Latest innovations and products in the offsite sections of the construction industry.

Offsite construction is here to stay

Recent press coverage has focused heavily on Offsite Construction providing the answer in a number of key sectors, due to the speed and efficiency of modular construction.

Premier Modular has been delivering award winning offsite and volumetric solutions for more than 60 years and prides itself on its ability to provide the highest quality buildings, offering a skilled and knowledgeable design and build service. Part of a large multi-national industrial group, Waco International, Premier has the strong financial backing provided by the Group, which has enabled it to build a substantial modular hire fleet. This coupled with the manufacturing capacity offered by a 22 acre site means that Premier is ideally suited to deliver quality buildings for both hire and sale throughout the UK, no matter how large or small.

Premier’s ability to deliver a modular solution on a massive scale is evidenced by the series of modular complexes they have provided at Hinkley Point C in Somerset. The buildings deliver 38,000 sqm of offices and welfare facilities to house all the management and technical personnel required for the construction phase of the new nuclear power station. The HPC requirement for the best temporary welfare and office facilities in the UK, delivered within a strict timescale, was a challenge Premier met and achieved and resulted in their being appointed to deliver an additional modular complex for the critically important infrastructure project.

Developing such strong client relationships is at the core of Premier’s approach and their recent partnership with ISG Construction has delivered 8 school facilities in 12 months as part of Manchester City Council’s Education Basic Needs framework. The first school, St Margaret’s CofE Primary School, was chosen by Manchester City Council to be their first pilot for delivering a project to BIM Level 2, including their first Asset Information Model. The 775m2 2-storey building provided new nursery facilities and 3 reception classrooms, enabling the school to expand and accommodate an additional form of entry. This scheme was named as the winner of the Digital Construction category in the North West Regional Construction Awards for 2018, as well as receiving Highly Commended in the Integration and Collaborative Working category.

Standardisation in construction delivery produces better end product quality, reduction in manufacturing costs, reduced design costs with less waste and can be achieved through the use of standardised components, prefabricated panels and modular construction.

This volumetric approach to construction was used in the award winning construction of a 5 storey student accommodation block, The Foundry, in Newcastle City Centre, delivered in partnership with Sir Robert McAlpine. This block consisted of a mixture of 54 studio flats, 105 ensuite bedrooms and 2 accessible rooms, associated living spaces, kitchens and study areas.

The speed of delivery for this project gave the investors a whole year of additional return and was a deciding factor in the project being named as the Project of the Year (up to £10m) at the Construction News Awards.

This approach has also been used to great effect in other residential projects and following their appointment to the CHIC BuildSmart framework, Premier have worked closely with their framework partners to develop standardised housing products, delivered within an EU-compliant framework – the perfect solution to the critically important delivery of housing stock highlighted frequently in the news.
The standard designs, coupled with CHIC’s existing proven materials supply chain, has resulted in a more cost efficient, quality product, with speed of delivery. Whilst the cost benefits of this scheme have been delivered by the development of a standardised product, flexibility is still available to procure bespoke designs and solutions where required.

Premier’s forward thinking attitude means that they are always looking for product improvements and innovation; Premier believes that the fire resistance of buildings is very important, whether for a temporary or permanent building. At Premier we feel it is not good enough to provide our clients with an assumption that our buildings are ‘fire proof’ based on various codes and data sheets. When developing our latest product, as part of our quality control during development, we ensured the product went through real life fire tests and received certification for this.

In a market where shortages exist, building standards are extremely high and sustainability is of growing importance, standardisation and offsite construction as delivered by Premier has to be a big part of the solution.

/0 Comments/by

First fix 11 windows offsite in just 23 minutes

Timber frame and SIPs panel manufacturers can speed up the installation of windows and doors by using the Sidey Kitfix system. Pressure is on for builders and developers to get on and off-site faster. This means looking at ways to reduce the time spent installing windows and doors.

