HSE has appointed MPW R&R Ltd (an independent construction safety consultancy) to undertake this important research.

The survey is seeking the views of organisations and individuals that have experience of the PD role either by:

  • being appointed as a PD;
  • being appointed as one of the other CDM 2015 duty holders (Client, Designer, Principal Contractor or Contractor); or
  • working on or interacting with construction projects where a PD was appointed.

The views of individuals who have experience of the PD role, regardless of project size, would be welcomed.

Survey questions will ask how the PD role is being implemented, to broaden understanding of the benefits of the role as well as the challenges of implementing it.

In addition to the industry-wide survey, the research will also be seeking the views of key stakeholder organisations via a series of personal interviews and/or written submissions. These will be analysed in conjunction with the survey results to help draw overall conclusions. Research findings will be published on HSE’s website as a Research Report, freely available to download.

CLICK  HERE TO ACCESS THE SURVEY

It should take around 30 minutes to complete and closes on Friday 5th March.

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Cost worries outweigh Covid, as contractors reflect on 2020 and the year ahead

Our new Construction Sector Insight Report takes stock of sentiment and commercial perspectives after a unique and incredibly challenging year and reveals a stark reminder of the cost pressures facing the sector, even during a pandemic.

 

Over a two-month period at the end of 2020 and early 2021 we invited feedback from over 200 contractors from a wide range of organisations, to provide an opportunity for reflection on lessons learned, and to support contractors in 2021 with a shared understanding of where they have landed after such a unique time.

 

Despite the pressures that Covid has inflicted on the market, respondents pointed to the enduring challenge of driving down costs while delivering a raft of programme obligations as their number one concern, with 42% of respondents stating that it is the biggest industry pressure, followed by Covid at only c20%.

 

Caroline Romback, Copper Construction Practice Director comments; “Of all the statistics from the report, this one puts everything into sharp relief. For contractors to point to cost pressure outweighing the impact of Covid, it’s a stark reminder that the sector is still treading a tremendous commercial tightrope. There is a genuine ambition to modernise, but equally a need for that risk and added valued obligations to be built into the cost of delivering a project.”

 

Despite a strong momentum towards that sector modernisation, contractors reflect on a balance of risk that still sits with them, as expectations expand faster than margins. And with an expanded list of added value obligations, contractors also call for earlier engagement in project programmes.

 

Unsurprisingly of that expanding range of obligations Sustainability sits at the top of list, closely followed by Social Value, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and Engagement. In the report contractors reflect on the opportunities and challenges that each of these obligations bring, as the Government steps up in areas like Social Value delivery, with an increased level of prescription in its new Social Value Model.

 

Caroline Romback concludes “On the flip side it was a year of tremendous hope and achievement in the sector as well. And with agendas like the Construction Playbook and Project Speed, there could be a unique moment to harness collective momentum to make change on both sides of the negotiating table to truly help us all ‘build back better’ together.”

 

To download and view the Construction Sector Insight Report, please click here.

 

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US HOUSE PRICES BOOM – BUT SHOULD THEY FEAR BUST

Can shipping container homes solve the US housing demand

House prices in the US are skyrocketing. Low mortgage rates and Covid have driven the demand but supply is nowhere near meeting that demand, the discrepancy resulting in a further spike in the ever-increasing values.

We are seeing the same pattern in the UK.  In terms of patterns it doesn’t seem that long ago that a world financial disaster, which can be laid firmly at the door of the US banks precipitated a major fall in house values. Fool hardy lending and manipulation of funds instigated by greedy individuals, precipitated a financial crisis that lead to US house values toppling inexorably downward, as they did so the financial tsunami washed over the rest of the world. It has often been said that the housing market is the barometer of this countries wealth; we can only hope that we are not seeing the beginnings of a high temperature.

One of the key factors in all this is supply, also a major factor in our housing crisis. We have often heard of the quirky homes created by using shipping containers for their outer shells. However this US company seems to be taking the idea to a new level, we thought our readers might like to hear what Daniel Croft CEO of Giant Containers, a global supplier of modified modular and prefabricated shipping container structures, has to say about ‘Shipping Container’ real estate.

 

Modular Real Estate Could Solve Limited Space Issues Caused By The Pandemic

 

Larger-than-life Legos, a twist on tiny houses, upscale up cycling; at the end of the day, a relatively new building method in housing and property structures starts with a plain, steel-shipping container.

Who would’ve thought that a cargo container meant for the slow boats from China would appeal to anyone for a guest house, much less a modern luxury home, but indeed, it does! From she sheds and granny pods to pop-up office spaces and modular multi-story homes, shipping containers turned modular buildings are popping up all over the globe.

For those who think out-of-the-box about housing solutions, containers and prefab modular building products appeal to many for affordability, space-saving qualities, less environmental impact and expansion potential.