“With the Sidey Kitfix System, windows and doors can be accurately fitted at the factory stage,” says Steve Hardy, Managing Director of fenestration and offsite construction specialists Sidey Solutions. “It’s quick too – 11 windows can be first fixed in 23 minutes. They are installed when the walls are horizontal in the factory and the innovative Kitfix brackets are twist fitted to the window or door frame. Air tightness, thermal and acoustic seals can also be included at this stage.

“This system makes transportation simple and once on site, the panels are erected as normal. This means homes are wind, watertight and secure much sooner, and makes the build much faster. It also eliminates the need for separate deliveries of windows and doors, with no site storage required either.

“The latest changes to planning laws announced on 5 March mean there is even more pressure to get the job done quicker,” adds Steve. “Choosing Kitfix to install windows and doors will help builders and developers build fast.”

For more information go to www.sidey.co.uk.
/0 Comments/by

This is MMC… but not as we know it

Advances in construction techniques over the past decade have given rise to some genuine commercial, sustainable and health and safety benefits – all while improving efficiency and performance. However, as building regulations are updated over time and standards become increasingly stringent, these modern methods of construction risk failing to keep pace, particularly where thermal insulation is concerned. Chris Lea, Technical Sales Manager, SIG Performance Technology, explores why the construction sector needs to rethink its approach to reducing heat loss in a building and why the aerospace industry appears to hold the answer. 

Some of the major specification drivers for building design in modern times are the need to keep building footprint to a minimum, maximise internal rentable space and achieve the highest energy efficiency performance possible. Working within the confines of these design objectives, developers must also achieve accelerated build programmes in a bid to complete within budget and realise the return on investment as promptly as possible.

Fast track construction which uses steel or timber frame has become a tried and tested build method in the UK, particularly in high rise developments. As the exterior of these buildings is commonly a cladding finish, the challenge of reducing heat loss while maximising internal floor space and minimising building footprint comes to the fore. Crucially, the insulation has to be installed within the through-wall build up, but this construction suffers from cold bridging as soon as the rainscreen carrier system is installed. This is where innovative new insulation techniques are helping modern construction techniques to stay at the forefront.

Helping hands

The availability of 3D thermal modelling has proven a valuable technology in assisting the development of new solutions which address current construction challenges. After reviewing thermal models of buildings using rainscreen systems, the innovation team at SIG Performance Technology identified high levels of heat loss being caused by the helping hand bracketry in the support systems. Realising that a reduction in the cold bridging through the bracketry would significantly improve the overall performance of the building envelope, research began into developing an insulated clip-on solution.

After a programme of development, aerogel – most commonly used in aerospace and industrial applications – emerged as the most suitable insulant owing to its exceptional thermal performance and proven flexible properties. This led to the launch of CHI-GASKET, a patented insulated component which is simply clipped on to standard helping hand bracketry on-site. In doing so, the cold bridging is significantly reduced and means the insulation within the through-wall build-up does not have to compensate for this and consequently does not have to achieve such low U-Values. It is because of this that the CHI-GASKET is now considered from initial design stage.

Aerogel in action

The use of Aerogel as an insulant in helping hand bracketry is a unique application but one where a change in design process has enabled major developments to achieve core design objectives. This principle is also now being applied in modular buildings and offsite construction, where linear areas of heat loss at construction junctions prove a common challenge.

As the modular buildings typically have much tighter junctions than those constructed on-site, these developments present several challenges. Firstly, lower density insulation is more flexible and easier to install into tight frames, but these materials are generally lower performing from a thermal perspective. Secondly, rigid materials offer good thermal insulation, but require cutting to size, either on or off-site, which adds a layer of complexity to the construction process. Finally, both of these methods leave room for installation error, as the materials are being cut to size or pushed into place manually.

Offering a solution to this challenge is Aerogel. The material can be precision cut to size and fabricated to any bespoke shape to meet the exact needs of modular building specifications. Thermally excellent yet flexible, precision manufactured aerogel linings would deliver a much greater level of quality control and reduce labour time in construction – all of which align with modern methods of construction.

While the name Aerogel is probably more synonymous with NASA than with MMC, as the construction market continues to innovate with insulation, this could be set to change in the not so distant future.

/0 Comments/by

High specification for a higher education building

Architecturally designed and built completely to spec, the new three-storey building on the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston Campus is full of unique features.

New office space was required to accommodate University academics: overall growth and construction work elsewhere on campus meant that staff were temporarily displaced. Planning permission was granted for a new office block, but only for 3 and a half years.

Not Just a Temporary Solution

The brief: the building needed to be temporary but not feel temporary, and it needed to be spacious, contemporary and light. Time was of the essence, but without compromise on finish.
Of the three companies asked to tender by the University, Wernick Buildings were selecting as the preferred tenderer based on a combination of cost, quality and programme A Wernick Buildings’ modular system allowed the architects to customise the internal and external finishes while maintaining the budget and schedule.

A wide range of features were specified from the outset: from architectural features such as the large sections of glazing, feature banding and projecting window surrounds, down to the finishing touches of skirtings, window frames and doors. The resulting space is befitting to its prestigious surroundings and listed neighbouring buildings.

Modular Installation and Feedback

After just six weeks in the factory, the 36 modules were loaded and ready for the trip from South Wales to Birmingham. The February installation was on schedule: even after allowing for some of the worst snow this country has seen for some time! Crane trucks manoeuvred the modules through mature trees on the site – giving the final impression that the building had always been there.

Kevin O’Flaherty, Senior Project Manager at University of Birmingham is responsible for a portion of the University’s ambitious capital programme, from the inception to getting the keys. Kevin, alongside the architects, worked very closely with the team at Wernick Buildings saying that he was in touch almost every day as decisions had to be made so quickly. Kevin found the Wernick team to be “highly professional and always wanting to do the best job”.

Kevin remarked: “I often hear “it doesn’t feel like a modular building” – the extra touches have really made the space and feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive from both staff and planning.”

Due to the nature of the modular system used, the University can choose to move the building: either keeping the current configuration or changing it completely. The modules are built to be stacked up to four-storeys high or reduced down to one-storey. Kevin, however, feels the building sits very comfortably in its existing setting.

Architectural Touches

Glancy Nicholls Architects Ltd, based in Birmingham and London, is a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Chartered Practice and was started in 2004. Wernick worked with the firm previously, also at the University of Birmingham. Wernick helped GNA to deliver a low impact building for researchers studying the surrounding woodlands. Read more about the BIFoR scheme here.

GNA architectural assistant Aiden Astle, who worked on the new office building, is excited about both projects’ potential to “challenge the misconception of modular buildings”. The office building, he added, is further proof of modular’s capabilities: “This project demonstrates that a limited time-frame doesn’t need to infringe on quality. This project has proven the flexibility of this method of construction and the results speak for themselves.”

For more information on modular buildings, click here, call 0800 112 4640 or email us here.
/0 Comments/by

Premier’s offsite solutions provide the best quality construction facilities in Europe, supporting the UK’s infrastructure growth

Studies show that people perform their work far more productively when employed in comfortable working environments. The team within Premier Modular have continually focussed on this during their product development phases and in their provision of temporary accommodation to support the UK’s construction teams. Premier’s buildings and services are supporting a large number of clients on a variety of significant infrastructure projects. A contribution to Premier’s success is a recognition of this productivity fact by many clients looking to maximise the performance of their staff and contractors throughout the life of their construction projects.

Premier have supplied around 40,000m2 of facilities in the last year that are currently supporting the construction of three significant UK infrastructure projects at Hinkley Point C, Sirius Minerals and HS2. On analysis there was a thread of common themes from these clients in their selection of office and welfare facility supplier. Firstly a business who had the capability and track record of construction of high quality and comfortable working environments. Secondly an innovative business with a can do attitude in terms of flexibility in product layouts and finishes. Finally and critically a company with a long history and proven track record of safe, reliable and focussed delivery in complex, difficult working environments.

All of Premier’s temporary accommodation is designed to be flexible in layout, combined with a minimum 2.7m ceiling height, 12m clear span and fully interchangeable configurations up to 5 storey height. These basic elements serve to create the basis of a great working environment, allowing for well ventilated and more comfortable office areas not hindered by structural columns.