Pandemic restrictions have paved the way to prefab and modular construction to accommodate remote workers who need either an isolated workspace in the backyard or a quick home extension, creating extra space as we spend more time at home. The growing demand continues to gain traction in the real estate market because of the troubled economy. People, who recently escaped urban areas during the pandemic, longing for some extra space, have been disappointed with skyrocketing home prices, especially for single-family homes on individual lots. Modular builds, using containers and other prefabricated structures, are relatively inexpensive when compared to traditional construction and take very little time to build. Custom container homes give homeowners modular, industrial design without dealing with the logistics and renovation of used cargo containers. They can typically be done in a range of budgets and quickly. Homeowners can have a modular studio with a kitchen and bath ready in less than 12 weeks.

Based on the growing demand for affordable housing, our company, Giant Containers, amended our business model — once primarily focused on creating life-long experiences and experiential marketing installations for some of the world’s largest brands, we launched an entire division focused on creating sustainable real estate. Before this, our in-house staff of engineers and architects spent over a decade researching the benefits of container houses. My team used shipping containers to assemble prefabricated modular homes, unique swimming pools and Canada’s first retail center made entirely out of shipping containers. It was only a matter of time before municipalities and governments across North America realized the benefits of prefabricated homes and started building large-scale residential buildings from containers.

Even prior to the pandemic, modular builds solved an array of housing quandaries. The College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho, experienced a housing shortage in 2019 and had to get more student housing, fast. Built by a local company, two new dorms were made from 36 decommissioned shipping containers and are the first of their kind anywhere in the United States. KTVB reported that the design incorporated several key energy-saving components throughout the buildings, making them more energy-efficient than traditional construction.

Similarly, the city of Sacramento, California, struggled with solutions for people without housing. They also turned to contractors for ideas, turning containers into housing units quickly, saving lives and money.

Architect Peter DeMaria has been designing cargo container-based projects since 2004 and he is credited as the first architect to adapt a shipping container into a building solution that meets U.S. building code standards. He believes that reusing cargo containers is helpful to the planet. However, putting down a container home or workspace is not without its challenges, particularly when it comes to obtaining the permit. Before you begin making solid plans, find out if this sort of structure is allowed in your community or neighborhood. According to DeMaria, potential container homeowners need to be patient. It can take six to nine months to receive such permits. An additional consideration: containers have to be craned into place — but so do some giant roof trusses for large homes.

Decommissioned cargo containers must also be reinforced for occupancy, especially the floor and adjacent walls when another unit is attached. They have to be retrofitted and code-compliant for utilities. All of this adds to the cost, but you’re still not into the six-figure or more range of an ordinary home.

 

 

Building a home of any type faces drawbacks. Despite the sometimes-bumpy path to completing a container building, the strengths of ‘cargotecture’ will likely pay off for generations to come.

 

 

 

 

Source: Forbes

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REVERSE VAT – Calls for builders to write to their MP’s

Building industry ups the ante to get reverse VAT scrapped

The campaign for the government to ditch reverse charge VAT is mounting with the Federation of Master Builders, FMB, claiming two-thirds of SMEs believing it will damage cash flow.

Scottish National Party MP Kirsten Oswald has already tabled an early day motion calling for the controversial new regime to be dropped.

FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “This is a damaging policy being introduced at the worst possible time for builders. By removing the flow of VAT money between businesses in the construction supply chain, four in ten builders say this will have a ‘significant or moderate’ impact on their cash flow.”

The new regime was to have gone live in October 2019 but was deferred to 1st March 2021 following industry lobbying. The new policy means no-one in the supply chain can invoice for VAT and pass the money on later to the tax office.

Build UK has told the government that many SMEs are fighting to consolidate their cash flow following the pandemic and the effects of leaving the EU. It has set up a Twitter hashtag #StopReverseVAT to channel responses from affected construction companies.

The organisation calculates that for companies that submit quarterly VAT returns they will need an extra five per cent of annual sales to compensate for the loss of cash flow. Firms who submit monthly returns will need an extra three per cent of annual sales.

 

“The introduction of the charge at this time will put jobs and businesses at risk and may result in companies that survived the Covid-19 outbreak and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU being undone by this additional burden,” said Build UK deputy chief executive Jo Fautley.

 

Licensing builders holds key to tackling fraud

The new policy is being introduced to tackle missing trader scams where fraudsters import goods VAT-free from other countries and then sell to domestic buyers charging them VAT.

City Lofts London director Deepak Sing Udassi believes a mandatory licensing scheme for the construction industry would be a better means for tackling the issue.

“Due to the little to no regulation in the industry, rogue traders are able to operate freely, to the detriment of consumers and reputable businesses like mine.

“Licensing would also drive-up standards, professionalism and the reputation of the industry, which is clearly not well regarded across Whitehall as demonstrated by this punitive policy.”

Elland and Steel Structures Ltd managing director Mark Denham said: “If this initiative is applied from 1t March, it will be the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for many sub-contractors both big and small.

“Reverse VAT penalises good honest companies that have continually paid their VAT on time.”

Build UK is calling on all firms in the supply chain to write to their MPs to request support for the forthcoming early day motion.

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