Manufacturing through lean flow lines in Premier’s 5 factories in East Yorkshire, build quality levels are extremely high in this controlled environment and waste is dramatically reduced through smart design detailing, reuse and recycling.

Sirius Minerals’ project involves the construction of two deep mineshafts to access a polyhalite mineral deposit, connected to a 23 mile tunnel to transport the mineral via conveyor belt to Teesside, where it will be processed and shipped around the world to be used as fertilizer. Construction of the mine, one of the biggest construction projects in the North of England, began last year and is due to enter production in late 2021 creating up to 2500 jobs and £2.5bn of exports. Premier have supplied three office and welfare facilities for the mining staff and teams ensuring they work in an optimum environment. Premier’s client stated that “High safety standards and low environmental impact are the two major criteria that we have to fulfil for all our on-site construction, and Premier’s building design has allowed us to achieve that.”

Premier also achieved the aspirations of EDF energy for their temporary facilities; constructing 30,000 m2 of office, welfare and catering accommodation at Hinkley Point C to house over 5,000 construction workers, supporting the 10 year Nuclear power station construction build. Due to the complexity of the site restrictions, maintaining a motivated workforce is critical to the construction plan. The aspiration set was to have the best site office, welfare and catering facilities in Europe; something Premier is proud to have achieved as commented on by the site union representatives.

In an increasingly time pressured market, expectations of build quality and innovative design, need not be diminished. Creating the best working environment in your office and welfare accommodation for your employees and teams should not be underestimated. Partnering the correct accommodation supplier with the right product, attitude and demonstrable capability will pay dividends during any infrastructure project construction.

/0 Comments/by

Membrane innovation for the offsite sector

We caught up with Product Manager, John Mellor at Protect Membranes to find out about the company’s latest product development that offers a new solution for timber construction projects

Who is Protect Membranes?

We’re a UK producer of construction membranes for walls and floors as well as roofing underlays and accessories. Alongside our sister company Glidevale and its range of ventilation and building products, Protect has established a leading presence in the housebuilding sector, for both offsite and traditional construction. Our membranes are independently BM TRADA certified, meeting the required Building Regulations and NHBC guidance to prevent interstitial condensation and can deliver on technical performance attributes such as airtightness, vapour permeability and thermal resistance.

As members of the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) and the Structural Timber Association (STA), our products are STA Assure Gold Accredited. They are finely tuned for offsite installation and can be integrated easily within the relevant construction method, such as timber frame, CLT and SIP. With factories based near Nottingham and in Merthyr Tydfil in the UK, we are well placed to service customer requirements in offsite manufacture. We understand the importance of delivering the right product at the right time to meet stringent factory lead times.

What makes Protect Membranes different?

We are well known in the industry for pioneering innovation. A good illustration is our latest product – Protect TF InterFoil. This wall construction membrane is a first for the timber frame industry, utilising low emissivity membrane technology with airspaces to achieve cost savings on the build-up whilst maintaining a low U-value that does not impact on the wall’s footprint.

Can you tell us more about Protect TF InterFoil?

It’s is a highly reflective insulation breather membrane, UV and heat stabilised for long term durability. It is designed for use internally within a timber frame wall panel to enhance thermal performance when used facing two still airspace cavities either side of the insulation. When used as part of the membrane system with Protect TF200 Thermo, our reflective, vapour permeable breather membrane fitted on the outer face of the sheathing board on the cold side of the construction, and Protect VC Foil Ultra, a reflective air and vapour control layer (AVCL) on the warm side, a 0.18W/m2K U-value and lower can be achieved, meeting the Notional Dwelling Specifications set down in Building Regulations Part L1A. Combining these Protect membranes ensures that the still airspace cavities offer low emissivity and significantly reduce heat loss, thanks to the high purity, solid aluminium foil used on the membrane surface. The correct use of internal and external reflective membranes will form a radiant barrier and effectively block infra-red radiation to increase the thermal performance of the airspace.

So what benefits can Protect TF InterFoil deliver within a timber frame panel?

As well as the enhancing the thermal performance of the wall, the use of Protect TF InterFoil as described above can provide cost savings based on a typical 140mm deep timber stud. The system can reduce the thickness of rigid, high density PIR insulation boards required or facilitate a switch to a reduced thickness of fibrous (0.032/0.035 λ) or EPS insulation (0.03/0.032 λ), without impacting on the wall’s footprint. This can help maximise land space and overall affordability by not increasing the overall wall depth.

This new innovation of designing a timber frame wall panel with membranes and unventilated airspaces enables developers and manufacturers to meet stringent targets without impacting on the timber frame construction process or significantly increasing the cost of production.

How can you help?

At Protect Membranes we have an experienced Technical team who can advise on the use of our membranes to meet target U-values. If the proposed build-up details are provided, we can demonstrate whether Protect TF InterFoil can be used within the structure to achieve low U-values and generate cost savings. We also offer a free U-value calculation and condensation risk analysis service using membranes as part of the build-up to help specifiers and offsite manufacturers deliver added value within their overall design.

For more information please visit www.protectmembranes.com or email johnm@protectmembranes.com.
/0 Comments/by

Opening doors to a shoppers’ paradise

GEZE UK is opening doors to more shoppers at Glasgow Fort which has opened a third phase of shops and leisure facilities at its out-of-town shopping and leisure complex.

With more than 100 outlets parking for 2,500, Glasgow Fort is noted for being one of the few purpose-built ‘uncovered’ shopping villages with a ‘two-sided mall design’ intended to recreate a traditional high street.

GGF-0418-0370(Wagamama)

That’s why installing the right doors were crucial in the design and specification of the new phase – not only to protect the new stores from the elements – but to maintain the fluidity of the stainless steel and glass aesthetic within its horseshoe layout.

The latest 175,000 sq ft extension – designed by Glasgow architects Cooper Cromar for owner British Land – includes an 80,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer department store housed within an iconic three-storey stainless steel-clad pavilion.

GGF-0418-0487

The store entrance has four sets of automatic sliding doors, powered by GEZE’s Slimdrive SL NT operators, to form a draught lobby and display area. The Slimdrive SL NT blends seamlessly into the uncluttered glazed frontage. With an operator height of just 7cm – it is almost invisible, virtually silent in operation and can move leaf weights of up to 125kg – ideal for buildings with high levels of footfall and a continuous flow of people moving in various directions.

GEZE UK

GEZE UK worked with Gray & Dick Ltd and Greenfield Contracting to create the entrances for M&S and seven other shops and restaurants on the north of the site where the new development is located. They include:

  • Fat Face
  • Footasylum
  • JD Sports
  • Mamas & Papas
  • River Island
  • Wagamama
  • Waterstones

In total 12 of GEZE products were supplied. In most cases the Slimdrive SL NTs were used to create the entrances for the units. Fat Face, Footasylum and Mamas & Papas, River Island, Wagamama and Waterstones chose seamless entrances, each with a pair of automatic sliding doors which provided flow and continuity with their glazed façades.

 

For JD Sports, a much larger unit, two Slimdrive SLT telescopic automatic sliding door operators were used to create two entrances across the span of its frontage – each fixed to glass. Like the Slimdrive SL NT, they operate quietly and boast an elegant drive design with a 7 cm operator height.

Said Martin Revie, general manager for GEZE UK in Scotland: “This was a fascinating project on which to work. Glasgow Fort has become a ‘go-to’ destination for shopping and leisure in the region as it combines great facilities, with an open and airy environment and contemporary design.

“The third phase of the development needed to combine the requirements of the businesses going into the new premises and incorporate functionality, safety and security while retaining the aesthetic values of the development as a whole.”

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk.
/0 Comments/by

How to choose a structural warranty provider

The latent defects market has increased significantly in recent years, with there now being more companies in the market than ever before. As such, it can be difficult to know where to look and what to look for.

In the following article we explore the varying aspects of a quality provider and some questions you can ask during your decision process.

The Cover

Different structural warranty policies do not necessarily carry the same level of cover. Whilst may be quite drastic, possibly leaving your buyers unprotected should something go wrong. There is also no consistency on the level of excess or financial limits. Although the best way to thoroughly understand any insurance policy is to read it in full, that can often be very time consuming. Therefore, we’ve thought of a few questions that could be useful to ask:

  • What is the policy excess?
  • Does the policy include a defects period?
  • What is the financial limit for each property?
  • Is there an overall policy limit?
  • Is water ingress excluded from cover?

The insurer

More often than not, structural warranty companies will provide insurances policies that have been underwritten by insurance companies, rather than underwriting the policy themselves.This means that any claims on the policy will be paid by the insurer. Compared to most common insurance policies, structural warranties last for 10 or 12 years, meaning that it’s even more important to check the quality of the insurer and to ensure that they will be around for the entire duration of the policy. One way of doing this is to check who is insuring the policy and then to check their financial rating. (Click here to check this)

Risk management and Technical Support

Although you are purchasing insurance cover, it is worth bearing in mind that it is the warranty provider that you will be working with for the duration of the build. As such, it is good practice to understand how they operate in order to determine whether they’re the best fit for how you work on site. Some question you could ask are:

  • Do they have clear technical standards?
  • Do they employ their own surveyors?
  • What technical support can they provide?

Customer Service

Another important aspect of your warranty provider is the quality of customer service they provide; after all, you will be dealing with the customer service department of your chosen provider a lot over the duration of your build, as well as them issuing all your relevant certificates. So, what do you need to know?

  • Will you have a dedicated account manager?
  • How will you track and measure site performance?
  • How quickly can you expect to get a response to your queries?
  • Will you be provided with any homeowner feedback?

Experience

The level of a company’s experience is an important factor across all sectors and all industries, so why would the structural warranty industry be any different? To get a measure of how experienced a company is, you could consider asking the following questions:

  • How long have they been providing structural warranties?
  • Are they a member of the Consumer Code for Home Builders?
  • Are they accepted by all major mortgage lenders?

Value

Rather than focusing just on monetary values, it is worth looking at value of your provider on the whole. Of course it’s vital to look after those all-important purse strings, but it’s also a must to consider the overall value from your chosen provider. By asking the above questions, and making sure you are satisfied with the answers, you should be able to better understand the value that your chosen structural warranty provider will be able to contribute to your build.

To find out more about our range of structural warranties call 0800 107 8446 or visit www.premierguarantee.com.
/0 Comments/by

EN12101 – Safety in numbers

,

Life safety provision within buildings has rightfully been under severe scrutiny in recent months, as it is vital to ensure a building provides a safe environment for its residents. Smoke control systems are a vital and integral part of a building’s life safety system and regulations already exist that place a legal responsibility upon a building’s owners to ensure the systems are regularly maintained to a specified standard.

Every smoke control system contains products that are subject to mandated quality standards to ensure that in the case of an emergency, they operate correctly and enable common escape routes to be kept free of smoke, aiding safe escape. In addition they also allow safe entry for fire services to tackle the fire.

In July 2013, the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) mandated the CE marking of all products used within the construction industry that are covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN). For smoke ventilation systems, the suite of product standards used in the UK and Europe is the EN12101 family.

There are a number of applicable standards within this family including EN12101-2, which covers ‘smoke and heat exhaust ventilators (SHEVs), prEN12101-9 for ’control systems’ and EN12101-10 that covers ’power supplies’. This simply means that for these products to be CE marked, they must comply with the relevant EN12101 standard.

Looking specifically at EN12101-2 2003, SHEV’s, both vertical and inclined vents, utilised for life safety smoke ventilation systems, automatically fall within scope of the CPR. This adds stricter testing criteria to ensure product performance meets the required standards and are compliant.

A key element of this standard dictates that the vent and actuator must be tested together, as a system, to all specifications within the annexes of the standard. Additionally, the tests must be conducted at an accredited facility.

The results of all tests are then declared via the certification process proving compliance to the CPR. The certification process also covers the fabrication quality of the vent, as a SHEV carries a higher level of manufacture classification, ‘System 1’, compared to a ‘standard’ window, which is ‘System 3’. If the actuator is fitted on site it must also be delivered under an audited process to ensure the solution is identical to how it was tested.

Products from most leading façade system providers are now tested with SE Controls actuators to this standard, utilising the company’s extensive range of uniquely UK manufactured products.

Merely fitting an actuator to a vent or window, unless they have been tested together, does not provide a compliant solution and compromises the effectiveness of the life safety system.

Non-compliance is policed in the main by Approved Inspectors and Building Control Officers who now look for proof of certification under the directions of BS7346-8 – 2013 ‘Components for smoke control systems Code of Practice for planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance’ throughout the construction process.

Complacency and lack of understanding is the issue at hand

It is a common misunderstanding that the Approved Inspector takes responsibility for certification via inspection, however this is not the case, as the responsibility lies with the person placing the product onto the market. Yes, inspectors and clients should and will pick up non-compliance, but they are not fully accountable.

Unfortunately, if proof of compliance cannot be provided, it is too late to sign-off the building, resulting in delays and compensation claims under damage clauses. However, should a non-compliant smoke vent fail during a fire incident, the consequences are far more severe not only to the occupants, but also to the company whose products failed to meet the standard.

Alongside a range of actuators, SE Controls also offers the OSLoop, OS2 and PSU Smoke Control Systems, all of which are compliant to EN12101-10.

From a building design perspective, many SE Controls actuators and control systems are now available as BIM objects, which include extensive product information and COBie data. Whilst this is a complex set of regulations, compliance and a certified solution is verified by a Declaration of Performance (DoP), combined with their delivery qualifications, both on and off-site.

The DoP contains reference to the Notified Approved Body that underwrites the process and the test references. It also contains the performance criteria against the test annexes in the form of declared essential characteristics and is signed by a Director of the company placing the SHEV onto the market.

Whether installation is carried out by SE Controls or an approved SE Controls Installation Partner, a Notified Approved Body will have already underwritten the process.

The entire industry is responsible for ensuring the highest possible standards are met and maintained for life safety systems, however for building owners and product manufacturers, when it comes to smoke ventilations systems, if a DoP cannot be produced, the system is not compliant.

For more information please visit www.secontrols.com.
/0 Comments/by

Hybrid modular construction grows in both residential and commercial sectors

VRC Homes have experienced growth in supply of their BOPAS accredited modular construction system in both the residential and commercial sectors.

With development finance providers setting tougher repayment requirements, an increasing number of developers are finding the use of the VRC modular system gives them an added advantage in knowing they can meet those requirements.

As the system allows internal building work to commence within days of being on site, the developer has a head start over traditional methods of construction. Based on a simple system of galvanised steel cassettes and pillars, the system has proven that using a mix of off-site and on-site construction methods, a controlled build environment is maintained.

Assembly is local to site or on site, so reducing road miles. The modules are bolted together, with the roof trusses fitted as soon as the scaffolding is erected. External fabric build can start straight away, complementing the quick start of the internal build. First fix is very easy as there are 300mm voids to run services between each floor.

Adapting for market conditions, VRC have found solid growth in the apartment, house and self- build sectors. Commenting on the increasing interest in the system, managing director Michael Philpot said “We are attempting to make the construction simpler and more transparent for both the smaller developer as well as the self-builder. Evidence has shown that with high plot prices, more people are looking at alternatives to turnkey builds, either through self-manage or in the case of councils, developing apprenticeship schemes. Therefore, it has to be at a level of construction understanding they feel comfortable with.”

Adding to the range of alternative solutions to traditional methods of working, VRC Homes have launched ‘Pop Up’ modular accommodation units. Based on foldable modules, the great advantage is the increased utilisation of transport by a factor of 5. Two people can erect a module in 4 minutes. The modules have been designed in compliance with international transportation standards.

Telephone: 01223 459931, Email: sales@vrchomes.co.uk, Web: www.vrchomes.co.uk
/0 Comments/by